Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
  • H04W36/00—Hand-off or reselection arrangements
  • H04W36/24—Reselection being triggered by specific parameters
  • H04W36/30—Reselection being triggered by specific parameters by measured or perceived connection quality data
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
  • H04W28/00—Network traffic management; Network resource management
  • H04W28/02—Traffic management, e.g. flow control or congestion control
  • H04W28/08—Load balancing or load distribution
  • H04W28/086—Load balancing or load distribution among access entities
  • H04W28/0861—Load balancing or load distribution among access entities between base stations
  • H04W28/0865—Load balancing or load distribution among access entities between base stations of different Radio Access Technologies [RATs], e.g. LTE or WiFi
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
  • H04W36/00—Hand-off or reselection arrangements
  • H04W36/0005—Control or signalling for completing the hand-off
  • H04W36/0055—Transmission or use of information for re-establishing the radio link
  • H04W36/0066—Transmission or use of information for re-establishing the radio link of control information between different types of networks in order to establish a new radio link in the target network
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
  • H04W36/00—Hand-off or reselection arrangements
  • H04W36/14—Reselecting a network or an air interface
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
  • H04W36/00—Hand-off or reselection arrangements
  • H04W36/16—Performing reselection for specific purposes
  • H04W36/22—Performing reselection for specific purposes for handling the traffic
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
  • H04W36/00—Hand-off or reselection arrangements
  • H04W36/24—Reselection being triggered by specific parameters
  • H04W36/30—Reselection being triggered by specific parameters by measured or perceived connection quality data
  • H04W36/302—Reselection being triggered by specific parameters by measured or perceived connection quality data due to low signal strength
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
  • H04W76/00—Connection management
  • H04W76/20—Manipulation of established connections
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
  • H04W76/00—Connection management
  • H04W76/20—Manipulation of established connections
  • H04W76/27—Transitions between radio resource control [RRC] states
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
  • H04W84/00—Network topologies
  • H04W84/02—Hierarchically pre-organised networks, e.g. paging networks, cellular networks, WLAN [Wireless Local Area Network] or WLL [Wireless Local Loop]
  • H04W84/10—Small scale networks; Flat hierarchical networks
  • H04W84/12—WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
  • H04W88/00—Devices specially adapted for wireless communication networks, e.g. terminals, base stations or access point devices
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
  • H04W88/00—Devices specially adapted for wireless communication networks, e.g. terminals, base stations or access point devices
  • H04W88/02—Terminal devices
  • H04W88/06—Terminal devices adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Definitions

• Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to the field of wireless communication, and more particularly, to systems, devices, and methods for long-term evolution and wireless local area interworking.
• cellular networks need to be able to handoff or offload user
• UEs wireless local area networks
• WLANs wireless local area networks
• UEs may also need to know how to direct traffic across multiple networks including both radio access network (RANs) and WLANs.
• RANs radio access network
• An example of a cellular network may include a 3G or 4G network such as those defined by third generation partnership project (3GPP) specifications.
• An example of a WLAN may include a Wi-Fi network such as those described by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 specifications.
• IEEE Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
• Figure 1 schematically illustrates a wireless communication environment in accordance with various embodiments.
• Figure 2 is flowchart of an access network selection and traffic steering operation of a user equipment in accordance with some embodiments.
• Figure 3 is a flowchart of a configuration operation of a network node in accordance with some embodiments.
• Figure 4 is a block diagram of an example computing device that may be used to practice various embodiments described herein.
• the term “or” is used as an inclusive term to mean at least one of the components coupled with the term.
• the phrase “A or B” means (A), (B), or (A and B); and the phrase “A, B, or C” means (A), (B), (C), (A and B), (A and C), (B and C), or (A, B, and C).
• circuitry may refer to, be part of, or include
• ASIC Application Specific Integrated Circuit
• FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a wireless communication environment 100 in accordance with various embodiments.
• the environment 100 may include a user equipment (UE) 104 that is capable of communicating over at least two wireless communication networks.
• the UE 104 may include control circuitry 108 coupled with an evolved universal terrestrial radio access network (EUTRAN) radio 112 that is capable of wireless communication with one or more nodes of a EUTRAN, for example, evolved node B (eNB) 116.
• EUTRAN evolved universal terrestrial radio access network
• eNB evolved node B
• the control circuitry 108 may be further coupled with a WLAN radio 120 that is capable of wireless communication with one or more nodes of a WLAN, for example, access point 124.
• WLAN wireless local area network
• the AP 124 may include wireless transceiver 128 coupled with control circuitry
• the control circuitry 132 may control operation and communication of the AP 124. In some embodiments the control circuitry 132 may control communications over the wireless transceiver 128 and one or more additional transceivers, which may be wired or wireless. In some embodiments the control circuitry 132 may be embodied in an access controller that is disposed separately from an access point.
• the eNB 116 may also include a wireless transceiver 136 and control circuitry 140.
• the control circuitry 140 may control operation and communication of the eNB 116.
• the eNB 116 may be part of a 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3 GPP) long-term evolution (LTE) network (or an LTE- Advanced (LTE-A) network) and may include transceiver 144 to communicate with one or more nodes of the LTE/LTE-A network, for example, network controller 148.
• the eNB 116 may include one or more additional transceivers, which may be wired or wireless.
• the network controller 148 may include a transceiver 152 to communicate with the transceiver 144 of the eNB 116.
• the network controller 148 may further include configuration circuitry 156.
• the configuration circuitry 156 may provide radio access network (RAN) assistance parameters to UEs present in a serving cell of the eNB 116, for example, UE 104.
• the RAN assistance parameters may be provided to the UEs through dedicated or broadcast signaling.
• the RAN assistance parameters may be used by the UEs, in conjunction with rules with which the UEs are provisioned, to make access network selection and traffic steering decisions as will be described in further detail herein.
• the network controller 148 may be part of the EUTRAN along with the eNB 116, another EUTRAN, or an Evolved Packet Core (EPC) that is coupled with the EUTRAN of the eNB 116.
• EPC Evolved Packet Core
• an EUTRAN of the eNB 116 may refer to a serving cell provided by the eNB 116.
• the EPC may include an access network discovery and selection function
• the EPC may also provide a communication interface between various RANs and other networks.
• configuration circuitry 156 is shown in the network controller 148, in other embodiments some or all of the configuration circuitry 156 may be disposed in the eNB 116.
• Various embodiments include RAN-assisted UE-based bidirectional traffic steering between EUTRAN and WLAN.
• a UE 104 may use information provided by components of the EUTRAN, for example, eNB 116, to determine when to steer traffic from the EUTRAN to the WLAN and vice versa.
• the UE 104 may steer traffic differently based on whether the UE is in an RRC idle or an RRC connected mode.
• the RAN assistance parameters may include EUTRAN signal strength and quality thresholds, WLAN utilization thresholds, WLAN backhaul data rate thresholds, WLAN identifiers (used in access network selection and traffic steering (ANSTS) rules) and offload preference indicator (OPI) (used in ANDSF policies).
• the UE 104 may use the RAN assistance parameters in the evaluation of ANSTS rules, described herein, to perform traffic steering decisions between EUTRAN and WLAN.
• the UE 104 may keep and apply the parameters or discard or ignore the parameters based on various situations and whether the parameters were received through dedicated or broadcast signaling. For example, if the UE 104 is in RRC CONNECTED, the control circuitry 108 may apply the RAN assistance parameters obtained via dedicated signaling. Otherwise, the UE 104 may apply the RAN assistance parameters obtained via broadcast signaling. If the UE 104 is in RRC IDLE, it may keep and apply the RAN assistance parameters obtained via dedicated signaling until a cell reselection or handover occurs or a timer has expired since the UE 104 entered RRC IDLE. After a cell reselection or handover occurs or the timer expires, the UE 104 may apply RAN assistance parameters obtained via broadcast signaling.
• a user of the UE 104 may set preferences with respect to the network with which communication should be conducted. These user-preference settings may take precedent over ANSTS rules.
• a user equipment in RRC CONNECTED or RRC IDLE that supports traffic steering shall use the ANSTS unless the UE is provisioned with ANDSF policies by the ANDSF of the EPC. If the UE 104 is provisioned with ANDSF policies, the UE 104 may forward received RAN assistance parameters to upper layers of the UE 104. If the UE 104 is not provisioned with ANDSF policies (or it does not have an active ANDSF policy), it may use received RAN assistance parameters in ANSTS defined in RAN.
• the UE 104 may perform traffic steering between the EUTRAN and WLAN with access point name (APN) granularity. For example, when the UE 104 moves the traffic of an evolved packet system (EPS) bearer belonging to an APN between EUTRAN and WLAN it may move the traffic of all the EPS bearers that belong to that APN.
• EPS evolved packet system
• the information about which APNs are offloadable to WLAN may be provided by NAS.
• a EUTRAN may be shared among a number of public land mobile networks (PLMNs). In these situations, each PLMN sharing the EUTRAN may be associated with its own set of RAN assistance parameters.
• the eNB 116 may receive or otherwise determine a set of RAN assistance parameters for each PLMN that the eNB 116 serves. The eNB 116 may then deliver these sets of RAN assistance parameters to the UEs in the EUTRAN through broadcast or dedicated signaling.
• RAN assistance parameters may be provided to the UE 104 in one or more system information blocks (SIBs) or in an RRC connection reconfiguration message. If any of the RAN assistance parameters are provided in dedicated signaling, for example, in an RRC connection reconfiguration message, the UE 104 may ignore RAN assistance parameters provided in system information, for example, SIBs. In some embodiments, the control circuitry 108 may determine that RAN assistance parameters received via system information are valid only if the UE 104 is camped on a suitable cell.
• SIBs system information blocks
• the RAN assistance parameters may include identifiers of target WLANs, for example the WLAN associated with the AP 124, to which traffic may be steered.
• the WLAN identifiers may include service set identifiers (SSIDs), basic service set identifiers (BSSIDs), and/or homogeneous extended service set identifiers (HHIDs).
• SSIDs service set identifiers
• BSSIDs basic service set identifiers
• HHIDs homogeneous extended service set identifiers
• ANSTS rules may be applicable to the target WLANs. In some embodiments, these ANSTS rules may only be applicable if the UE 104 is capable of traffic steering between EUTRAN and WLAN and the UE 104 is not provisioned with active ANDSF policies as described above.
• the ANSTS rules and the ANDSF policies may be considered two alternative mechanisms that provide similar functionality. Some operators may use ANDSF, while others use ANSTS. Generally speaking, ANDSF may be more
• a single operator may only use one mechanism.
• conflicts may happen. For example, when a UE from operator A that uses ANDSF is roaming in a network of operator B that uses ANSTS.
• the mechanism that takes precedent may be explicitly defined.
• a first set of the ANSTS rules may describe situations in which traffic may be steered from an EUTRAN to a WLAN. These situations may be based on operational states in the EUTRAN and the WLAN as compared to various thresholds provided in the RAN assistance parameters. In some embodiments, if predefined conditions are met, then an access stratum in the control circuitry 108 may indicate to upper layers of the control circuitry 108, for example, a non-access stratum, when and for which WLAN identifiers (out of a list of WLAN identifiers provided in the RAN access parameters) certain conditions for steering traffic from an EUTRAN to a WLAN are satisfied for a
• the predetermined time interval may be based on a timer value, TsteeringWLAN, which may be a parameter of the RAN assistance parameters.
• the conditions for steering traffic to a WLAN may include EUTRAN serving cell conditions and target WLAN conditions.
• the EUTRAN serving cell conditions may include: Qrxlevmeas ⁇ ThreshServingOffloadWLAN, LowP; or Qqualmeas ⁇
• ThreshServingOffloadWLAN, LowQ where Qrxlevmeas may be a measured reference signal received power (RSRP) (in dBM) of the EUTRAN cell,
• RSRP reference signal received power
• ThreshServingOffloadWLAN LowP may be an RSRP threshold (in dBM) used by the UE 104 for traffic steering to WLAN
• Qqualmeas may be a measured reference signal received quality (RSRQ) (in dB) in the EUTRAN cell
• ThreshServingOffloadWLAN, LowQ may be an RSRQ threshold (in dB) used by the UE 104 for traffic steering to WLAN.
• the control circuitry 108 may determine that the EUTRAN serving cell conditions are satisfied if a measured cell receive level value of the EUTRAN is less than the corresponding RSRP threshold or a measured cell quality value of the EUTRAN is less than the corresponding RSRQ threshold.
• the target WLAN conditions may include: ChannelUtilizationWLAN ⁇
• ChannelUtilizationWLAN may be a WLAN channel utilization value from basic service set (BSS) load information element (IE) obtained from IEEE 802.11 (Beacon or Probe Response) signaling for an indicated WLAN identifier
• ThreshChUtilWLAN, Low may be a WLAN channel utilization (BSS load) threshold used by the UE 104 for traffic steering to WLAN
• BackhaulRateDlWLAN may be a backhaul available downlink bandwidth that may be calculated as Downlink Speed* (1 - Downlink Load / 255), where the Downlink Speed and Downlink Load parameters may be drawn from wide area network (WAN) Metrics element obtained via access network query protocol (ANQP) signal
• a WLAN channel utilization threshold a WLAN downlink backhaul rate is greater than a corresponding WLAN downlink backhaul rate threshold, a WLAN uplink backhaul rate is greater than a corresponding WLAN uplink backhaul rate threshold, and a beacon RSSI is greater than a corresponding WLAN beacon RSSI threshold.
• the UE 104 may receive only a subset of thresholds discussed herein. In such embodiments, the UE 104 may exclude the evaluation of a measurement for which a corresponding threshold has not been provided.
• each of the target WLANs may have an associated priority by which the UE 104 selects the WLAN with which to associate.
• the associated priority may be transmitted with the WLAN identifiers in the RAN assistance parameters.
• a second set of the ANSTS rules may describe situations in which traffic may be steered from a WLAN to an EUTRAN cell. Similar to the above discussion, these situations may be based on operational states in the WLAN and EUTRAN cell as compared to various thresholds provided in the RAN assistance parameters.
• an access stratum in the control circuitry 108 may indicate to upper layers of the control circuitry 108, for example, a non- access stratum, when certain conditions for steering traffic from a WLAN to an EUTRAN cell are satisfied for a predetermined time interval, TsteeringWLAN.
• the WLAN conditions for steering traffic to a target EUTRAN cell from the WLAN may include: ChannelUtilizationWLAN > ThreshChUtilWLAN, High;
• ThreshChUtilWLAN,High may be a WLAN channel utilization (BSS load) threshold used by the UE 104 for traffic steering to EUTRAN
• ThreshBackhRateDlWLAN, Low may be a backhaul available downlink bandwidth threshold used by the UE 104 for traffic steering to EUTRAN
• ThreshBackhRateUlWLAN, Low may be a backhaul available uplink bandwidth threshold used by the UE 104 for traffic steering to EUTRAN
• BSS load WLAN channel utilization
• ThreshRSSIWLAN, Low may be a Beacon RSSI threshold used by the UE 104 for traffic steering to EUTRAN.
• the control circuitry 108 may determine the WLAN conditions for steering traffic to the target EUTRAN cell are satisfied if a WLAN channel utilization is greater than a corresponding WLAN channel utilization threshold, a WLAN downlink backhaul rate is less than a corresponding WLAN downlink backhaul rate threshold, a WLAN uplink backhaul rate is less than a corresponding WLAN uplink backhaul rate threshold, or a beacon RSSI is less than a corresponding WLAN beacon RSSI threshold.
• the EUTRAN conditions for steering traffic to a target EUTRAN cell from a WLAN may include: Qrxlevmeas > ThreshServmgOffloadWLAN, HighP; and Qqualmeas > ThreshServmgOffloadWLAN, HighQ, where ThreshServmgOffloadWLAN, HighP may be an RSRP threshold (in dBM) used by the UE 104 for traffic steering to EUTRAN and ThreshServmgOffloadWLAN, HighQ may be an RSRQ threshold (in dB) used by the UE 104 for traffic steering to EUTRAN.
• ThreshServmgOffloadWLAN HighP may be an RSRP threshold (in dBM) used by the UE 104 for traffic steering to EUTRAN and ThreshServmgOffloadWLAN
• HighQ may be an RSRQ threshold (in dB) used by the UE 104 for traffic steering to EUTRAN.
• control circuitry 108 may determine the EUTRAN conditions for steering traffic to the target EUTRAN cell are satisfied if a measured cell receive level value of the EUTRAN is greater than a corresponding RSRP threshold and a measured cell quality value of the EUTRAN is greater than a
• the RAN assistance parameters may include first EUTRAN/WLAN thresholds for steering traffic from an EUTRAN to the WLAN and second EUTRAN/WLAN thresholds for steering traffic from a WLAN to an EUTRAN.
• the different thresholds may be separated by a sufficient degree to prevent ping-ponging between EUTRAN and WLAN.
• the high and low thresholds may define an acceptable operating range in which traffic steering may not be employed.
• the upper layers of the control circuitry 108 may ignore the indication and may not engage in traffic steering.
• the RAN assistance parameters be transmitted in a Systemlnformation message.
• the Systemlnformation message may be used to convey one or more system information blocks (SIBs).
• SIBs system information blocks
• the included SIBs may be transmitted with the same periodicity.
• the Systemlnformation message may be transmitted from the EUTRAN to the UE 104 over a broadcast control channel (BCCH) logical channel and may have a transparent mode (TM) radio link control (RLC) - service access point (SAP).
• BCCH broadcast control channel
• TM transparent mode radio link control
• SAP service access point
• the Systemlnformation message may have an abstract syntax notation (ASN) as follows.
• sib-TypeAndlnfo SEQUENCE (SIZE (L.maxSIB)) OF CHOICE ⁇
• the above ASN of the Systemlnformation message system includes information for system information block types 17 and 18, which may include the RAN assistance parameters in some embodiments.
• the various thresholds of the RAN assistance parameters may be included in SystemInformationBlockTypel7 and the list of target WLAN identifiers may be included in SystemInformationBlockTypel8.
• SystemInformationBlockTypel7 information element may have an ANS format as indicated below in accordance with some embodiments.
• WlanOffload-Param-r 12 SEQUENCE ⁇ thresholdRSRP-Low-rl2 RSRP-Range OPTIONAL,
• I Indicates the backhaul available uplink bandwidth threshold used by the UE for traffic steering to
• TsteeringwLAN used in ANSTS rules described I herein.
• the UE 104 upon receiving the RAN assistance parameters in the SystemInformationBlockTypel7, the lower layers of the UE
• the 104 may provide the RAN assistance parameters for access network selection and traffic steering between EUTRAN and WLAN to the upper layers of the UE 104.
• SystemInformationBlockTypel8 information element may have an ANS format as indicated below in accordance with some embodiments.
• WlanIdentifiersListPerPLMN-rl2 :: SEQUENCE (SIZE (l ..maxPLMN-rl 1)) OF
• WlanIdentifiersList-rl2 SEQUENCE (SIZE (l ..maxWLANId-rl2)) OF
• the wlanldentifiersListPerPLMN may be a list of WLAN identifiers for WLAN access network selection per PLMN, listed in the same order that the PLMNs occur in
• the list of WLAN identifiers may indicate which WLANs the UE 104 may connect to if it is not provisioned with ANDSF policies.
• a SystemlnformationBlockTypel Message may be updated to include an ASN as follows.
• PLMN-IdentityList :: SEQUENCE (SIZE (1..maxPLMN-rl 1)) OF PLMN-
• SIB-Mappinglnfo :: SEQUENCE (SIZE (0..maxSIB-l)) OF SIB-Type
• SIB-Type :: ENUMERATED ⁇
• sibTypel l sibTypel2-v920, sibTypel3-v920,
• sibTypel4-vl 130 sibTypel5-vl 130,
• sibTypel6-vl l30 sibTypel7-vl2xy, sibTypel8-vl2xy, ... ⁇
• SIB-Type may include SIB-type 17 and 18, which may carry the RAN assistance parameters as described above.
• SystemlnformationBlockTypel may be in accordance with 3 GPP TS 36.331 v.12.1.0 (March 19, 2014) .
• the system information containing the RAN access parameters may be referred to as "required” system information of which the UE 104, if in RRC CONNECTED, should ensure having a valid version.
• the RAN access parameters may be provided in dedicated signaling such as an RRCConnectionReconfiguration message.
• RRCConnectionReconfiguration message may be the command to modify an RRC connection. It may convey information for measurement configuration, mobility control, radio resource configuration (including radio bearers, MAC Main configuration and physical channel configuration) including any associated dedicated NAS information security configuration.
• the RRCConnectionReconfiguration message may be transmitted to the UE 104 on signal radio bearer 1 (SRB1) in the downlink control channel (DCCH) and may have an acknowledged mode (AM) RLC-SAP.
• SRB1 signal radio bearer 1
• DCCH downlink control channel
• AM acknowledged mode
• the RRCConnectionReconfiguration message may have an ASN as shown below.
• SCellToAddModList-r 10 SEQUENCE (SIZE(L.maxSCell-rlO)) OF
• SCellToReleaseList-rlO :: SEQUENCE (SIZE (l ..maxSCell-rlO)) OF SCelllndex-rlO
• This field is used to transfer UE specific NAS layer information between the network and the UE.
• the RRC layer is transparent for each PDU in the list.
• This field is used to transfer UE specific NAS layer information between the network and the UE.
• the RRC layer is transparent for this field, although it affects activation of AS- security after inter-RAT handover to E-UTRA.
• the content is defined in TS 24 01 , yl 2.4.0 (March 17, 2014)
• RRCConnectionReconfiguration message may contain information relevant for traffic
• the WlanOffloadParamDedicated may have an
• t350 may be a validity time for RAN assistance parameters.
• the UE 104 may start a validity timer, T350, upon the UE 104 entering RRC IDLE with the validity time t350 received for RAN assistance parameters. If the UE 104 engages in cell reselection or handover, it may stop the validity timer. If the validity timer expires, the UE 104 may discard the RAN assistance parameters provided by dedicated signaling.
• FIG. 2 is a flowchart depicting a traffic steering operation 200 of a user equipment, for example, UE 104, in accordance with some embodiments.
• the UE 104 may include circuitry to perform the traffic-steering operation 200.
• the UE 104 may include one or more non-transitory computer-readable media having instructions that, when executed, cause the UE to perform the traffic- steering operation 200.
• Dedicated circuitry may additionally/alternatively be used to perform one or more aspects of the traffic-steering operation 200.
• the traffic steering operation 200 may include, at 204, the UE 104 determining RAN assistance parameters.
• the UE 104 may determine the RAN assistance parameters by processing messages received from the configuration circuitry 156, which may be in the network controller 148 or the eNB 116.
• the RAN assistance parameters may be provided to the UE 104 through the eNB 116.
• the RAN assistance parameters may be provided to the UE 104 from the eNB 116 through dedicated or broadcast signaling.
• the traffic steering operation may include, at 208, the UE 104 determining whether conditions of the access networks (ANs), for example, the EUTRAN and the WLAN, satisfy ANSTS rules for a predetermined period of time. The determination at 208 may be based on the RAN assistance parameters received at 204.
• the UE 104 may set a timer with a value, for example, TSteeringWLAN, and may monitor the conditions until expiration of the timer.
• the conditions of the ANs may be determined by direct measurement, from reports from nodes of the ANs, for example, AP 124 or eNB 116, or a combination of the two. If, at 208, the UE determines the ANs satisfy the predetermined conditions for the predetermined period of time, the UE may steer traffic to the appropriate access network at 212.
• the access stratum of the control circuitry 108 may monitor the conditions and notify a non-access stratum of the control circuitry 108 of the satisfaction of the conditions. At such time, the non-access stratum may initiate transfer of traffic, for example, all EPS bearers of a particular APN, to the targeted access node.
• Figure 3 is a flowchart depicting a configuration operation 300 of network node, for example, eNB 116 or network controller 148, in accordance with some embodiments.
• the network node may include circuitry to perform the
• the network node may include one or more non-transitory computer-readable media having instructions that, when executed, cause the network node to perform the configuration operation 300.
• Dedicated circuitry may additionally/alternatively be used to perform one or more aspects of the configuration operation 300.
• some of the aspects of the configuration operation 300 may be performed by a first network node, for example, network controller 148, while other aspects of the configuration operation 300 may be performed by a second network node, for example, eNB 116.
• the configuration operation 300 may include, at 304, the network node
• the network node may be preconfigured with at least some of the RAN access parameters (WLAN identifiers) or receive them in reports from other nodes.
• the network node may calculate at least some of the RAN access parameters. For example, the network node may calculate various thresholds based on its load.
• the configuration operation 300 may include, at 308, transmitting system information (SI) messages that include the RAN access parameters.
• SI system information
• the SI messages may include SystemlnformationBlockTypel SystemInformationBlockTypel7, or
• the SI messages may be transmitted (periodically, event-driven, or otherwise) as broadcast signaling.
• the configuration operation 300 may include, at 312, the network node
• Dedicated signaling may be used if the network node determines specific or updated RAN access parameters should be provided to a particular UE. If, at 312, it is determined that dedicated signaling is not needed, the configuration operation 300 may loop back to the transmission of the SI messages.
• the configuration operation 300 may advance to 316 with the network node transmitting an RRC message that includes any specific or updated RAN access parameters to the UE.
• the configuration operation 300 may loop back to the transmission of the SI messages at 308.
• FIG. 4 illustrates, for one embodiment, an example system 400 comprising radio frequency (RF) circuitry 404, baseband circuitry 408, application circuitry 412, memory/storage 416, display 420, camera 424, sensor 428, input/output (I/O) interface 432, or network interface 436 coupled with each other as shown.
• RF radio frequency
• the application circuitry 412 may include circuitry such as, but not limited to, one or more single-core or multi-core processors.
• the processor(s) may include any combination of general-purpose processors and dedicated processors (e.g., graphics processors, application processors, etc.).
• the processors may be coupled with
• memory/storage 416 and configured to execute instructions stored in the memory/storage 416 to enable various applications or operating systems running on the system 400.
• the baseband circuitry 408 may include circuitry such as, but not limited to, one or more single-core or multi-core processors such as, for example, a baseband processor.
• the baseband circuitry 408 may handle various radio control functions that enable
• the baseband circuitry 408 may provide for communication compatible with one or more radio technologies.
• the baseband circuitry 408 may support communication with an EUTRAN or other wireless metropolitan area networks (WMAN), a wireless local area network (WLAN), or a wireless personal area network (WPAN).
• WMAN wireless metropolitan area networks
• WLAN wireless local area network
• WPAN wireless personal area network
• baseband circuitry 408 may include circuitry to operate with signals that are not strictly considered as being in a baseband frequency.
• baseband circuitry 408 may include circuitry to operate with signals having an intermediate frequency, which is between a baseband frequency and a radio frequency.
• control circuitry 108 or 140, or the configuration circuitry 156 may be embodied in the application circuitry 412 or the baseband circuitry 408.
• RF circuitry 404 may enable communication with wireless networks using modulated electromagnetic radiation through a non-solid medium.
• the RF circuitry 404 may include switches, filters, amplifiers, etc., to facilitate the communication with the wireless network.
• RF circuitry 404 may include circuitry to operate with signals that are not strictly considered as being in a radio frequency.
• RF circuitry 404 may include circuitry to operate with signals having an intermediate frequency, which is between a baseband frequency and a radio frequency.
• the EUTRAN radio 112, the WLAN radio 120, or the wireless transceiver 136 may be embodied in the RF circuitry 404.
• the constituent components of the baseband circuitry 408, the application circuitry 412, or the memory/storage 416 may be any suitable constituent components of the baseband circuitry 408, the application circuitry 412, or the memory/storage 416.
• Memory/storage 416 may be used to load and store data or instructions, for example, for system 400.
• Memory/storage 416 for one embodiment may include any combination of suitable volatile memory (e.g., dynamic random access memory (DRAM)) or non-volatile memory (e.g., Flash memory).
• suitable volatile memory e.g., dynamic random access memory (DRAM)
• non-volatile memory e.g., Flash memory
• the I/O interface 432 may include one or more user interfaces designed to enable user interaction with the system 400 or peripheral component interfaces designed to enable peripheral component interaction with the system 400.
• User interfaces may include, but are not limited to, a physical keyboard or keypad, a touchpad, a speaker, a microphone, etc.
• Peripheral component interfaces may include, but are not limited to, a non-volatile memory port, a universal serial bus (USB) port, an audio jack, and a power supply interface.
• USB universal serial bus
• sensor 428 may include one or more sensing devices to determine environmental conditions or location information related to the system 400.
• the sensors may include, but are not limited to, a gyro sensor, an accelerometer, a proximity sensor, an ambient light sensor, and a positioning unit.
• the positioning unit may also be part of, or interact with, the baseband circuitry 408 or RF circuitry 404 to communicate with components of a positioning network, e.g., a global positioning system (GPS) satellite.
• GPS global positioning system
• the display 420 may include a display (e.g., a liquid crystal display, a touch screen display, etc.).
• a display e.g., a liquid crystal display, a touch screen display, etc.
• the network interface 436 may include circuitry to communicate over one or more wired networks.
• the transceiver 144 or 152 may be embodied in the network interface 436.
• system 400 may be a mobile computing device such as, but not limited to, a laptop computing device, a tablet computing device, a netbook, an ultrabook, a smartphone, etc.; or a network node, e.g., an eNB or network controller.
• system 400 may have more or fewer components, or different architectures.
• Example 1 includes a user equipment (UE) comprising: a first radio to
• EUTRAN evolved universal terrestrial radio access network
• WLAN wireless local area network
• control circuitry coupled with the first and second radios, the control circuitry to receive, in a broadcast system information block or a radio resource control (RRC) connection reconfiguration message dedicated to the UE, radio access network (RAN) assistance parameters for access network selection and traffic steering between the EUTRAN and the WLAN; and steer traffic through the first radio or the second radio based on the RAN assistance parameters.
• RRC radio resource control
• Example 2 includes the UE of example 1, wherein the RAN assistance parameters are first RAN assistance parameters in the RRC connection reconfiguration message, and the control circuitry is further to: receive second RAN assistance parameters in the system information block; discard the second RAN assistance parameters; and
• Example 3 includes the UE of any of examples 1-2, wherein the control circuitry is to receive the RAN assistance parameters in an information element in the RRC connection reconfiguration message.
• Example 4 includes the UE of example 3, wherein the RAN assistance parameters include a timer value and the control circuitry is to: set a timer with the timer value; start the timer upon entering an RRC idle mode; and discard the RAN assistance parameters received in RRC connection reconfiguration message upon expiration of the timer.
• Example 5 includes the UE of any of examples 1-4, wherein the RAN assistance parameters include a WLAN identifier that corresponds to the WLAN, a reference signal received power (RSRP) threshold value, and a reference signal received quality (RSRQ) threshold value, and the control circuitry is further to: transmit traffic over the EUTRAN via the first radio; determine that a measured cell receive level value of the EUTRAN is less than the RSRP threshold or a measured cell quality value of the EUTRAN is less than the RSRQ threshold; and steer traffic to the WLAN via the second radio based on said determination that the measured RSRP of the EUTRAN is less than the RSRP threshold or the measured RSRQ of the EUTRAN is less than the RSRQ threshold.
• the RAN assistance parameters include a WLAN identifier that corresponds to the WLAN, a reference signal received power (RSRP) threshold value, and a reference signal received quality (RSRQ) threshold value
• the control circuitry is further to: transmit traffic over the EUTRAN via the first radio; determine that a
• Example 6 includes the UE of example 5, wherein the RAN assistance parameters further include a WLAN channel utilization threshold, a WLAN downlink backhaul rate threshold, a WLAN uplink backhaul rate threshold, and a WLAN beacon received signal strength indicator (RSSI) threshold, and the control circuitry is further to: determine that a WLAN channel utilization is less than the WLAN channel utilization threshold, a WLAN downlink backhaul rate is greater than the WLAN downlink backhaul rate threshold, a WLAN uplink backhaul rate is greater than the WLAN uplink backhaul rate threshold, and a beacon RSSI is greater than the WLAN beacon RSSI threshold; and steer traffic to the WLAN via the second radio based further on said determination that the WLAN channel utilization is less than the WLAN channel utilization threshold, the WLAN downlink backhaul rate is greater than the WLAN downlink backhaul rate threshold, the WLAN uplink backhaul rate is greater than the WLAN uplink backhaul rate threshold, and the beacon RSSI is greater than the WLAN beacon RSSI threshold.
• the control circuitry is further to: determine that a WLAN channel utilization is less
• Example 7 includes the UE of any of examples 1-6, wherein the RAN assistance parameters include a WLAN channel utilization threshold, a WLAN downlink backhaul rate threshold, a WLAN uplink backhaul rate threshold, a WLAN beacon received signal strength indicator (RSSI) threshold, and a WLAN beacon received signal strength indicator (RSSI) threshold; and the controller is further to: transmit traffic over the WLAN via the second radio; determine a WLAN channel utilization is greater than the WLAN channel utilization threshold, a WLAN downlink backhaul rate is less than the WLAN downlink backhaul rate threshold, a WLAN uplink backhaul rate is less than the WLAN uplink backhaul rate threshold, or a beacon RSSI is less than the WLAN beacon RSSI threshold; and steer traffic to the EUTRAN via the first radio based on said determination that the WLAN channel utilization is greater than the WLAN channel utilization threshold, the WLAN downlink backhaul rate is less than the WLAN downlink backhaul rate threshold, the WLAN uplink backhaul rate is less than the WLAN uplink backhaul rate threshold, or the beacon RSSI is less than
• Example 8 includes the UE of example 7, wherein the RAN assistance parameters further include a reference signal received power (RSRP) threshold value and a reference signal received quality (RSRQ) threshold value, and the control circuitry is further to: determine a measured cell receive level value of the EUTRAN is greater than the RSRP threshold and a measured cell quality value of the EUTRAN is greater than the RSRQ threshold; and steer traffic to the EUTRAN via the first radio based on said determination that the measured cell receive level value corresponding to the EUTRAN is greater than the RSRP threshold and the measured cell quality value corresponding to the EUTRAN is greater than the RSRQ threshold.
• RSRP reference signal received power
• RSRQ reference signal received quality
• Example 9 includes the UE of any of examples 1-8, further comprising: multi- mode baseband circuitry coupled with the first and second radios.
• Example 10 includes enhanced node B (eNB) circuitry comprising: control circuitry to determine a set of RAN assistance parameters for each of a plurality of public land mobile networks (PLMNs) served by the eNB, wherein individual sets of the RAN assistance parameters include first evolved universal terrestrial radio access network (EUTRAN) thresholds for steering traffic from an EUTRAN to a wireless local area network (WLAN), second EUTRAN thresholds for steering traffic from a WLAN to an EUTRAN, first WLAN thresholds for steering traffic from an EUTRAN to a WLAN, and second WLAN thresholds for steering traffic from a WLAN to an EUTRAN; and to generate dedicated or broadcast signaling messages that include the RAN assistance parameters for each of the plurality of PLMNs; and a wireless transceiver to transmit the dedicated or broadcast signaling messages to one or more user equipments (UEs) in the EUTRAN cell.
• EUTRAN evolved universal terrestrial radio access network
• WLAN wireless local area network
• second EUTRAN thresholds for steering traffic from a WLAN to an EUTRAN
• the eNB circuitry of example 10 may further include a transceiver to receive a first RAN assistance parameter of the set of RAN assistance parameters from a network node, wherein the first RAN assistance parameter is a WLAN identifier.
• Example 11 includes the eNB circuitry of example 10, wherein the control circuitry is to generate system information blocks that include the RAN assistance parameters and the wireless transceiver is to transmit the system information blocks.
• Example 12 includes the eNB circuitry of example 10, wherein the control circuitry is to generate a radio resource control (RRC) connection reconfiguration message that includes the RAN assistance parameters, and the wireless transceiver is to transmit the RRC connection reconfiguration messages.
• RRC radio resource control
• Example 13 includes the eNB circuitry of any of examples 10-12, wherein the first
• EUTRAN thresholds include a first reference signal received power (RSRP) threshold or a first reference signal received quality (RSRQ) threshold, and the second EUTRAN thresholds include a second RSRQ threshold or a second RSRQ threshold.
• RSRP reference signal received power
• RSRQ reference signal received quality
• Example 14 includes the eNB circuitry of any of examples 10-13, wherein the first WLAN thresholds include a first channel utilization threshold, a first WLAN downlink backhaul rate threshold, a first WLAN uplink backhaul rate, or a first WLAN beacon received signal strength indicator (RSSI) and the second WLAN thresholds include a second channel utilization threshold, a second WLAN downlink backhaul rate threshold, a second WLAN uplink backhaul rate, or a second WLAN beacon received signal strength indicator (RSSI).
• the first WLAN thresholds include a first channel utilization threshold, a first WLAN downlink backhaul rate threshold, a first WLAN uplink backhaul rate, or a first WLAN beacon received signal strength indicator (RSSI)
• the second WLAN thresholds include a second channel utilization threshold, a second WLAN downlink backhaul rate threshold, a second WLAN uplink backhaul rate, or a second WLAN beacon received signal strength indicator (RSSI).
• Example 15 includes one or more non-transitory computer-readable media having instructions that, when executed, cause a user equipment (UE) to: process a system information message or a radio resource control (RRC) message to determine radio access network (RAN) assistance parameters; determine conditions of first and second access networks; determine that the conditions of the first and second access networks satisfy access network selection and traffic steering (ANSTS) rules for a predetermined period of time based on the RAN assistance parameters; and steer traffic from the first access network to the second access network based on said determination that the conditions of the first and second access networks satisfy the ANSTS for the predetermined period of time.
• RRC radio resource control
• RAN radio access network
• ANSTS access network selection and traffic steering
• Example 16 includes the one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of example 15, wherein the RAN assistance parameters include first evolved universal terrestrial radio access network (EUTRAN) thresholds for steering traffic from an EUTRAN to a wireless local area network (WLAN), second EUTRAN thresholds for steering traffic from a WLAN to an EUTRAN, first WLAN thresholds for steering traffic from an EUTRAN to a WLAN, and second WLAN thresholds for steering traffic from a WLAN to an EUTRAN.
• EUTRAN evolved universal terrestrial radio access network
• WLAN wireless local area network
• second EUTRAN thresholds for steering traffic from a WLAN to an EUTRAN
• first WLAN thresholds for steering traffic from an EUTRAN to a WLAN
• second WLAN thresholds for steering traffic from a WLAN to an EUTRAN.
• Example 17 includes the one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of any of examples 15-16, wherein the first access network is an evolved universal terrestrial radio access network (EUTRAN), the second access network is a wireless local area network (WLAN), the RAN assistance parameters include a WLAN identifier that corresponds to the WLAN, a reference signal received power (RSRP) threshold value, and a reference signal received quality (RSRQ) threshold value, and the instructions, when executed, further cause the UE to: determine that a measured cell receive level value of the EUTRAN is less than the RSRP threshold or a measured cell quality value of the
• EUTRAN evolved universal terrestrial radio access network
• the second access network is a wireless local area network (WLAN)
• the RAN assistance parameters include a WLAN identifier that corresponds to the WLAN, a reference signal received power (RSRP) threshold value, and a reference signal received quality (RSRQ) threshold value
• the instructions when executed, further cause the UE to: determine that a measured cell receive level value of the EUTRAN is
• EUTRAN is less than the RSRQ threshold; and steer traffic to the WLAN based on said determination that the measured RSRP of the EUTRAN is less than the RSRP threshold or the measured RSRQ of the EUTRAN is less than the RSRQ threshold.
• Example 18 includes the one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of example 17, wherein the RAN assistance parameters further include a WLAN channel utilization threshold, a WLAN downlink backhaul rate threshold, a WLAN uplink backhaul rate threshold, and a WLAN beacon received signal strength indicator (RSSI) threshold, and the instructions, when executed, further cause the UE to: determine that a WLAN channel utilization is less than the WLAN channel utilization threshold, a WLAN downlink backhaul rate is greater than the WLAN downlink backhaul rate threshold, a WLAN uplink backhaul rate is greater than the WLAN uplink backhaul rate threshold, and a beacon RSSI is greater than the WLAN beacon RSSI threshold; and steer traffic to the WLAN based further on said determination that the WLAN channel utilization is less than the WLAN channel utilization threshold, the WLAN downlink backhaul rate is greater than the WLAN downlink backhaul rate threshold, the WLAN uplink backhaul rate is greater than the WLAN uplink backhaul rate threshold, and the beacon RSSI is greater than the WLAN beacon RSSI threshold.
• the RAN assistance parameters further
• Example 19 includes the one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of any of examples 15-18, wherein the first access network is a wireless local area network (WLAN), the second access network is an evolved universal terrestrial radio access network (EUTRAN), the RAN assistance parameters include a WLAN channel utilization threshold, a WLAN downlink backhaul rate threshold, a WLAN uplink backhaul rate threshold, a WLAN beacon received signal strength indicator (RSSI) threshold, and a WLAN beacon received signal strength indicator (RSSI) threshold; and the instructions, when executed, further cause the UE to: determine a WLAN channel utilization is greater than the WLAN channel utilization threshold, a WLAN downlink backhaul rate is less than the WLAN downlink backhaul rate threshold, a WLAN uplink backhaul rate is less than the WLAN uplink backhaul rate threshold, or a beacon RSSI is less than the WLAN beacon RSSI threshold; and steer traffic to the EUTRAN based on said determination that the WLAN channel utilization is greater than the WLAN channel utilization threshold, the WLAN downlink backhaul rate is less than the WLAN downlink
• Example 20 includes the one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of example 19, wherein the RAN assistance parameters further include a reference signal received power (RSRP) threshold value and a reference signal received quality (RSRQ) threshold value, and the instructions, when executed, further cause the UE to: determine a measured cell receive level value of the EUTRAN is greater than the RSRP threshold and a measured cell quality value of the EUTRAN is greater than the RSRQ threshold; and steer traffic to the EUTRAN based on said determination that the measured cell receive level value corresponding to the EUTRAN is greater than the RSRP threshold and the measured cell quality value corresponding to the EUTRAN is greater than the RSRQ threshold.
• RSRP reference signal received power
• RSRQ reference signal received quality
• Example 21 includes a user equipment (UE) comprising: means for processing a system information message or a radio resource control (RRC) message to determine radio access network (RAN) assistance parameters; means for determining conditions of first and second access networks; means for determining that the conditions of the first and second access networks satisfy access network selection and traffic steering (ANSTS) rules for a predetermined period of time based on the RAN assistance parameters; and means for steering traffic from the first access network to the second access network based on said determination that the conditions of the first and second access networks satisfy the ANSTS for the predetermined period of time.
• RRC radio resource control
• RAN assistance parameters means for determining conditions of first and second access networks
• ANSTS access network selection and traffic steering
• Example 22 includes the UE of example 21, wherein the RAN assistance parameters include first evolved universal terrestrial radio access network (EUTRAN) thresholds for steering traffic from an EUTRAN to a wireless local area network (WLAN), second EUTRAN thresholds for steering traffic from a WLAN to an EUTRAN, first WLAN thresholds for steering traffic from an EUTRAN to a WLAN, and second WLAN thresholds for steering traffic from a WLAN to an EUTRAN.
• EUTRAN evolved universal terrestrial radio access network
• WLAN wireless local area network
• second EUTRAN thresholds for steering traffic from a WLAN to an EUTRAN
• first WLAN thresholds for steering traffic from an EUTRAN to a WLAN
• second WLAN thresholds for steering traffic from a WLAN to an EUTRAN.
• Example 23 includes the UE of any of examples 21-22, wherein the first access network is an evolved universal terrestrial radio access network (EUTRAN), the second access network is a wireless local area network (WLAN), the RAN assistance parameters include a WLAN identifier that corresponds to the WLAN, a reference signal received power (RSRP) threshold value, and a reference signal received quality (RSRQ) threshold value, and the UE further comprises: means for determining that a measured cell receive level value of the EUTRAN is less than the RSRP threshold or a measured cell quality value of the EUTRAN is less than the RSRQ threshold; and means for steering traffic to the WLAN based on said determination that the measured RSRP of the EUTRAN is less than the RSRP threshold or the measured RSRQ of the EUTRAN is less than the RSRQ threshold.
• EUTRAN evolved universal terrestrial radio access network
• the second access network is a wireless local area network (WLAN)
• the RAN assistance parameters include a WLAN identifier that corresponds to the WLAN, a reference signal received power
• Example 24 includes the UE of example 23, wherein the RAN assistance parameters further include a WLAN channel utilization threshold, a WLAN downlink backhaul rate threshold, a WLAN uplink backhaul rate threshold, and a WLAN beacon received signal strength indicator (RSSI) threshold, and the UE further comprises: means for determining that a WLAN channel utilization is less than the WLAN channel utilization threshold, a WLAN downlink backhaul rate is greater than the WLAN downlink backhaul rate threshold, a WLAN uplink backhaul rate is greater than the WLAN uplink backhaul rate threshold, and a beacon RSSI is greater than the WLAN beacon RSSI threshold; and means for steering traffic to the WLAN based further on said determination that the WLAN channel utilization is less than the WLAN channel utilization threshold, the WLAN downlink backhaul rate is greater than the WLAN downlink backhaul rate threshold, the WLAN uplink backhaul rate is greater than the WLAN uplink backhaul rate threshold, and the beacon RSSI is greater than the WLAN beacon RSSI threshold.
• the RAN assistance parameters further include a WLAN channel utilization threshold, a WLAN down
• Example 25 includes the UE of any of examples 21-24, wherein the first access network is a wireless local area network (WLAN), the second access network is an evolved universal terrestrial radio access network (EUTRAN), the RAN assistance parameters include a WLAN channel utilization threshold, a WLAN downlink backhaul rate threshold, a WLAN uplink backhaul rate threshold, a WLAN beacon received signal strength indicator (RSSI) threshold, and a WLAN beacon received signal strength indicator (RSSI) threshold; and the UE further comprises: means for determining a WLAN channel utilization is greater than the WLAN channel utilization threshold, a WLAN downlink backhaul rate is less than the WLAN downlink backhaul rate threshold, a
• the RAN assistance parameters include a WLAN channel utilization threshold, a WLAN downlink backhaul rate threshold, a WLAN uplink backhaul rate threshold, a WLAN beacon received signal strength indicator (RSSI) threshold, and a WLAN beacon received signal strength indicator (RSSI) threshold
• the UE further comprises: means for determining a WLAN channel utilization is greater than the WLAN channel utilization threshold
• WLAN uplink backhaul rate is less than the WLAN uplink backhaul rate threshold, or a beacon RSSI is less than the WLAN beacon RSSI threshold; and means for steering traffic to the EUTRAN based on said determination that the WLAN channel utilization is greater than the WLAN channel utilization threshold, the WLAN downlink backhaul rate is less than the WLAN downlink backhaul rate threshold, the WLAN uplink backhaul rate is less than the WLAN uplink backhaul rate threshold, or the beacon RSSI is less than the WLAN beacon RSSI threshold.
• RSRQ reference signal received quality
• the measured cell receive level value corresponding to the EUTRAN is greater than the RSRP threshold and the measured cell quality value corresponding to the EUTRAN is greater than the RSRQ threshold.
• Example 27 includes a method of operating an enhanced node B (eNB) comprising: receiving a set of RAN assistance parameters for each of a plurality of public land mobile networks (PLMNs) served by the eNB, wherein individual sets of the RAN assistance parameters include first evolved universal terrestrial radio access network (EUTRAN) thresholds for steering traffic from an EUTRAN to a wireless local area network (WLAN), second EUTRAN thresholds for steering traffic from a WLAN to an EUTRAN, first WLAN thresholds for steering traffic from an EUTRAN to a WLAN, and second WLAN thresholds for steering traffic from a WLAN to an EUTRAN; generating dedicated or broadcast signaling messages that include the RAN assistance parameters for each of the plurality of PLMNs; and transmitting the dedicated or broadcast signaling messages to one or more user equipments (UEs) in the EUTRAN cell.
• Example 28 includes the method of example 27, wherein said generating comprises generating system information blocks that include the RAN assistance parameters and said transmitting comprises transmitting the system information blocks.
• Example 29 includes the method of example 27, wherein said generating comprises generating a radio resource control (RRC) connection reconfiguration message that includes the RAN assistance parameters, and the wireless transceiver is to transmit the RRC connection reconfiguration messages.
• RRC radio resource control
• Example 30 includes the method of any of examples 27-29, wherein the first EUTRAN thresholds include a first reference signal received power (RSRP) threshold or a first reference signal received quality (RSRQ) threshold, and the second EUTRAN thresholds include a second RSRQ threshold or a second RSRQ threshold.
• RSRP reference signal received power
• RSRQ reference signal received quality
• Example 31 includes the method of any of examples 27-30, wherein the first WLAN thresholds include a first channel utilization threshold, a first WLAN downlink backhaul rate threshold, a first WLAN uplink backhaul rate, or a first WLAN beacon received signal strength indicator (RSSI) and the second WLAN thresholds include a second channel utilization threshold, a second WLAN downlink backhaul rate threshold, a second WLAN uplink backhaul rate, or a second WLAN beacon received signal strength indicator (RSSI).
• the first WLAN thresholds include a first channel utilization threshold, a first WLAN downlink backhaul rate threshold, a first WLAN uplink backhaul rate, or a first WLAN beacon received signal strength indicator (RSSI)
• the second WLAN thresholds include a second channel utilization threshold, a second WLAN downlink backhaul rate threshold, a second WLAN uplink backhaul rate, or a second WLAN beacon received signal strength indicator (RSSI).
• the first WLAN thresholds include a first channel utilization threshold, a first WLAN downlink backhaul rate threshold, a first WLAN
• Example 32 includes an apparatus to perform the method of any of examples 27- 31.
• Example 33 includes one or more non-transitory, computer-readable media having instructions that, when executed, cause an eNB to perform the method of any of claims 27- 31.

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