Controlled load balancing between access networks with various policies from different sources

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016249253-A1
Application number	US-201414377956-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 30, 2014
Priority date	Jun 28, 2013
Publication date	Aug 25, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Various communication systems may benefit from load balancing. For example, wireless communication systems may benefit from controlled load balancing between access networks with various policies from different sources. A method can include selecting a rule to apply to a user equipment with respect to selection of radio access between cellular radio access and non-cellular radio access. The method can also include sending a traffic steering command to the user equipment, wherein the command contains an indication of the rule.

First claim

1 . A method, comprising:
selecting a rule to apply to a user equipment with respect to selection of radio access between cellular radio access and non-cellular radio access; and sending a traffic steering command to the user equipment, wherein the command contains an indication of the rule.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
reevaluating which rule to apply; and applying a second rule by sending a second traffic steering command based on the reevaluating.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the rule and the second rule each comprise any rule or combination of rules selected from rules 0 - 16 .

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the sending the traffic steering command comprises sending a dedicated message or a broadcast message.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the cellular radio access comprises UTRAN or E-UTRAN.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the non-cellular radio access comprises WLAN.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the user equipment is not using ANDSF MO.

8 . A method, comprising:
receiving a traffic steering command to a user equipment, wherein the command contains an indication of a rule to apply with respect to selection of radio access between cellular radio access and non-cellular radio access; and selecting between cellular radio access and non-cellular radio access based on the rule.

9 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
receiving a second traffic steering command including an indication of a second rule; and reselecting between the cellular radio access and the non-cellular radio access based on the second rule.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the rule and the second rule each comprise any rule or combination of rules selected from rules 0 - 16 .

11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the user equipment is not using ANDSF MO.

12 . An apparatus, comprising:
at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to select a rule to apply to a user equipment with respect to selection of radio access between cellular radio access and non-cellular radio access; and send a traffic steering command to the user equipment, wherein the command contains an indication of the rule.

13 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to
reevaluate which rule to apply; and apply a second rule by sending a second traffic steering command based on the reevaluating.

14 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the rule and the second rule each comprise any rule or combination of rules selected from rules 0 - 16 .

15 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to send the traffic steering command by sending a dedicated message or a broadcast message.

16 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the cellular radio comprises UTRAN or E-UTRAN.

17 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the non-cellular radio access comprises WLAN.

18 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the user equipment is not configured to use ANDSF MO.

19 . An apparatus, comprising:
at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to receive a traffic steering command to a user equipment, wherein the command contains an indication of a rule to apply with respect to selection of radio access between cellular radio access and non-cellular radio access; and select between cellular radio access and non-cellular radio access based on the rule.

20 . The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to
receive a second traffic steering command including an indication of a second rule; and reselect between the cellular radio access and the non-cellular radio access based on the second rule.

21 . The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the rule and the second rule each comprise any rule or combination of rules selected from rules 0 - 16 .

22 . The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the user equipment is not configured to use ANDSF MO.

23 . An apparatus, comprising:
means for selecting a rule to apply to a user equipment with respect to selection of radio access between cellular radio access and non-cellular radio access; and means for sending a traffic steering command to the user equipment, wherein the command contains an indication of the rule.

24 . The apparatus of claim 23 , further comprising:
means for reevaluating which rule to apply; and means for applying a second rule by sending a second traffic steering command based on the reevaluating.

25 . The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein the rule and the second rule each comprise any rule or combination of rules selected from rules 0 - 16 .

26 . The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the the sending the traffic steering command comprises sending a dedicated message or a broadcast message.

27 . The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the cellular radio access comprises UTRAN or E-UTRAN.

28 . The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the non-cellular radio access comprises WLAN.

29 . The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the user equipment is not using ANDSF MO.

30 . An apparatus, comprising:
means for receiving a traffic steering command to a user equipment, wherein the command contains an indication of a rule to apply with respect to selection of radio access between cellular radio access and non-cellular radio access; and means for selecting between cellular radio access and non-cellular radio access based on the rule.

31 . The apparatus of claim 30 , further comprising:
means for receiving a second traffic steering command including an indication of a second rule; and means for reselecting between the cellular radio access and the non-cellular radio access based on the second rule.

32 . The apparatus of claim 31 , wherein the rule and the second rule each comprise any rule or combination of rules selected from rules 0 - 16 .

33 . The apparatus of claim 30 , wherein the user equipment is not using ANDSF MO.

34 . A computer program product encoding instructions for performing a process, the process comprising the method according to claim 1 .

35 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with instructions that, when executed in hardware, perform a process, the process comprising the method according to claim 1 .

Assignees

• Nokia Solutions & Networks Oy

Inventors

• Redana Simone
• Koskinen Jussi-Pekka
• Koskela Jarkko T
• Keskitalo Ilkka

Classifications

• H04W28/0289

  Congestion control (load shedding arrangements in network planning H04W16/08; performing reselection for handling the traffic H04W36/22; wireless traffic scheduling H04W72/12) · CPC title

• H04W28/08 Primary

  Load balancing or load distribution (transferring a connection for handling the traffic H04W36/22; wireless traffic scheduling H04W72/12) · CPC title

• H04W36/22 Primary

  for handling the traffic · CPC title

• H04W28/0925

  using policies · CPC title

• H04W48/18

  Selecting a network or a communication service · CPC title