Method and apparatus for multi-RAT access mode operation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9781761-B2
Application number	US-201213547885-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 12, 2012
Priority date	Jul 12, 2011
Publication date	Oct 3, 2017
Grant date	Oct 3, 2017

Abstract

A method and apparatus for multiple radio access technology (multi-RAT) access mode operation for a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) are disclosed. A WTRU and a network may enable a multi-RAT access mode of operation based on at least one of WTRU subscription, a service agreement of the WTRU, a roaming status of the WTRU, a selected access point name (APN), an Internet protocol (IP) flow class, a subscriber profile identity for the WTRU, requested quality of service, or a proximity indication indicating proximity to a cell supporting multi-RAT access mode. The WTRU may send a capability indication of support of multi-RAT access to a network, wherein the multi-RAT access mode is enabled based on the capability indication. A partial handover of bearers may be performed. In performing the handover, the target cell is determined based on a priority rule.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for multiple radio access technology (multi-RAT) access mode operation for a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), the method comprising:
measuring, by the WTRU, a condition, wherein the condition is at least one of a radio condition and a load condition;
determining, by the WTRU, whether multi-RAT access mode should be enabled based on the measured condition and one or more related thresholds in the WTRU;
enabling, by the WTRU, a multi-RAT access mode of operation based on the determination; and
establishing bearers in at least two different RATs.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
enabling access to a network that supports local IP access (LIPA), selective IP traffic offload (SIPTO), or managed remote access (MRA).

3. The method of claim 2 wherein LIPA, SIPTO, or MRA is enabled based on a subscriber profile identity.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
selecting a target cell for handover that supports the multi-RAT access mode; and
performing a handover of at least one bearer to the target cell.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein a part of bearers of a current serving cell is handed over to the target cell.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining is also based on a selected type of access point name (APN).

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining is also based on a proximity indication indicating proximity to a cell supporting the multi-RAT access mode of operation.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the proximity indication is included in a tracking area update message, a routing area update message, an attach request message, or a packet data network (PDN) connectivity request message.

9. A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) for multiple radio access technology (multi-RAT) access mode operation, the WTRU comprising:
a transceiver operatively coupled to a processor, the transceiver and the processor configured to measure a condition, determine whether multi-RAT access mode should be enabled based on the measured condition and one or more related thresholds in the WTRU, enable a multi-RAT access mode of operation based on the determination, and establish bearers in at least two different RATs,
wherein the condition is at least one of a radio condition and a load condition.

10. The WTRU of claim 9 wherein the transceiver and the processor are configured to enable access to a network that supports local IP access (LIPA), selective IP traffic offload (SIPTO), or managed remote access (MRA).

11. The WTRU of claim 10 wherein LIPA, SIPTO, or MRA is enabled based on a subscriber profile identity.

12. The WTRU of claim 9 wherein the transceiver and the processor are configured to select a target cell for handover that supports the multi-RAT access mode, and perform a handover of at least one bearer to the target cell.

13. The WTRU of claim 12 wherein a part of bearers of a current serving cell is handed over to the target cell.

14. The WTRU of claim 9 wherein the determining is also based on a selected type of access point name (APN).

15. The WTRU of claim 9 wherein the determining is also based on a proximity indication indicating proximity to a cell supporting the multi-RAT access mode of operation.

16. The WTRU of claim 15 wherein the proximity indication is included in a tracking area update message, a routing area update message, an attach request message, or a packet data network (PDN) connectivity request message.

Assignees

• Adjakple Pascal M
• Olvera-Hernandez Ulises
• Wang Peter S
• Liu Kai
• Ahmad Saad
• Interdigital Patent Holdings Inc

Inventors

• Adjakple Pascal M
• Olvera-Hernandez Ulises
• Wang Peter S
• Liu Kai
• Ahmad Saad

Classifications

• H04W72/52

  based on load · CPC title

• H04W72/542

  using measured or perceived quality · CPC title

• H04W88/06

  adapted for operation in multiple networks {or having at least two operational modes}, e.g. multi-mode terminals · CPC title

• H04W28/0252

  per individual bearer or channel (dynamic wireless traffic scheduling H04W72/12) · CPC title

• H04W76/15 Primary

  Setup of multiple wireless link connections · CPC title