Network selection in GAN environment
View Patent ↗In one embodiment, a scheme is provided for network discovery and selection by a user equipment (UE) device that is operable in wide area cellular network (WACN) bands as well as in wireless access network bands. In particular, the UE device is operable to select a WACN that is accessible via a wireless generic access network (GAN) in addition to being accessible via the cellular network band.
1. A network selection method operated by a user equipment (UE) device, the method comprising:
registering with a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) via a cellular radio access network;
obtaining a list of PLMNs from a generic access network (GAN);
determining if the PLMN is in the list of PLMNs obtained from the GAN; and
upon determining that the PLMN is in the list of PLMNs obtained from the GAN, registering with the GAN.
2. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein registering with the GAN comprises registering with a generic access network controller (GANC) associated with the PLMN.
3. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the list of PLMNs is obtained using active scanning in a generic access network band.
4. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the list of PLMNs is an operator-controlled list.
5. The method as recited in claim 2 , wherein the GANC associated with the PLMN is selected from an operator-controlled GANC list.
6. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the PLMN comprises one of a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) network, an Enhanced Data Rates for Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) Evolution (EDGE) network, a 3 rd Generation Partnership Project 3GPP-compliant network, an Integrated Digital Enhanced Network (IDEN), a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network, a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) network, or a Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN).
7. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the GAN operates on a frequency band compliant with a wireless network standard selected from at least one of: IEEE 802 standard, HiperLan standard, HiperLan II standard, Wi-Max standard, OpenAir standard or Bluetooth standard.
8. A user equipment (UE) device comprising:
a component configured to register with a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) accessible via a cellular radio access network;
a component configured to obtain a list of PLMNs from a generic access network (GAN);
a component configured to determine if the PLMN is in the list of PLMNs obtained from the GAN; and
a component configured, upon determining that the PLMN is in the list of PLMNs obtained from the GAN, to register with the GAN.
9. The UE device as recited in claim 8 , wherein the component configured to register with the GAN is further configured to register with a generic access network controller (GANC) associated with the PLMN.
10. The UE device as recited in claim 8 , wherein the list of PLMNs is obtained via active scanning in a generic access network band.
11. The UE device as recited in claim 8 wherein the list of PLMNs is an operator-controlled list.
12. The UE device as recited in claim 9 , wherein the GANC associated with the PLMN is selected from an operator-controlled GANC list.
13. The UE device as recited in claim 8 , wherein the cellular network comprises one of a General Packet Radio Service GPRS network, an Enhanced Data Rates for Global System for Mobile Communications GSM Evolution EDGE network, a 3 rd Generation Partnership Project 3GPP-compliant network, an Integrated Digital Enhanced Network IDEN, a Code Division Multiple Access CDMA network, a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System UMTS network, or a Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network UTRAN.
14. The UE device as recited in claim 8 , wherein said GAN operates on a frequency band compliant with a wireless network standard selected from at least one of: IEEE 802.11 standard, HiperLan standard, HiperLan II standard, Wi-Max standard, OpenAir standard, or Bluetooth standard.
15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with instructions capable of being executed by a processor on a user equipment (UE) device, the computer-readable medium comprising:
instructions for registering with a PLMN accessible via a cellular radio access network;
instructions for obtaining a list of PLMNs from a generic access network (GAN);
instructions for determining if the PLMN is in the list of PLMNs obtained from the GAN; and
instructions for registering with the GAN responsive to determining that the PLMN is in the list of PLMNs obtained from the GAN.
16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as recited in claim 15 , wherein the instructions for registering with the GAN comprise instructions for registering with a generic access network controller (GANC) associated with the PLMN.
17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as recited in claim 15 , wherein the list of PLMNs is obtained via active scanning in a generic access network band.
18. The non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 15 , wherein the list of PLMNs is an operator-controlled list.
19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as recited in claim 16 , wherein the GANC associated with the PLMN is selected from an operator-controlled GANC list.
20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as recited in claim 15 , wherein the GAN operates on a frequency band compliant with a wireless network standard selected from at least one of: IEEE 802.11 standard, HiperLan standard, HiperLan II standard, Wi-Max standard, OpenAir standard, and Bluetooth standard.