Network selection support for wireless communication devices
View Patent ↗In an LTE network, an MME processes network status information to transfer aggregated data to an ANDSF. The ANDSF processes a request from a wireless communication device that indicates device location and the aggregated data to generate an information response indicating a priority between the LTE network and a non-LTE network at the device location. The ANDSF transfers the information response for delivery to the wireless communication device. The wireless communication device processes the information response to select between the LTE network and a non-LTE network at the device location.
1. A method of operating a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network comprising:
in a Mobility Management Entity (MME), receiving LTE network status data, wherein the LTE network status data comprises Radio Frequency (RF) status data transferred from a plurality of eNodeBs;
in the MME, processing the LTE network status data to generate aggregated LTE network data and transferring the aggregated LTE network data for delivery to an Access Network Discovery and Selection Function (ANDSF);
in the ANDSF, receiving the aggregated LTE network data;
in the ANDSF, receiving an information request transferred by a wireless communication device, wherein the information request that indicates a user identifier and a device location for the wireless communication device;
in the ANDSF, processing the user identifier, the device location, and the aggregated LTE network data to generate an information response indicating a priority between the LTE network and a non-LTE network at the device location and transferring the information response for delivery to the wireless communication device.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein:
in the MME, receiving and processing the LTE network status data to transfer the aggregated LTE network data further comprises receiving and processing Voice over LTE (VoLTE) service data to transfer the aggregated LTE network data that indicates VoLTE service status;
in the ANDSF, processing the user identifier, the device location and the aggregated LTE network data to generate the information response indicating the priority further comprises processing the VoLTE service status for the device location to generate the priority between the LTE network and the non-LTE network to provide voice calling at the device location.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein:
in the MME, receiving and processing the LTE network status data to transfer the aggregated LTE network data further comprises receiving and processing video streaming service data to transfer the aggregated LTE network data that indicates video streaming service status;
in the ANDSF, processing the user identifier, the device location, and the aggregated LTE network data to generate the information response indicating the priority further comprises processing the video streaming service status for the device location to generate the priority between the LTE network and the non-LTE network to provide video streaming at the device location.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein:
in the ANDSF, receiving the information request from the wireless communication device further comprises receiving the information request that indicates a media service;
in the ANDSF, processing the user identifier, the device location, and the aggregated LTE network data to generate the information response indicating the priority further comprises processing the aggregated LTE network data to generate the information response indicating the priority between the LTE network and the non-LTE network to provide the media service at the device location.
5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
in an interface server, receiving and processing other network status data for the non-LTE network to transfer aggregated non-LTE network data for delivery to the ANDSF; and
in the ANDSF, receiving the aggregated non-LTE network data; and
in the ANDSF, processing the aggregated non-LTE network data to generate the information response indicating the priority between the LTE network and the non-LTE network at the device location.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the non-LTE network comprises a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network or a Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) network.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the non-LTE network comprises an enhanced High Rate Packet Data (eHRPD) network or an evolved High Speed Packet Access (eHSPA) network.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the non-LTE network comprises a Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) network.
9. A Long Term Evolution (LTE) network comprising:
a Mobility Management Entity (MME) configured to receive LTE network status data, wherein the LTE network status data comprises Radio Frequency (RF) status data transferred from a plurality of eNodeBs;
the MME configured to process the LTE network status data to generate aggregated LTE network data, and transfer the aggregated LTE network data for delivery to an Access Network Discovery and Selection Function (ANDSF); and
the ANDSF configured to receive the aggregated LTE network data, receive an information request transferred by a wireless communication device that indicates a user identifier and a device location, process the user identifier, the device location, and the aggregated LTE network data to generate an information response indicating a priority between the LTE network and a non-LTE network at the device location, and to transfer the information response for delivery to the wireless communication device.
10. The LTE network of claim 9 wherein:
the MME is configured to process the LTE network status data further comprising Voice over LTE (VoLTE) service data to transfer the aggregated LTE network data indicating VoLTE service status;
the ANDSF is configured to process the aggregated LTE network data indicating the VoLTE service status for the device location to generate the priority between the LTE network and the non-LTE network to provide voice calling at the device location.
11. The LTE network of claim 9 wherein:
the MME is configured to process the LTE network status data further comprising video streaming service data to transfer the aggregated LTE network data indicating video streaming service status;
the ANDSF is configured to process the aggregated LTE network data indicating the video streaming service status for the device location to generate the priority between the LTE network and the non-LTE network to provide video streaming at the device location.
12. The LTE network of claim 9 wherein:
the information request from the wireless communication device also indicates a media service;
the ANDSF is configured to process the media service indication to generate the information response indicating the priority between the LTE network and the non-LTE network to provide the media service at the device location.
13. The LTE network of claim 9 further comprising:
an interface server configured to receive and process other network status data for the non-LTE network to transfer aggregated non-LTE network data for delivery to the ANDSF; and
the ANDSF is configured to receive and process the aggregated non-LTE network data; and to generate the information response indicating the priority between the LTE network and the non-LTE network at the device location.
14. The LTE network of claim 9 wherein the non-LTE network comprises a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network or a Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) network.
15. The LTE network of claim 9 wherein the non-LTE network comprises an enhanced High Rate Packet Data (eHRPD) network or an evolved High Speed Packet Access (eHSPA) network.
16. The LTE network of claim 9 wherein the non-LTE network comprises a Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) network.