Autonomous connection switching in a wireless communication network

1. A method of managing a connection between a user equipment (UE) and a wireless communication network, the method comprising:

forming the connection between the UE and the wireless communication network, the connection comprising a radio link between the UE and an access point of the wireless communication network, wherein the access point of the wireless communication network serves the connection to the UE;

the access point determining a plurality of target access points;

the access point sending to the UE:

a message comprising target information indicating said plurality of target access points and a UE-specific authorization authorizing the UE to autonomously switch the connection comprising the radio link between the UE and the access point to one or more of the plurality of target access points; and

a condition to be evaluated by the UE for triggering the switch of the connection comprising the radio link between the UE and the access point to the one or more of the plurality of target access points; and

wherein the access point sends, prior to the condition to be evaluated occurring, to each of the plurality of target access points, preparation information related to the UE for preparing a receiving target access point for a potential switching of the connection by the UE according to the condition;

wherein the message comprises a first indication of a time period in which the UE is authorized to autonomously switch the connection; and

wherein the preparation information comprises a second indication of a time period in which the UE is authorized to autonomously switch the connection.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the sending comprises sending the message with the UE-specific authorization, the target information, and the condition.

3. The method according to claim 2 ,

wherein the message further indicates, for each of the target access points, connection information to be used by the UE for connecting to this target access point.

4. The method according to claim 2 ,

wherein the message further indicates a priority order of the target access points.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the message comprises multiple conditions to be evaluated by the UE for triggering the switch of the connection to the one or more of the plurality of target access points.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the multiple conditions comprise a failure or interruption of the connection to the access point sending the UE-specific authorization.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the multiple conditions comprises a threshold for a radio link quality.

8. The method according to claim 1 , comprising:

the access point sending the UE-specific authorization in response to establishing the connection between the UE and the communication network.

9. The method according to claim 1 , comprising:

the access point determining a failure probability of a radio link between the UE and the access point; and

the access point sending the UE-specific authorization in response to the failure probability being above a threshold.

10. The method according to claim 1 , comprising:

the access point measuring a quality of a radio link between the UE and the access point; and

the access point sending the UE-specific authorization in response to the quality of the radio link being below a threshold.

11. The method according to claim 1 , comprising:

the access point measuring a velocity of the UE; and

the access point sending the UE-specific authorization in response to the velocity being above a threshold.

12. The method according to claim 1 , comprising:

after switching of the connection to one or more of the plurality of target access points, the access point receiving a request from this target access point; and

in response to the request, the access point sending additional information related to the UE to this target access point.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the UE-specific authorization and the condition are in separate messages.

14. The method of claim 1 , selectively sending the UE-specific authorization in response to network conditions.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the preparation information comprises forwarded user plane data destined to the UE.

16. A method of managing a connection between a user equipment (UE) and a wireless communication network, the method comprising:

forming the connection between the UE and the wireless communication network, the connection comprising a radio link between the UE and an access point of the wireless communication network, wherein the access point of the wireless communication network serves the connection to the UE;

a UE receiving from the access point:

a message comprising target information indicating a plurality of target access points and a UE-specific authorization authorizing the UE to autonomously switch the connection comprising the radio link between the UE and the access point to one or more of the plurality of target access points; and

a condition to be evaluated by the UE for triggering the switch of the connection comprising the radio link between the UE and the access point to the one or more of the plurality of target access points;

the UE detecting a triggering event in accordance with evaluating the condition; and

in response to detecting the triggering event, the UE switching the connection to one or more of the plurality of target access points, wherein each of the plurality of target access points received preparation information, prior to the condition to be evaluated by the UE occurring, related to the UE for preparing a receiving target access point for a potential switching of the connection by the UE according to the condition;

wherein the message comprises a first indication of a time period in which the UE is authorized to autonomously switch the connection; and

wherein the preparation information comprises a second indication of a time period in which the UE is authorized to autonomously switch the connection.

17. The method according to claim 16 ,

wherein the triggering event is based on a quality of a radio link between the UE and said one or more of the plurality of target access points, as measured by the UE.

18. The method according to claim 16 ,

wherein the triggering event is based on a quality of a radio link between the UE and the access point, as measured by the UE.

19. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the triggering event comprises an interruption of the connection.

20. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the receiving comprises receiving the message with the UE-specific authorization, the target information, and the condition.

21. The method according to claim 20 ,

wherein the message further indicates, for each of the indicated target access points, connection information to be used by the UE for connecting to this target access point, and

wherein the UE performs the switching to said one or more of the plurality of target access points on the basis of the indicated information.

22. The method according to claim 20 ,

wherein the message further indicates a priority order of the target access points, and

wherein the UE determines said one or more of the plurality of target access points depending on the indicated priority order.

23. The method according to claim 16 , comprising:

the UE receiving the message in response to establishing the connection between the UE and the communication network.

24. The method of claim 20 , wherein the message comprises multiple conditions to be evaluated by the UE for triggering the switch of the connection to the one or more of the plurality of target access points.

25. The method according to claim 16 , comprising:

after switching to said one or more of the plurality of target access points, the UE indicating access point information related to the access point to this target access point.

26. An access point for a wireless communication network, the access point comprising:

a radio interface configured to serve a connection to a user equipment (UE), the connection comprising a radio link between the UE and the access point of the wireless communication network; and

at least one processor, the at least one processor being configured to:

form the connection between the UE and the wireless communication network;

determine a plurality of target access points; and

send to the UE:

a message comprising target information indicating said plurality of target access points and a UE-specific authorization authorizing the UE to autonomously switch the connection comprising the radio link between the UE and the access point to one or more of the plurality of target access points; and

a condition to be evaluated by the UE for triggering the switch of the connection comprising the radio link between the UE and the access point to the one or more of the plurality of target access points; and

wherein the access point sends, prior to the condition to be evaluated occurring, to each of the plurality of target access points, preparation information related to the UE for preparing a receiving target access point for a potential switching of the connection by the UE according to the condition;

wherein the message comprises a first indication of a time period in which the UE is authorized to autonomously switch the connection; and

wherein the preparation information comprises a second indication of a time period in which the UE is authorized to autonomously switch the connection.

27. The access point according to claim 26 ,

wherein the at least one processor being configured to send the UE-specific authorization, the target information, and the condition in the message.

28. The access point according to claim 27 ,

wherein the message further indicates, for each of the target access points, connection information to be used by the UE for connecting to this target access point.

29. The access point according to claim 27 ,

wherein the message further indicates a priority order of the target access points.

30. The access point according to claim 26 ,

wherein the at least one processor is configured to send the message in response to establishing the connection between the UE and the communication network.

31. The access point according to claim 26 ,

wherein the at least one processor is configured to:

determine a failure probability of a radio link between the UE and the access point, and

send the UE-specific authorization in response to the failure probability being above a threshold.

32. The access point according to claim 26 ,

wherein the at least one processor is configured to:

measure a quality of a radio link between the UE and the access point; and

send the UE-specific authorization in response to the quality of the radio link being below a threshold.

33. The access point according to claim 26 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to:

measure a velocity of the UE; and

send the UE-specific authorization in response to the velocity being above a threshold.

34. The access point according to claim 26 ,

wherein the at least one processor is configured to send the message in response to determining that a further plurality of target access points, which was previously indicated to the UE, is no longer valid.

35. The access point according to claim 26 ,

wherein the at least one processor is configured to:

after switching of the connection to one or more of the plurality of target access points, receive a request from this target access point, and

in response to the request, send additional information related to the UE to this target access point.

36. A user equipment (UE), comprising:

a radio interface configured to establish a connection to a wireless communication network; and

at least one processor, the at least one processor being configured to:

form the connection between the UE and the wireless communication network, the connection comprising a radio link between the UE and an access point of the wireless communication network, wherein the access point of the wireless communication network serves the connection between the UE and the wireless communication network;

receive from the access point:

a message comprising target information indicating a plurality of target access points and an authorization authorizing the UE to autonomously switch the connection comprising the radio link between the UE and the access point to one or more of the plurality of target access points; and

a condition to be evaluated by the UE for triggering the switch of the connection comprising the radio link between the UE and the access point to the one or more of the target access points;

detect a triggering event in accordance with evaluating the condition; and

in response to detecting the triggering event, switch the connection to one or more of the plurality of target access points, wherein each of the plurality of target access points received preparation information, prior to the condition to be evaluated by the UE occurring, related to the UE for preparing a receiving target access point for a potential switching of the connection by the UE according to the condition;

wherein the message comprises a first indication of a time period in which the UE is authorized to autonomously switch the connection; and

wherein the preparation information comprises a second indication of a time period in which the UE is authorized to autonomously switch the connection.

37. The UE according to claim 36 ,

wherein the triggering event is based on a quality of a radio link between the UE and said one or more of the plurality of target access points, as measured by the UE.

38. The UE according to claim 36 ,

wherein the triggering event is based on a quality of a radio link between the UE and the access point, as measured by the UE.

39. The UE according to claim 36 , wherein the triggering event comprises an interruption of the connection.

40. The UE according to claim 36 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to receive the UE-specific authorization, the target information, and the condition in the message.

41. The UE according to claim 40 ,

wherein the message further indicates, for each of the indicated target access points, connection information to be used by the UE for connecting to this target access point, and

wherein the at least one processor is configured to perform the switching to said one or more of the plurality of target access points on the basis of the indicated information.

42. The UE according to claim 40 ,

wherein the message further indicates a priority order of the target access points; and

wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine said one or more of the plurality of target access points depending on the indicated priority order.

43. The UE according to claim 36 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to receive the message in response to establishing the connection between the UE and the communication network.

44. The UE according to claim 36 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to indicate, after switching to said one or more of the plurality of target access points, access point information related to the access point to this target access point.