Wireless local area network co-existence with cellular network on un-licensed band
In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, 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 to perform at least the following: detect an indication for a local area network activation; and determine whether or not to terminate a wide area network connection on an unlicensed band in an instance in which the wide area network connection on the unlicensed band is active and the local area network operates on the same unlicensed band.
1. A method comprising:
having, by a user equipment, ongoing connection with a network element of a wide area network in which the wide area network operating on an unlicensed band,
detecting, by the user equipment, an indication for a local area network activation, wherein the local area network operates on a frequency band the same or overlapping with the unlicensed band,
determining, by the user equipment, whether or not to terminate the wide area network connection on the unlicensed band,
in response to a positive result of the determination:
terminating the connection of the wide area network on the unlicensed band, and
in response to termination the connection of the wide area network on the unlicensed band, scanning the local area network and connecting to an access point of the local area network.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the local area network is a wireless local area network (WLAN).
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the wide area network is a long term evolution network (LTE).
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: in response to a positive result of the determination,
sending information associated with the activation of the local area network or information associated with the termination of the wide area network connection on the unlicensed band to the network element of the wide area network.
5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising moving traffic from the wide area network on the unlicensed band to at least one of: the wide area network on a licensed band, another wide band network, and the local area network.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving a notification from a user interface, wherein the notification notifies that the wide area network connection on the unlicensed band is active.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: in response to a positive result of the determination, receiving notification from a user interface that the wide area network connection on the unlicensed band is ongoing and whether to proceed with the termination.
8. 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:
have ongoing connection with a network element of a wide area network in which the wide area network operating on an unlicensed band,
detect an indication for a local area network activation, wherein the local area network operates on a frequency band the same or overlapping with the unlicensed band,
determine whether or not to terminate the wide area network connection on the unlicensed band,
in response to a positive result of the determination:
terminating the connection of the wide area network on the unlicensed band, and
in response to termination the connection of the wide area network on the unlicensed band, scanning the local area network and connecting to an access point of the local area network.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the local area network is a wireless local area network (WLAN).
10. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the wide area network is a long term evolution network (LTE).
11. The apparatus of claim 8 , the apparatus is further caused to, in response to a positive result of the determination,
send information associated with the activation of the local area network or information associated with the termination of the wide area network connection on the unlicensed band to the network element of the wide area network.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 , the apparatus is further caused to move traffic from the wide area network on the unlicensed band to at least one of: the wide area network on a licensed band, another wide band network, and the local area network.
13. The apparatus of claim 11 , the apparatus is further caused to send information on completion of the local area network connection to the network element of the wide area network.
14. The apparatus of claim 8 , the apparatus is further caused to receive a notification from a user interface, wherein the notification notifies that the wide area network connection on the unlicensed band is active.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 , the apparatus is further caused to receive information from the user interface on whether to terminate the wide area network connection on the unlicensed band or use a portion of the unlicensed band only for the local area network connection.
16. The apparatus of claim 14 , the apparatus is further caused to receive a notification from the user interface the wide area network connection on the unlicensed band is to be terminated if the local area network is activated.
17. The apparatus of claim 8 , the apparatus is further caused to, in response to a positive result of the determination, receive notification from a user interface that the wide area network connection on the unlicensed band is ongoing and whether to proceed with the termination.