Access network selection

1. A method of operating a network gateway in a cellular network to control access of at least one mobile device to a voice service accessible via the cellular network, the at least one mobile device being connected to the network gateway via a wireless access router and wide area network (WAN), the method comprising:

by the network gateway:

receiving a request from the at least one mobile device to access the voice service;

measuring performance metrics for a non-cellular wireless network link to the at least one mobile device;

requesting observed network information from the at least one mobile device; and

comparing a quality of the non-cellular wireless network link to the at least one mobile device against a respective quality of at least one observed network;

if the quality of the non-cellular wireless network link is greater than the quality of an available observed network, allowing the request to proceed to the cellular network; and

if the quality of at least one of the observed networks is higher than the current non-cellular wireless network link, rejecting the voice service request of the at least one mobile device.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving observed network identifiers and signal strength measurements from the at least one mobile device; and

calculating a quality score for each observed network identifier from respective signal strength measurements relating to the observed network.

3. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising receiving observed network identifiers and quality scores calculated by the at least one mobile device.

4. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising sending the identity of at least one of the observed networks having a higher quality score than the non-cellular wireless network link as an alternative network for accessing the voice service.

5. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

monitoring for load conditions on the network gateway; and

modifying the received quality scores of the observed networks.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a Voice over WiFi data path is established between the at least one mobile device and the voice service via the wireless access router and the network gateway.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program comprising instructions which, when the computer program is executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the method of claim 1 .

8. A network gateway for controlling access of at least one mobile device to a voice service accessible via a cellular network, the at least one mobile device being connected to the network gateway via a wireless access router and wide area network (WAN), comprising:

a wide area network interface;

a secure data tunnel controller for receiving a request from the at least one mobile device to access the voice service via the wide area network interface;

means for measuring performance metrics for a non-cellular wireless network link to the at least one mobile device;

means for requesting observed network information from the at least one mobile device; and

means comparing a quality of the non-cellular wireless network link to the at least one mobile device against a respective quality of at least one observed network; and

an access controller configured to:

allow the request to proceed to the cellular network, if the quality of the non-cellular wireless network link is greater than the quality of an available observed network; and

reject the voice service request of the mobile device, if the quality of at least one of the observed networks is higher than the non-cellular wireless network link.

9. The network gateway according to claim 8 , further comprising:

means for receiving observed network identifiers and signal strength measurements from the at least one mobile device; and

means for calculating a quality score for each observed network identifier from respective signal strength measurements relating to the observed network.

10. The network gateway according to claim 8 , further comprising means for receiving observed network identifiers and quality scores calculated by the at least one mobile device.

11. The network gateway according to claim 8 , wherein the access controller is operable to send an identity of at least one of the observed networks having a higher quality score than the non-cellular wireless network link as an alternative for accessing the voice service.

12. The network gateway according to claim 8 , further comprising:

means for monitoring load conditions on the network gateway; and

means for modifying the received quality scores of the observed networks in dependence upon the load conditions.

13. The network gateway according to claim 8 , wherein a Voice over WiFi data path is established between the mobile device and the voice communication service via the wireless access router and the network gateway.

14. A system comprising:

at least one processor and memory for operating a network gateway in a cellular network to control access of at least one mobile device to a voice service accessible via the cellular network, the at least one mobile device being connected to the network gateway via a wireless access router and wide area network (WAN), so as to cause the network gateway to:

receive a request from the at least one mobile device to access the voice service;

measure performance metrics for a non-cellular wireless network link to the at least one mobile device;

request observed network information from the at least one mobile device; and

compare a quality of the non-cellular wireless network link to the at least one mobile device against a respective quality of at least one observed network;

if the quality of the non-cellular wireless network link is greater than the quality of an available observed network, allow the request to proceed to the cellular network; and

if the quality of at least one of the observed networks is higher than the current non-cellular wireless network link, reject the voice service request of the at least one mobile device.