Abstract: A communication system is provided which is arranged for accessing a network by a group of first access paths and a group of second access paths. The first and second access paths have a different access technology. An access path monitor is provided for obtaining status information related to the access paths in accordance with the monitoring procedure. An access controller is provided for selecting an access path for a communication session in accordance with a selection procedure and in dependence on the status information. A modifier is provided for modifying one or both of the monitoring procedure and the selection procedure in accordance with a modification procedure and in dependence on decision information.

Abstract: The technology downloads and upgrades terminal software of a communications device over-the-air in a efficient and fail-safe manner. The communication device is provided with radio software from a server via a wireless network including a number of access networks. A download is initiated of radio software designed for a first of two different radio access technologies of the communication device. One of the two radio access technologies of the communication device is selected for downloading the software. The radio software is downloaded via the selected available radio access technology. The radio software designed for the first radio access technology is stored in memory.

Abstract: Packets may be routed in a heterogeneous communications network as follows: for a set of packets comprising at least one packet to be transmitted from a sending node, said sending node being able to handle communication according to at least two access technologies,—selecting in a selection unit in the sending node an access technology for use when transmitting the set of packets,—selecting a receiving node in the network to which to transmit the set of packets among nodes in the network that are able to handle said selected access technology—transmitting the set of packets to the selected receiving node using the selected access technology. Alternatively, a set of packets may be transmitted to one or more nodes using at least two different access technologies. Depending on the transmission quality, one node may be selected to forward the set of packets.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of routing traffic from a sender to a receiver in a communication network said method comprising for at least two possible routes between the sender and the receiver the step of calculating at least one metric for at least one link in each route, characterized by the steps of calculating a sensitivity parameter for said at least one metric and taking said sensitivity parameter into account when selecting a route. The sensitivity parameter may be based on a derivative of said metric with respect to a variable on which said metric depends. The method may also comprise the step of calculating a reliability parameter for said at least one metric and taking said reliability parameter into account when selecting a route.

Abstract: A mobile ambient network (MAN) negotiator 106 is provided for negotiating with ambient access networks (AANs) 102 on behalf of a MAN 104 to select a particular AAN to handle a wireless communication session for the MAN. The MAN is, e.g., either a user terminal (UT) or a private area network (PAN). The negotiations performed by the MAN negotiator on behalf of the MAN include establishing a secure, trusted relationship between the MAN and the AAN, as well as negotiating costs, billing arrangements and the like. The MAN negotiator communicates with the MAN via a dedicated wireless communication channel but preferably communicates with the AANs via non-wireless, i.e. fixed, connections.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of routing traffic from a sender to a receiver in a communication network said method comprising for at least two possible routes between the sender and the receiver the step of calculating at least one metric for at least one link in each route, characterized by the steps of calculating a sensitivity parameter for said at least one metric and taking said sensitivity parameter into account when selecting a route. The sensitivity parameter may be based on a derivative of said metric with respect to a variable on which said metric depends. The method may also comprise the step of calculating a reliability parameter for said at least one metric and taking said reliability parameter into account when selecting a route.

Abstract: Packets may be routed in a heterogeneous communications network as follows: for a set of packets comprising at least one packet to be transmitted from a sending node, said sending node being able to handle communication according to at least two access technologies, —selecting in a selection unit in the sending node an access technology for use when transmitting the set of packets, —selecting a receiving node in the network to which to transmit the set of packets among nodes in the network that are able to handle said selected access technology—transmitting the set of packets to the selected receiving node using the selected access technology. Alternatively, a set of packets may be transmitted to one or more nodes using at least two different access technologies. Depending on the transmission quality, one node may be selected to forward the set of packets.

Abstract: In a multi-access communication system, a terminal is kept reachable through a first access network, which is most resource efficient one of the available access networks for keeping the terminal reachable. The terminal scans passively for the existence of usable base stations for other access networks of the system and reports data associated with such existences to the first access network. When a request for a call to the terminal is received, a paging is performed in the first access network. The paging message comprises information about preferred access network, based on the reported data of the existence of usable base stations or access points of other access networks. The terminal connects to the preferred access network and performs a call set-up directly in the preferred access network.

Abstract: A method and arrangement for making a handover decision in a multi-access communication network is disclosed. A first set of criteria is determined for when a handover between at least two access paths should be performed and a report is sent when at least one criterion of a first set of criteria is fulfilled. A second set of criteria is determined for when a handover between said at least two access paths should be performed and a report is sent when at least one criterion of said second set of criteria is fulfilled. One or more data sessions of at least one user terminal network are determined to be handed over based on the sent reports and a core network anchor and a terminal anchor are directed to execute a handover by re-routing said determined data sessions from one access path to an alternative access path.

Abstract: The invention is directed towards determining an access node (14, 16) for a terminal (18) in a network (10) having one or more access nodes capable of providing access to the terminal based on one or more access technologies. Access node is selected through determining whether at least one network parameter provided by a network node (12, 14, 16) is required as input for the access node selection for the terminal. If it is determined that the at least one network parameter is required as input, the network parameter is obtained and an access node possibly together with access type for the terminal is selected at least based on said network parameter.

Abstract: A method of access management in a communication system comprising a terminal, a first access point, a second access point and a network is described. The first access point offers a first access connection to the terminal and the second access point offers a second access connection to the terminal. A first network connection is provided between the network and the first access point and a second network connection is provided between the network and the second access point. Access connection information associated with at least one of the first and second access connections is monitored, and network connection information associated with at least one of the first and second network connections is monitored. An access connection selection decision is based on the monitored access connection information and the monitored network connection information.

Abstract: A communication system is provided which is arranged for accessing a network by a group of first access paths and a group of second access paths. The first and second access paths have a different access technology. An access path monitor is provided for obtaining status information related to the access paths in accordance with the monitoring procedure. An access controller is provided for selecting an access path for a communication session in accordance with a selection procedure and in dependence on the status information. A modifier is provided for modifying one or both of the monitoring procedure and the selection procedure in accordance with a modification procedure and in dependence on decision information.

Abstract: A mobile ambient network (MAN) negotiator 106 is provided for negotiating with ambient access networks (AANs) 102 on behalf of a MAN 104 to select a particular AAN to handle a wireless communication session for the MAN. The MAN is, e.g., either a user terminal (UT) or a private area network (PAN). The negotiations performed by the MAN negotiator on behalf of the MAN include establishing a secure, trusted relationship between the MAN and the AAN, as well as negotiating costs, billing arrangements and the like. The MAN negotiator communicates with the MAN via a dedicated wireless communication channel but preferably communicates with the AANs via non-wireless, i.e. fixed, connections.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a communication device (9) and a method that are capable of downloading and upgrading terminal software of the device (9) over-the-air in a efficient and fail-safe manner. The method for providing such a communication device (9) with radio software from a server (1) via a wireless network (19) including a number of access networks (5, 7) comprises the steps of: initiating a download of radio software of a first radio access technology (15, 17) of the communication device (9); selecting a radio access technology (15, 17) of the communication device (9) for downloading the software; downloading the radio software via the available radio access technology (15, 17), wherein the radio software designed for the first radio access technology (15, 17) is stored in a memory space of the storing means (13).

Abstract: In a multi-access communication system, a terminal is kept reachable through a first access network, which is most resource efficient one of the available access networks for keeping the terminal reachable. The terminal scans passively for the existence of usable base stations for other access networks of the system and reports data associated with such existences to the first access network. When a request for a call to the terminal is received, a paging is performed in the first access network. The paging message comprises information about preferred access network, based on the reported data of the existence of usable base stations or access points of other access networks. The terminal connects to the preferred access network and performs a call set-up directly in the preferred access network.