Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided to facilitate interworking a plurality of cellular radio access networks and wireless local area networks (WLANs). In the context of a method, a set of information is maintained for a plurality of different cellular radio access networks that defines a relative priority of selection among the cellular radio access networks. The method also includes maintaining wireless access selection information defining a relative priority of selection among one or more WLANs relative to the cellular radio access networks. The method also permits the relative priority of the WLANs to be modified without modification of the set of information. For example, the relative priority the WLANs may be modified in a manner specific to the user equipment or specific to a cell. The method may also include causing notification to be provided to user equipment of the set of information and the wireless access selection information.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and devices for mutual communication between devices, and to computer programs enabling such communication. According to the invention, in a first device is controlled a transmitter module operable in a local radio communications network to transmit a sequence of radio signal pulses representing a predetermined code. In at least one second device a receiver module is scanning said local radio communications network to detect said predetermined code. A contact network of the user of said at least second device is accessed, and the predetermined code is checked in the second device against the user's contact network for a match stored in the network profiles for the contacts. Then a validation key is fetched, that relates to a matching contact found in said contact network, and a connection establishment request containing the validation key is sent over said local radio communications network from the second device to the first device.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided for steering traffic. In one aspect there is provided a method. The method may include receiving, at a user equipment, a message provided by a base station serving a radio access network, wherein the message includes an indication representative of a preference by the radio access network for traffic associated with at least one of an application, a destination domain, a service, and a traffic type; and determining whether to steer, based on the preference, the traffic to at least one of the radio access network or a wireless local area network served by a wireless local area network access point. Related apparatus, systems, methods, and articles are also described.

Abstract: A method includes receiving packets of a flow at a packet data convergence protocol layer; and based on at least one criterion, routing the flow to one or both of at least one cellular transport radio and a wireless local area network transport radio. Another method includes receiving at a packet data network gateway from an S 1 interface a dynamic host configuration protocol request for a station; one of creating an internet protocol configuration for the station or generating another dynamic host configuration protocol request to a dynamic host configuration protocol server to obtain the internet protocol configuration; and delivering the internet protocol configuration to the station. Apparatus for performing the methods are also disclosed, as are computer-readable program storage devices.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and devices for mutual communication between devices, and to computer programs enabling such communication. According to the invention, in a first device is controlled a transmitter module operable in a local radio communications network to transmit a sequence of radio signal pulses representing a predetermined code. In at least one second device a receiver module is scanning said local radio communications network to detect said predetermined code. A contact network of the user of said at least second device is accessed, and the predetermined code is checked in the second device against the user's contact network for a match stored in the network profiles for the contacts. Then a validation key is fetched, that relates to a matching contact found in said contact network, and a connection establishment request containing the validation key is sent over said local radio communications network from the second device to the first device.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for determining IMS connectivity through non-3GPP access networks. A method is provided for receiving, in response to an access network query, an available public land mobile network (PLMN) list; wherein the PLMN list comprises an IP multimedia subsystem access point name (IMS APN) indication for the respective PLMNs with IMS connectivity; determining, using a processor, if a connection to a home PLMN (HPLMN) can be established using an IMS APN associated with a PLMN from the PLMN list; and prioritizing available wireless local area networks (WLAN) based on the determining if a connection to the HPLMN can be established using the IMS APN for the respective PLMNs of the PLMN list associated with the respective WLANs.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for receiving access network selection information, and obtaining information about whether the received information complies with operator's access network selection policy.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided for steering traffic. In one aspect there is provided a method. The method may include receiving, at a user equipment, a message provided by a base station serving a radio access network, wherein the message includes an indication representative of a preference by the radio access network for traffic associated with at least one of an application, a destination domain, a service, and a traffic type; and determining whether to steer, based on the preference, the traffic to at least one of the radio access network or a wireless local area network served by a wireless local area network access point. Related apparatus, systems, methods, and articles are also described.

Abstract: In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus, comprising a memory configured to store a flow management policy, at least one processing core configured to evaluate the flow management policy, while the apparatus is attached to a first radio access technology, to determine a priority order between at least a second and a third radio access technology with respect to at least one first flow active between the apparatus and the first radio access technology, the at least one processing core being further configured to cause at least one of the at least one first flow to be transferred to the third radio access technology responsive to a determination that for the at least one first flow, the third radio access technology is preferable to the second radio access technology, wherein at least one second flow active between the apparatus and the first radio access technology is not caused to be transferred.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided to facilitate interworking a plurality of cellular radio access networks and wireless local area networks (WLANs). In the context of a method, a set of information is maintained for a plurality of different cellular radio access networks that defines a relative priority of selection among the cellular radio access networks. The method also includes maintaining wireless access selection information defining a relative priority of selection among one or more WLANs relative to the cellular radio access networks. The method also permits the relative priority of the WLANs to be modified without modification of the set of information. For example, the relative priority the WLANs may be modified in a manner specific to the user equipment or specific to a cell. The method may also include causing notification to be provided to user equipment of the set of information and the wireless access selection information.

Abstract: In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus, comprising a memory configured to store a flow management policy, at least one processing core configured to evaluate the flow management policy, while the apparatus is attached to a first radio access technology, to determine a priority order between at least a second and a third radio access technology with respect to at least one first flow active between the apparatus and the first radio access technology, the at least one processing core being further configured to cause at least one of the at least one first flow to be transferred to the third radio access technology responsive to a determination that for the at least one first flow, the third radio access technology is preferable to the second radio access technology, wherein at least one second flow active between the apparatus and the first radio access technology is not caused to be transferred.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for receiving access network selection information, and obtaining information about whether the received information complies with operator's access network selection policy.

Abstract: A provided apparatus is caused to direct establishment of a connection of the apparatus with a core network via a wide area radio access network (RAN), where the core network is coupled to an external network. The apparatus is also caused to select or receive selection of a local area network that is coupled to the same or different external network via one or more local gateways (L-GWs). The apparatus is caused to request selection of a L-GW of the one or more L-GWs from the core network via the wide area RAN, and in response, receive an identity of a selected L-GW. Further, the apparatus is caused to direct contact with the selected L-GW based on the identity, and establishment of a connection of the apparatus with the selected L-GW. The apparatus may thereby be connected to the external network via the local area network and selected L-GW.

Abstract: A method includes receiving packets of a flow at a packet data convergence protocol layer; and based on at least one criterion, routing the flow to one or both of at least one cellular transport radio and a wireless local area network transport radio. Another method includes receiving at a packet data network gateway from an S 1 interface a dynamic host configuration protocol request for a station; one of creating an internet protocol configuration for the station or generating another dynamic host configuration protocol request to a dynamic host configuration protocol server to obtain the internet protocol configuration; and delivering the internet protocol configuration to the station. Apparatus for performing the methods are also disclosed, as are computer-readable program storage devices.

Abstract: In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, a method comprises receiving data dependent offloading parameters at a mobile device, measuring data amount usage of the mobile device, comparing the measured data amount usage to the received data dependent offloading parameters, and determining whether to attempt offloading of data from the mobile device to a complementary network based on the comparison.

Abstract: In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, a user equipment establishes a connection to a local area network, transmits information relating to the local area network to a gateway selection function, the gateway selection function determines whether a method to configure the local area network can be obtained, and the gateway selection function configures the local area network and local route parameters in the user equipment either via the local area network or via a cellular network.

Abstract: A provided apparatus is caused to direct establishment of a connection of the apparatus with a core network via a wide area radio access network (RAN), where the core network is coupled to an external network. The apparatus is also caused to select or receive selection of a local area network that is coupled to the same or different external network via one or more local gateways (L-GWs). The apparatus is caused to request selection of a L-GW of the one or more L-GWs from the core network via the wide area RAN, and in response, receive an identity of a selected L-GW. Further, the apparatus is caused to direct contact with the selected L-GW based on the identity, and establishment of a connection of the apparatus with the selected L-GW. The apparatus may thereby be connected to the external network via the local area network and selected L-GW.

Abstract: In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, a method comprises receiving data dependent offloading parameters at a mobile device, measuring data amount usage of the mobile device, comparing the measured data amount usage to the received data dependent offloading parameters, and determining whether to attempt offloading of data from the mobile device to a complementary network based on the comparison.

Abstract: A method for communication systems configured to provide wireless data communications for users is disclosed. The disclosed method includes communicating information with a node of a radio access part of the communication system. The information includes a first set of quality of service information and a second set of quality of service information. The second set of quality of service information is indicative of the nature of the information of the first set of quality of service information.

Abstract: A channel inverse multiplexer/multiplexer (IMUX/MUX) (14a) of a MAC sublayer (14) of a UTRAN RNC (11) for providing to a UE (18) traffic (communication signals including in general both control and user data) at a higher rate than the UE can accept over a single channel. The channel IMUX/MUX performs inverse multiplexing of traffic for downlink, and multiplexing of traffic on uplink, and does so in a way that is transparent to all other layers/entities of the UTRAN (11 17) and to the UE (18).