Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for providing a network-instructed handover of a wireless device from a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) to a Radio Access Network (RAN) of another Radio Access Technology (RAT), e.g., a 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) or 3rd Generation Partnership Project 2 (3GPP2) RAT. In one embodiment, a WLAN access node determines that a handover of a wireless device from the WLAN to another RAN of a different RAT is to be performed and transmits a handover instruction to the wireless device that instructs the wireless device to perform a handover from the WLAN to a RAN of a different RAT. In this manner, the WLAN access node is able to steer the wireless device from the WLAN to a RAN of a different RAT.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for authenticating a mobile device in a second mobile access network when the mobile device is already authenticated in a first mobile access network. An access device receives an authentication request from the mobile device. The access device obtains secondary authentication information derived from primary authentication information used in an authentication procedure to authenticate the mobile device with the first mobile access network. The access device then uses the secondary authentication information to authenticate the mobile device in the second mobile access network. An advantage of this method is that authentication credentials can be re-used to a certain extent to improve the speed of authentication in the second network and reduce the amount of signalling and processing required to authenticate the mobile device in the second network.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for authenticating a mobile device in a second network when the mobile device is already authenticated in a first network. An authentication device in the first network generates an authentication master key associated with the mobile device using a first nonce generated by the authentication device and a second nonce generated by the mobile device. The generated authentication master key is sent to a second authentication device in the second network, where is usable by the second authentication device to authenticate the mobile device in the second network.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for operating a network entity in a communications network. The communications network includes a radio access network including a base station serving a user equipment, and a wireless network including wireless access points. A set of available wireless access points are selected from the wireless access points based on network information associated with radio access network resources, core network part resources, and/or wireless network resources. Wireless access point information associated with the characteristics of the set of available wireless access points is generated for use by the user equipment to access the available wireless access points. The network entity transmits the wireless access point information via base station to the user equipment. The wireless access point information may include rules or conditions for use by the user equipment in determining an available wireless access point to access.

Abstract: A method of controlling a receiver of a data unit communication from a data source is described, said receiver being associated with a first terminal of a data unit communication network providing said first terminal with a transport service characterized by a set of values associated with respective service quality parameters, said service quality parameters comprising a Guaranteed Bit Rate (GBR), said data source being associated with a second terminal. The method comprises determining, by the receiver, whether a received data unit contains an Explicit Congestion Notification (ECN). If said ECN is detected, the method further comprises sending, from the receiver, to said data source a message for adjusting a data transmission rate of said data source, said message indicating as an upper bound for said data transmission rate a value corresponding to a value associated with the GBR for said first transport service.

Abstract: The present disclosure presents method, network nodes and computer program for improving a dual band user equipment, UE/STA, mobility from a first access node, e.g. an eNB, arranged to operate according to a first radio access technology to at least one second access node, e.g. a WLAN AP, arranged to operate according to a second radio access technology. A communications interface is arranged for direct communication between the first access node and the respective second access node. The method, as performed in the first access node, comprises retrieving (S32) resource management related information of the second access node relevant for the user equipment UE/STA over the communications interface.

Abstract: A method is described performed by a wireless communication system comprising a Wireless Local Area Network, WLAN, (110) and a radio access network, RAN, (120) for efficient usage of communication resources in the WLAN and the RAN, the WLAN comprising a WLAN control node (112, 114) and the RAN comprising a RAN control node (122, 124). The method comprises providing the RAN control node (122, 124) with a WLAN MAC-address of a user equipment, UE (100), connected to the RAN, sending, by the UE (100) to the RAN control node (122, 124), signal quality measurements performed by the UE on a downlink, DL, signal received from the WLAN control node and sending, by the UE (100), an identity of the WLAN control node to the RAN control node (122, 124).

Abstract: There is provided a method of operating a network node in a first network that is operating according to a first radio access technology, RAT, the network node controlling a first cell in the first network, the method comprising receiving information for a terminal device served by the first cell (913; 1113), the received information corresponding to information for the terminal device that was provided to the terminal device from another cell of the first network, the information being for use in a network interworking feature that enables and controls interworking between the first network and a network operating according to a second RAT.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method (50) in a base station (21) for handling handover of a user equipment (31) from the base station (21) to one of two or more target base stations (23, 25). The method (50) comprises the steps of: detecting (51) a physical cell identity confusion situation; initiating (52) handover preparations towards the two or more target base stations (23, 25) including conveying an information element to the two or more target base stations (23, 25); receiving (53) response messages from the two or more target base stations (23, 25), the response messages being based on the transmitted information element and thus being identical; transmitting (54) to the user equipment (31) a unique handover message, enabling the user equipment (31) to perform a handover to appropriate target base station (25). The invention also relates to base stations, computer programs and computer program products.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method performed in a first access node in a wireless network of establishing a communications interface between the first access node arranged to operate according to a first radio access technology and one or more second access nodes arranged to operate according to a second radio access technology. The one or more second access nodes are discovered (S31) based on receipt of respective radio signals representative of each second access node. A second access node of the discovered one or more second access nodes is selected (S32) for establishing a communications interface with. A transport address is derived (S33) for the selected second access node from a node related identity retrieved in the radio signal and an interface setup request message is sent (S34) to the selected second access node. The communications interface is established upon receipt (S35) of an interface setup response message from the selected second access node.

Abstract: A method, User Equipment (UE), and first base station serving a first cell for performing an access request by the UE for operatively connecting the UE to a second cell. The UE obtains radio quality parameters indicating quality of radio reception between the UE and the first and second cells. Based on the obtained radio quality parameters, it is determined whether the UE is in a link imbalance zone where the UE has an option to be connected to both the first cell and the second cell. If so, the UE sends access request information, to the first base station and indicates availability of the UE to be redirected to the second cell. The first base station may redirect the UE to the second cell when a load of the first cell meets pre-defined load criteria.

Abstract: A method (20) in an access node (4) of a communication system (1) for enabling assignment of a gateway (6) thereto is provided. The communication system (1) comprises a core network node (7) and the access node (4) has one or more neighboring base stations (2, 3). The method (20) comprises acquiring (21) gateway identification information, wherein the gateway identification information identifies a gateway (6) used by a neighboring base station (2, 3) to the access node (4), and transmitting (22) the acquired gateway identification information to the core network node (7), for enabling the core network node (7) to assign the gateway (6) to the access node (4). An access node, methods in a base station, base station, methods in a user equipment and a user equipment are also provided.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for exchanging load information between a first node and a co-located second node in a wireless communications access network. The first node uses a first Radio Access Technology (RAT) and the second node uses a second RAT. The first node determines the identity of the co-located second node. It then establishes a load information interface between the first node and the co-located second node. Load information can then be directly exchanged with the co-located second node using the established load information interface.

Abstract: Example embodiments presented herein are directed towards a wireless device and core network node, as well as corresponding methods therein, for managing a data flow between a network access type 1 and a network access type 2. According to some examples, access type 1 may be a 3GPP access and access type 2 may be a non-3GPP access. The wireless device is connectable to both the networks of access types 1 and 2.

Abstract: There is provided a method for controlling different parts of a terminal that are able to communicate over at least a first radio access technology protocol and a second radio access technology protocol, where said first and second radio access technology protocols are different and wherein said method includes the steps of detecting (1301) in logical parts that operate a first radio access technology protocol that at least parts of a second radio access technology protocol should be activated or deactivated; transmitting (1303) an indication from logical parts that operates a first radio access technology protocol to logical parts that operates a second radio access technology protocol where said indication is an input to said logical parts that operate the second radio access technology protocol to activate or deactivate parts of second radio access technology protocol.

Abstract: A cell in a mobile terminal is selected from a set of serving cell candidates. A first serving cell candidate is evaluated from the set by estimating the distance from the mobile terminal to the first serving cell candidate and determining whether the estimated distance exceeds a predetermined distance, based on a criterion. In response to determining that the estimated distance exceeds the predetermined distance, no call (i.e., the executing process refrains from performing a call) on the first serving cell candidate occurs and a second serving cell candidate from the set is evaluated—even if the mobile terminal is receiving the strongest radio signals from the first serving cell candidate. In response to determining that the estimated distance exceeds the predetermined distance, identity of the first serving cell candidate is reported to an Operating Sub System (OSS).

Abstract: There is provided a method of operating a terminal in a first network that is operating according to a first radio access technology, RAT, the method comprising receiving (171) a message from the first network, the message being for configuring the terminal with a set of criteria for enabling, detecting and/or performing measurements over a second RAT; determining (173) if the set of criteria in the message are fulfilled by a network operating according to a second RAT; and steering (175) all or a subset of the traffic for the terminal to the network operating according to the second RAT if the set of criteria are fulfilled.

Abstract: It is presented a method for selectively utilising mobility of IP flows. The method is performed in a PGW, and comprises the steps of: establishing an IFOM packet data network connection for a mobile terminal using both a first access network, being a 3GPP network, and a second access network, being a non-3GPP network; receiving an IFOM recommendation message for the mobile terminal from a radio access node of the first access network or a radio access node of the second access network, the IFOM recommendation message comprising an indication of recommended access network for at least one IP flow of the mobile terminal; moving at least one IP flow from the first access network to the second access network, or vice versa, in response to receiving the IFOM recommendation message, wherein each one of the at least one IP flow corresponds to a routing filler.

Abstract: A method of a PGW may improve handover in a network including a 3GPP access network and a non-3GPP access network. For a UE, an IP flow mobility PDN connection is may be set up towards the network. Information may be obtained that for the IP flow mobility PDN connection, there is a first bearer in a first access network, which first bearer has an access parameter with a first value, the first access network being either the non-3GPP access network or the 3GPP access network. Setup of a second bearer may be triggered in a second access network that has an access parameter with the first value, when, for the IP flow mobility PDN connection, there is no bearer that has an access parameter with the first value in the second access network.

Abstract: A method for controlling IP flow mobility is performed in a communication network comprising 3GPP and non-3GPP access networks, wherein a UE has an IP flow mobility PDN connection set up towards the communication network. The method comprises triggering sending to the UE, a number of IP flow specific RAN assistance parameter values for controlling the UE to route an IP flow of the IP flow mobility PDN connection either over the 3GPP access network or the non-3GPP access network. The IP flow specific RAN assistance parameters may be threshold parameters setting a limit for when to route an IP flow to the 3GPP access network or when to route the IP flows to the non-3GPP access network.