Methods, apparatuses, and systems for retrieving data from a wireless local area network (WLAN) access point

A method to be performed by an element manager that manages a plurality of network elements, the method comprising:

• periodically sending a request for a value of a counter to a wireless local area network (WLAN) access point (AP);
• receiving a first message including the value of the counter from the WLAN AP responsive to the request;
• sending a second message including the value of the counter to a network manager that manages a Long Term Evolution Advanced (LTE-A) network;
• and
• determining a time period between sending successive periodic requests to the WLAN AP for the value of the counter based on a size of the counter and the received values of the counter.

One or more non-transitory computer readable media having instructions, stored thereon, that when executed cause an element manager that manages a plurality of network elements to:

• process a first data request from a network manager that manages a Long Term Evolution Advanced (LTE-A) network;
• transmit a second data request to a wireless local area network (WLAN) access point (AP) directly or via a WLAN access controller, the second data request having a different format from the first data request;
• process data from the WLAN AP received in response to the second data request, wherein the data includes a value of a counter maintained by the WLAN AP, and wherein the data is received directly from the WLAN AP or via the WLAN access controller;
• transmit the data to the network manager via a Type-2 interface;
• and
• periodically repeat the transmission of the second data request to the WLAN AP, wherein a time period between successive transmissions of the second data request is determined based on a size of the counter.