Network-instructed handover from WLAN to another radio access network

A Wireless Local Access Network, WLAN, access node comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• memory containing instructions executable by the processor whereby the WLAN access node is operative to:
• determine that a handover of a wireless device from a WLAN to another radio access network of a different radio access technology is to be performed;
• and
• instruct the wireless device to perform a handover from the WLAN to a radio access network of a different radio access technology, wherein instructing the wireless device to perform the handover from the WLAN to the radio access network of the different radio access technology comprises transmitting, to the wireless device, a Basic Service Set, BSS, Transition Management, BTM, frame with zero neighbor report elements and with information regarding the handover instruction in one or more vendor-specific elements within the BTM frame.

A method of operation of a wireless device, comprising:

• communicating with a Wireless Local Access Network, WLAN, access node;
• receiving a handover instruction from the WLAN access node to perform a handover from a WLAN to another radio access network of a different radio access technology, the handover instruction comprising a Basic Service Set, BSS, Transition Management, BTM, frame with zero neighbor report elements and with information regarding the handover instruction in one or more vendor-specific elements within the BTM frame, which is interpreted by the wireless device as an instruction to handover to the other radio access network of the different radio access technology;
• and
• performing the handover in response to receiving the handover instruction.

A wireless device comprising:

• a transceiver;
• a processor;
• and
• memory containing instructions executable by the processor whereby the wireless device is operative to:
• communicate with a Wireless Local Access Network, WLAN, access node of a WLAN via the transceiver;
• receive, via the transceiver, a handover instruction from the WLAN access node to perform a handover from the WLAN to another radio access network of a different radio access technology, the handover instruction comprising a Basic Service Set, BSS, Transition Management, BTM, frame with zero neighbor report elements and with information regarding the handover instruction in one or more vendor-specific elements within the BTM frame, which is interpreted by the wireless device as an instruction to handover to the other radio access network of the different radio access technology;
• and
• perform the handover in response to receiving the handover instruction.