Device and method for network selection and network switching

A method for use in a network device communicating with user equipment (UE), the method comprising:

• requesting the UE to report speed information;
• obtaining location information of the UE via a wireless network location system that includes a plurality of fixed beacons in communication with a location server, the location information being obtained through:
• (a) the plurality of fixed beacons each receiving an uplink signal from the UE at substantially the same time, the plurality of fixed beacons each extracting location parameters from the respective uplink signal, the plurality of fixed beacons each transmitting the respective extracted location parameters to the location server, the location server calculating the location information of the UE based on the extracted location parameters transmitted from the plurality of fixed beacons, and the location server transmitting the calculated location information to the UE,
• (b) the UE receiving downlink signals simultaneously transmitted from each of the plurality of fixed beacons, the UE extracting location parameters from each of the downlink signals, the UE transmitting the extracted location parameters to the location server, the location server calculating the location information of the UE based on the extracted location parameters transmitted from the plurality of fixed beacons, and the location server transmitting the calculated location information to the UE, or
• (c) the plurality of fixed beacons each receiving an uplink signal from the UE at substantially the same time, the plurality of fixed beacons each extracting location parameters from the respective uplink signal, the plurality of fixed beacons each transmitting the respective extracted location parameters to the UE, and the UE calculating the location information of the UE based on the extracted location parameters transmitted from the plurality of fixed beacons;
• determining the speed information of the UE based on the determined location information;
• determining whether to switch network for the UE based on the speed information of the UE;
• comparing a speed offset of the UE with a threshold offset value, the speed offset being a magnitude of a change of speed in a predetermined time period;
• and
• if the speed offset of the UE is greater than the threshold offset value, determining not to switch network for the UE.

A user equipment (UE) communicating with a network device, the UE comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory for storing instructions executable by the processor;
• wherein
• the processor is configured to:
• receive a request from the network device for reporting speed information of the UE;
• obtain location information of the UE via a wireless network location system that includes a plurality of fixed beacons in communication with a location server, the location information being obtained through:
• (a) the plurality of fixed beacons each receiving an uplink signal from the UE at substantially the same time, the plurality of fixed beacons each extracting location parameters from the respective uplink signal, the plurality of fixed beacons each transmitting the respective extracted location parameters to the location server, the location server calculating the location information of the UE based on the extracted location parameters transmitted from the plurality of fixed beacons, and the location server transmitting the calculated location information to the UE,
• (b) the UE receiving downlink signals simultaneously transmitted from each of the plurality of fixed beacons, the UE extracting location parameters from each of the downlink signals, the UE transmitting the extracted location parameters to the location server, the location server calculating the location information of the UE based on the extracted location parameters transmitted from the plurality of fixed beacons, and the location server transmitting the calculated location information to the UE, or
• (c) the plurality of fixed beacons each receiving an uplink signal from the UE at substantially the same time, the plurality of fixed beacons each extracting location parameters from the respective uplink signal, the plurality of fixed beacons each transmitting the respective extracted location parameters to the UE, and the UE calculating the location information of the UE based on the extracted location parameters transmitted from the plurality of fixed beacons;
• determine the speed information of the UE based on the determined location information, the speed information including a speed offset, the speed offset being a magnitude of a change of speed in a predetermined time period;
• and
• transmit the speed information to the network device.