Method for determining network standard in wireless communications network, access point device, terminal device, and radio network controller

A method for determining a network standard in a wireless communications network, comprising:

• receiving, by a radio network controller, a decision request message from an access point device, wherein the decision request message indicates another network standard that is requested to be configured on the access point device for use by a first terminal device of a plurality of terminal devices that currently accesses the access point device;
• determining, by the radio network controller according to the decision request message, a same network standard that at least some of the terminal devices request to be configured for use as a target network standard of the access point device, wherein the at least some of the terminal devices comprise the first terminal device and at least another terminal device of the plurality of terminal devices;
• sending, by the radio network controller, a configuration file for configuring the target network standard to the access point device;
• and
• sending, by the radio network controller, a decision response message to the access point device to permit the access point device to communicate a network trigger message to the at least some of the terminal devices that indicates the target network standard is configured on the access point device for use by the at least some of the terminal devices, and wherein the decision response message indicates the target network standard.

An access point device in a wireless communications network, comprising:

• a receiver configured to:
• receive network standard configuration request messages from a plurality of terminal devices, wherein each of the network standard configuration request messages indicates a network standard that needs to be configured on the access point device for use by a terminal device, wherein the access point device comprises a Wi-Fi access point, a home NodeB, an evolved node base station (eNB), or a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) base station;
• receive, by a radio network controller, a decision request message that indicates to the radio network controller that the network standard needs to be configured on the access point device for use by the at least some of the terminal devices;
• and
• receive a decision response message from the radio network controller, wherein the decision response message indicates a target network standard, wherein the target network standard is a network standard that is determined by the radio network controller according to the decision response message and information about the access point device controlled by the radio network controller;
• a processor coupled to the receiver and configured to:
• determine the target network standard according to the decision response message;
• and
• configure the target network standard according to a configuration file;
• and
• a transmitter coupled to the receiver and the processor and configured to send a network standard trigger message to the at least some of the terminal devices that indicates the target network standard is configured on the access point device for use by the at least some of the terminal devices.

A radio network controller in a wireless communications network, comprising:

• a receiver configured to receive a decision request message from an access point device, wherein the decision request message indicates another network standard that is requested to be configured on the access point device for use by a first terminal device of a plurality of terminal devices that currently accesses the access point device;
• a processor coupled to the receiver and configured to determine, according to the decision request message, a same network standard that at least some of the terminal devices request to be configured for use as a target network standard of the access point device, wherein the at least some of the terminal devices comprise the first terminal device and at least another terminal device of the plurality of terminal devices, and to configure the target network standard according to a configuration file;
• and
• a transmitter coupled to the receiver and the processor and configured to send a decision response message to the access point device to permit the access point device to communicate a network trigger message to the at least some of the terminal devices that indicates a target network standard is configured on the access point device for use by the at least some of the terminal devices, and wherein the decision response message indicates the target network standard.