Apparatus and method for multi-network connectivity with a dynamic node selection

A non-transitory machine-readable medium, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a first processing system including a first processor, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising:

• identifying a first preference level of the first processing system to serve as an anchor node;
• receiving a first message from a second processing system including a second processor, wherein the first message includes a second preference level of the second processing system to serve as the anchor node, and wherein the second preference level is based on an amount of load accommodated by the second processing system, an uplink capacity associated with the second processing system, a downlink capacity associated with the second processing system, an amount of available communication frequency bands associated with the second processing system, and an amount of transmission power that the second processing system has to communicate with a communication device;
• determining that an application executed by the communication device in receiving a service would benefit from dual connectivity with respect to a plurality of networks;
• and
• responsive to the determining, selecting only one of a third processing system including a third processor and a fourth processing system including a fourth processor in accordance with a third preference level associated with the third processing system and a fourth preference level associated with the fourth processing system, resulting in a selected processing system;
• and
• responsive to the determining, enabling dual connectivity on the communication device such that the communication device is simultaneously connected to:
• one of the first processing system or the second processing system;
• and
• the selected processing system,
• wherein the first processing system and the second processing system are associated with a first network of the plurality of networks, and
• wherein the third processing system and the fourth processing system are associated with a second network of the plurality of networks.

A method, comprising:

• receiving, by a first processing system including a first processor, a request for a service from a communication device to facilitate a communication session;
• receiving, by the first processing system, a measurement associated with a transmission by the first processing system, wherein the transmission facilitates the communication session via a first network;
• responsive to the receiving of the measurement, comparing, by the first processing system, a first preference level and a second preference level, wherein the first preference level indicates a preference of the first processing system to serve as an anchor node, wherein the second preference level indicates a preference of a second processing system to serve as the anchor node, wherein the second preference level is different from the first preference level, and wherein the second preference level is based on an amount of load accommodated by the second processing system, an uplink capacity associated with the second processing system, a downlink capacity associated with the second processing system, an amount of available communication frequency bands associated with the second processing system, and an amount of transmission power that the second processing system has to communicate with the communication device;
• responsive to the comparing:
• causing, by the first processing system, the second processing system to serve as the anchor node during the communication session when the second preference level and the first preference level indicate that the second processing system is preferred as the anchor node, such that a first portion of the service is facilitated by the second processing system via the first network;
• and
• causing, by the first processing system, the first processing system to serve as the anchor node during the communication session when the second preference level and the first preference level indicate that the first processing system is preferred as the anchor node, such that the first portion of the service is facilitated by the first processing system via the first network;
• selecting, by the first processing system, only one of a third processing system and a fourth processing system in accordance with a third preference level associated with the third processing system and a fourth preference level associated with the fourth processing system, resulting in a selected processing system;
• and
• causing, by the first processing system, a second portion of the service to be facilitated by the selected processing system.