Data communications

A method of controlling a mobile node in a data communications network including a plurality of different radio access technologies, the mobile node including:

• a first radio interface for communicating via a first radio access technology;
• and
• a second radio interface for communicating via a second radio access technology, the method comprising acts of:
• assigning a priority to each of said first and second radio interfaces indicative of an order in which the radio interfaces are to be selected, and
• dynamically updating said priority order in response to a trigger indicating a halt in data traffic being communicated.

A method of controlling a mobile node in a data communications network including a plurality of different radio access technologies, the mobile node including:

• a first radio interface for communicating via a first radio access technology;
• and
• a second radio interface for communicating via a second radio access technology,
• the mobile node having an application requiring the mobile node to communicate user data traffic with a remote node, said user data traffic being capable of being communicated via both said first radio interface and said second radio interface,
• wherein the method comprises acts of:
• using a mobility protocol for managing mobility of the mobile node between different access nodes, the mobility protocol requiring communication of mobility protocol data traffic with a network entity;
• at a mobility protocol handling node, monitoring user data traffic being communicated between said mobile node and said remote node;
• and
• in response to said monitoring indicating a halt of said user data traffic being communicated, transmitting a command from said mobility protocol handling node to said mobile node, said command indicating to said mobile node to switch on or switch off the power to one of said first or second radio interfaces.

A mobile node comprising:

• a first radio interface for communicating via a first radio access technology;
• and
• a second radio interface for communicating via a second radio access technology,
• wherein mobile protocol handling node is configured to
• assign a priority to each of said first and second radio interfaces, indicative of an order in which the radio interfaces are to be selected, and
• dynamically update said priority order in response to a trigger indicating a halt in data traffic being communicated.

A mobile protocol handling node comprising:

• a first radio interface for communicating via a first radio access technology;
• and
• a second radio interface for communicating via a second radio access technology,
• wherein mobile protocol handling node is configured to
• assign a priority to each of said first and second radio interfaces, indicative of an order in which the radio interfaces are to be selected, and
• dynamically update said priority order in response to a trigger indicating a halt in data traffic being communicated.

Apparatus comprising:

• a first radio interface for communicating via a first radio access technology;
• and
• a second radio interface for communicating via a second radio access technology,
• wherein mobile protocol handling node is configured to
• assign a priority to each of said first and second radio interfaces, indicative of an order in which the radio interfaces are to be selected, and
• dynamically update said priority order in response to a trigger indicating a halt in data traffic being communicated.

Computer software stored on a computer readable memory medium, wherein the computer software is adapted to configure a processor to perform operations, wherein the processor is coupled to a first radio interface for communicating via a first radio access technology;

• and
• a second radio interface for communicating via a second radio access technology, wherein the operations comprise acts of
• assigning a priority to each of said first and second radio interfaces are assigned a priority, indicative of an order in which the radio interfaces are to be selected, and
• dynamically updating said priority order in response to a trigger indicating a halt in data traffic being communicated.