Method and an apparatus for access network selection in a wireless communication system

A method for selecting an access network by a network node, the method comprising:

• determining whether at least one cellular access network is overloaded;
• determining whether at least one wireless local area network (WLAN) access network is overloaded;
• determining priorities for the at least one cellular access network and at least one WLAN access network;
• selecting one access network among the at least one WLAN access network based on information for access network selection, if the at least one WLAN access network is determined to have a higher priority than the at least one cellular access network, and if each the at least one cellular access network is determined to be overloaded and each of the at least one WLAN access network is determined to be overloaded;
• and
• transmitting information on the selected WLAN access network to a user equipment (UE).

A user equipment (UE) for selecting an access network, the UE comprising:

• a transceiving module;
• and
• a processor,
• wherein the processor is configured to:
• determine whether at least one cellular access network is overloaded;
• determine whether at least one wireless local area network (WLAN) access network is overloaded;
• determine priorities for the at least one cellular access network and at least one WLAN access network;
• and
• select one access network among the at least one WLAN access network based on information for access network selection, if the at least one WLAN access network is determined to have a higher priority than the at least one cellular access network, and if each the at least one cellular access network is determined to be overloaded and each of the at least one WLAN access network is determined to be overloaded.

A network node for selecting an access network, the network node comprising:

• a transceiving module;
• and
• a processor,
• wherein the processor is configured to:
• determine whether at least one cellular access network is overloaded;
• determine whether at least one wireless local area network (WLAN) access network is overloaded;
• determine priorities for the at least one cellular access network and at least one WLAN access network;
• select one access network among the at least one WLAN access network based on information for access network selection, if the at least one WLAN access network is determined to have a higher priority than the at least one cellular access network, and if each the at least one cellular access network is determined to be overloaded and each of the at least one WLAN access network is determined to be overloaded;
• and
• transmit, using the transceiving module, information on the selected WLAN access network to a user equipment (UE).