# US 2014/0153546 A1 · Method and an apparatus for access network selection in a wireless communication system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0153546 A1 - Document ID: US20140153546A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/074,146 - Filed: 2013-11-07 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-11-07 - Assignees: LG Electronics Inc. - Applicants: LG Electronics Inc. - Inventors: Laeyoung KIM; Jaehyun KIM; Taehyeon KIM; Hyunsook KIM - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140153546A1 ## CPC - H04W 48/18: Selecting a network or a communication service - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract A wireless communication system is disclosed. More particularly, access network selection scheme in a wireless communication system are disclosed. A method for selecting an access network by a user equipment (UE) may comprise: 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; and 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for selecting an access network by a user equipment (UE), 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; and 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the priorities are determined for a specific packet data network (PDN) connection or a specific internet protocol (IP) flow. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method according to claim 2, wherein the specific PDN connection or the specific internet protocol flow is established via the selected WLAN access network. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one WLAN access network is determined to be overloaded if a value of a load related parameter of the at least one WLAN access network is higher than a predetermined threshold. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method according to claim 4, wherein load related parameter includes at least one of: information explicitly indicating that the at least one WLAN is overloaded, information on total number of stations associated with at least one BSS of the at least one WLAN access network, information on the percentage of time at least one access point (AP) of the at least one WLAN access network sensed that the medium was busy, information on the remaining amount of medium time available via explicit admission control, information on backhaul network to which the at least one WLAN is connected, or information on throughput measured by the UE. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one cellular access network is determined to be overloaded if a back-off timer is running for the at least one cellular access network. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein information on the back-off timer is provided by a network node. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one cellular access network is at least one accessible cellular access network, and wherein the at least one WLAN access network is at least one accessible WLAN access network. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the UE is associated with one of the at least one WLAN access network. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the information for access network selection is provided by a network node. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein the network node is at least one of: a Access Network Discovery and Selection Function (ANDSF), a Policy and Charging Rule Function (PCRF), a Mobility Management Entity (MME), serving GPRS (general packet radio service) supporting node (SGSN), PDN-gateway, Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN), Authentication, Authorization and Accounting (AAA) server, Trusted WLAN Access Network (TWAN), a base station, an eNodeB, WLAN access point (AP), or Access Network Query Protocol (ANQP) server. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the information for access network selection includes at least one of: information on priority or preference for the at least one WLAN access network, load status or congestion information of at least one WLAN access network, load status or congestion information of at least one cellular access network, policy or rule information for access network discovery and selection, subscription information, PDN connection information, information on whether to apply Multi Access PDN Connectivity (MAPCON), IP flow information, service information, bearer information, operator policy information, user preference information, local policy information, load status information of a core network, information on a roaming/non-roaming status of the UE, capability of the UE, time information, location information, history information on load status of the at least one WLAN access network, or history information on load information of the at least one cellular access network. ### Claim 13 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). ### Claim 14 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. ### Claim 15 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).