Method of Seamless Policy Based Network Discovery, Selection and Switching

A method for seamless policy based network discovery, selection and switching of a user equipment (UE), characterised by the steps of:

• retrieving existing network selection policy information for current UE location stored on the UE;
• contacting network policy control server of current UE location if existing network selection policy information for current UE location is not available or expired on the UE;
• performing network authentication procedure with the network policy control server;
• securing communication channel between the UE and the network policy control server using an encryption method derived from the network authentication procedure if the network policy control server request a secured channel;
• requesting a network selection policy information from the network policy control server;
• storing the network selection policy information received from the network policy control server;
• extracting the network selection policy information received from the network policy control server wherein the network selection policy information is comprises of rule priority, access network type, access network priority, a plurality of sets of validity area conditions, a plurality of sets of validity time conditions and a plurality of sets of access point security information;
• evaluating a first set of UE local operating environment conditions by comparing the plurality of sets of validity time conditions with UE local time, comparing the plurality of sets of validity area conditions with UE current location;
• provisioning the plurality of sets of access point security information on UE if the UE local time and the UE current location matching within the plurality of sets of validity time condition and the plurality of sets of validity area condition;
• evaluating a second set of UE local operating environment conditions by checking UE battery level, then evaluating signal strength of the discovered networks and evaluating type of the discovered networks;
• performing network switch;
• evaluating a third set of UE local operating environment conditions by checking internet accessibility;
• establishing a wireless local area network (WLAN) interworking procedures;
• diagnosing the quality of service of connected network connection.