Optimized Timer Value for Controlling Access Network Selection and Traffic Steering in 3GPP/WLAN Radio Interworking1

A method, comprising:

• receiving, at a user equipment from a network element, a timer value indicating a time period during which rules for traffic management by a user equipment have to be fulfilled before the user equipment is allowed to start the traffic management, the traffic management including network selection of initiating a communication session in a first communication network according to a first radio access technology and traffic steering of switching a communication session from the first communication network according to the first radio access technology to a second communication network according to a second radio access technology;
• receiving, by the user equipment from the network element, a scaling factor based on a throughput of the user equipment in a current communication session;
• and
• adjusting the timer value based on the scaling factor.

A network element comprising:

• at least one processor, and
• at least one memory for storing instructions to be executed by the processor, wherein
• the at least one memory and the instructions are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the network element at least to:
• define a timer value indicating a time period during which rules for traffic management by a user equipment have to be fulfilled before the user equipment is allowed to start the traffic management, the traffic management including network selection of initiating a communication session in a communication network according to a first radio access technology and traffic steering of switching a communication session from the first communication network according to the first radio access technology to a second communication network according to a second radio access technology;
• determine a throughput of the user equipment in a current communication session;
• and at least one:
• adjust the timer value based on the throughput of the user equipment;
• and transmit the timer value to the user equipment;
• and
• determine a scaling factor for the timer value based on the throughput of the user equipment;
• and transmit the scaling factor to the user equipment.

A user equipment, comprising:

• at least one processor, and
• at least one memory for storing instructions to be executed by the processor, wherein
• the at least one memory and the instructions are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the user equipment at least to perform
• receiving from a network element, a timer value indicating a time period during which rules for traffic management by a user equipment have to be fulfilled before the user equipment is allowed to start the traffic management, the traffic management including network selection of initiating a communication session in a communication network according to a first radio access technology and traffic steering of switching a communication session from the first communication network according to the first radio access technology to a second communication network according to a second radio access technology;
• receiving from the network element, a scaling factor based on a throughput of the user equipment in a current communication session;
• and
• adjusting the timer value based on the scaling factor.