Carrier selection based on probable mobility of packet flow

An access node comprising:

• a communication interface;
• a processor;
• and
• data storage comprising instructions executable by the processor to:
• maintain correlation data that correlates each of a plurality of packet-flow-type indications with either a high degree of mobility or a low degree of mobility;
• receive a request from an access terminal, the request (a) comprising a packet-flow-type indication and (b) indicating that the access terminal is requesting a packet flow;
• determine, by referencing the correlation data, whether the packet-flow-type indication is associated with a high degree of mobility or rather with a low degree of mobility;
• if the packet-flow-type indication is associated with a high degree of mobility, then instruct the access terminal to conduct the packet flow on a carrier from a first set of one or more carriers, wherein the first set consists of base carriers on which service is provided in a given wireless network;
• and
• if the packet-flow-type indication is associated with a low degree of mobility, then instruct the access terminal to conduct the packet flow on a carrier from a second set of one or more carriers, wherein the second set consists of overlay carriers on which service is provided in the same given wireless network, and further wherein no carriers are elements of both the first set and the second set.

A method comprising:

• maintaining in data storage correlation data that correlates each of a plurality of packet-flow-type indications with either a high degree of mobility or a low degree of mobility;
• receiving, from access terminals, requests to initiate packet flows;
• respectively determining, by referencing the correlation data, whether the requested packet flows are of a type associated with a high degree of mobility or rather with a low degree of mobility;
• respectively instructing the access terminals requesting packet flows of a type associated with a high degree of mobility to conduct those packet flows on base carriers on which service is provided in a given wireless network;
• and
• respectively instructing the access terminals requesting packet flows of a type associated with a low degree of mobility to conduct those packet flows on overlay carriers on which service is provided in the same given wireless network.