Distributed access network discovery and selection function and method of operating the same

A user equipment operable with a Third Generation Partnership Project (“3GPP”) radio access network and a Wireless Fidelity (“Wi-Fi”) radio access network coupled to a core network, comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• memory including computer program code, said memory and said computer program code configured to, with said processor, cause said user equipment to perform at least the following:
• provide a location of said user equipment to an access network discovery and selection function (“ANDSF”) server in said core network;
• report Wi-Fi radio access technology data from the user equipment to one of a plurality of ANDSF servers in said 3GPP radio access network over an enhanced S14 interface,
• said user equipment being assigned by said ANDSF server in said core network to said one of a plurality of ANDSF servers in said 3GPP radio access network, and
• said Wi-Fi radio access technology data including a basis service set (“BSS”) load indication, security information, quality of experience information, backhaul network bandwidth and average throughput;
• request local heterogeneous network extension subtree data from said ANDSF server in said 3GPP radio access network or said ANDSF server in said core network;
• and
• receive policy information from said ANDSF server in said 3GPP radio access network based on conditions in said Wi-Fi radio access network and said 3GPP radio access network.

A method for operating an access network discovery and selection function (“ANDSF”) server operable with a Third Generation Partnership Project ("3GPP") radio access network and a Wireless Fidelity “Wi-Fi”) radio access network coupled to a core network, comprising:

• receiving a report including Wi-Fi radio access technology data from a user equipment over an enhanced S14 interface,
• said user equipment being assigned by an ANDSF server in said core network to said ANDSF server in said 3GPP radio access network based on a location of said user equipment provided to said ANDSF server in said core network,
• said Wi-Fi radio access technology data including a basis service set “BSS”) load indication, security information, quality of experience information, backhaul network bandwidth and average throughput;
• receiving a request for local heterogeneous network extension subtree data from said user equipment;
• and
• providing policy information to said user equipment based on conditions in said Wi-Fi radio access network and said 3GPP radio access network.

An access network discovery and selection function (“ANDSF”) server operable with a Third Generation Partnership Project (“3GPP”) radio access network and a Wireless Fidelity (“Wi-Fi”) radio access network coupled to a core network, comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• memory including computer program code, said memory and said computer program code configured to, with said processor, cause said ANDSF server to perform at least the following:
• receive a report including Wi-Fi radio access technology data from a user equipment over an enhanced S14 interface,
• said user equipment being assigned by an ANDSF server in said core network to said ANDSF server in said 3GPP radio access network based on a location of said user equipment provided to said ANDSF server in said core network,
• said Wi-Fi radio access technology data including a basis service set (“BSS”) load indication, security information, quality of experience information, backhaul network bandwidth and average throughput
• receive a request for local heterogeneous network extension subtree data from said user equipment;
• and
• provide policy information to said user equipment based on conditions in said Wi-Fi radio access network and said 3GPP radio access network.