Means and method for controlling network access in integrated communications networks

A network node comprising a Multi Radio Resource Management, MRRM, function for assisting the control of a User Terminal's, UT's, access to an access network domain, said MRRM function being arranged to communicate with a first access network domain in an integrated radio communications network to which domain a first authorization entity, A1, authorizes UTs access, and being arranged to communicate with a second access network domain in said communications network to which domain a second authorization entity, A2, authorizes UTs access, wherein said network node is configured to perform steps comprising:

• receiving, from said second authorization entity, A2, an indication that said UT is authorized to access said second access network domain according to a local authorization policy, wherein said local authorization policy forms a pre-requisite condition for granting UT access to the second authorization entity;
• receiving at least one radio resource information message, RRIM, from said second access network domain, said message comprising at least one parameter value, X2, of at least one radio resource parameter, P2, related to the traffic load and/or the radio resource consumption and/or the characteristics of at least one radio traffic channel, associated with said second access network domain,
• defining a criterion, C, for granting said UT access to said second access network domain, wherein said C is a function of at least said parameter value, X2,
• establishing whether said criterion, C, is fulfilled or not for said UT,
• instructing said second authorization entity, A2, that said UT is authorized to access said second access network domain if said pre-requisite condition is fulfilled and if said criterion, C, is fulfilled for said UT and instructing said second authorization entity, A2, that said UT is not authorized to access said second access network domain if said criterion, C, is not fulfilled for said UT,
• wherein said second authorization entity, A2, and said MRRM function reside in said network node;
• and
• wherein the definition of said criterion C comprises the following steps:
• defining a minimum tolerable threshold value, X2MiN for said radio resource parameter P2, being a QoS value requested by said UT,
• estimating the effective value, X2EST, of said parameter P2 as a consequence of said UT being granted access to said second access network domain, and
• granting said UT access to said second access network domain only if said X2EST exceeds said X2MIN.

A non-transitory data storage medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions including instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of a method for assisting the control of a User Terminal's, UT's, access to an access network domain in a radio communications network, said method to be used by a Multi Radio Resource Management, MRRM, function of said communications network, said MRRM function being arranged to communicate with a first radio access network domain to which a first authorization entity, A1, authorizes UTs access, and to communicate with at least a second radio access network domain to which a second authorization entity, A2, authorizes UTs access, said method comprising the steps of:

• receiving, from said second authorization entity, A2, an indication that said UT is authorized to access said second access network domain according to a local authorization policy, wherein said local authorization policy forms a pre-requisite condition for granting UT access to the second authorization entity;
• receiving at least one radio resource information message, RRIM, from said second access network domain, said message comprising at least one parameter value, X2, of at least one radio resource parameter, P2, related to the traffic load and/or the radio resource consumption and/or the characteristics of at least one radio traffic channel, associated with said second access network domain,
• defining a criterion, C, for granting said UT access to said second access network domain, wherein said C is a function of at least said parameter value, X2,
• establishing whether said criterion, C, is fulfilled or not for said UT,
• instructing said second authorization entity, A2, that said UT is authorized to access said second access network domain if said pre-requisite condition is fulfilled and if said criterion, C, is fulfilled for said UT and instructing said second authorization entity, A2, that said UT is not authorized to access said second access network domain if said criterion, C, is not fulfilled for said UT,
• wherein said Multi Radio Resource Management, MRRM, function resides in a same network node as said second authorization entity, A2;
• and
• wherein the definition of said criterion C comprises the following steps:
• defining a minimum tolerable threshold value, X2MiN for said radio resource parameter P2, being a QoS value requested by said UT,
• estimating the effective value, X2EST, of said parameter P2 as a consequence of said UT being granted access to said second access network domain, and
• granting said UT access to said second access network domain only if said X2EST exceeds said X2MIN.