Hybrid network-based and device-based intelligent radio access control

A method comprising:

• receiving, at a radio access technology selection system, a policy rule;
• receiving, at the radio access technology selection system, network load information for a plurality of radio access networks to which a target mobile device is capable of connecting, the plurality of radio access networks operating in accordance with a plurality of radio access technologies, the network load information comprising both historic network load information obtained based upon network load experienced by the plurality of radio access networks in a past time and current network load information obtained based upon network load experienced by the plurality of radio access networks in near real-time;
• generating, by the radio access technology selection system, based upon the policy rule and the network load information, a priority list specifying a priority order in which the target mobile device should select the plurality of radio access networks;
• instructing, by the radio access technology selection system, the target mobile device to obtain, in response to receiving the priority list, local device information comprising performance measurement information and channel quality information, the performance measurement information comprising multiple radio access bearer test results obtained by the target mobile device via a multiple radio access bearer test performed by the target mobile device;
• instructing the target mobile device to determine, based upon the priority list and the local device information, a radio access network to connect to from the plurality of radio access networks in the priority list;
• and
• sending, by the radio access technology selection system, the priority list to the target mobile device.

A computer-readable storage medium comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor of a radio access technology selection system, cause the radio access technology selection system to perform operations comprising:

• receiving a policy rule;
• receiving network load information for a plurality of radio access networks to which a target mobile device is capable of connecting, the plurality of radio access networks operating in accordance with a plurality of radio access technologies, the network load information comprising both historic network load information obtained based upon network load experienced by the plurality of radio access networks in a past time and current network load information obtained based upon network load experienced by the plurality of radio access networks in near real-time;
• generating, based upon the policy rule and the network load information, a priority list specifying a priority order in which the target mobile device should select the plurality of radio access networks;
• instructing the target mobile device to obtain, in response to receiving the priority list, local device information comprising performance measurement information and channel quality information, the performance measurement information comprising multiple radio access bearer test results obtained by the target mobile device via a multiple radio access bearer test performed by the target mobile device;
• instructing the target mobile device to determine, based upon the priority list and the local device information, a radio access network to connect to from the plurality of radio access networks in the priority list;
• and
• sending the priority list to the target mobile device.