Application-based radio-access technology switching

A wireless communication device comprising:

• at least one transceiver configurable to transmit data to and receive data from one or more wireless networks via a first radio access technology (RAT) and a second RAT;
• and
• processing circuitry communicatively coupled to the at least one transceiver, the processing circuitry configured to control the wireless communication device to at least:
• engage in data communication for an application over a first connection using the first RAT;
• obtain, from an application layer by a connection manager between the application layer and a radio interface layer, indications of:
• (i) the application, (ii) an activity being performed by the application, the activity being one of a plurality of activities for the application, and (iii) a priority for the activity;
• determine, by the connection manager, a threshold connection quality metric for the application, the threshold connection quality metric beingbased at least in part on the activity being performed by the application and on the priority for the corresponding activity, wherein each of the plurality of activities for the application is associated with a distinct threshold connection quality metric, and threshold connection quality metrics for activities having higher priorities cause switching between RATs more readily than threshold connection quality metrics for activities having lower priorities;
• measure a connection quality metric of the first connection using the first RAT based at least in part on the data communication for the application over the first connection using the first RAT;
• compare the measured connection quality metric to the threshold connection quality metric;
• and
• in an instance in which the measured connection quality metric does not satisfy the threshold connection quality metric:
• switch the data communication for the application from the first connection using the first RAT to a second connection using the second RAT;
• and
• continue the data communication for the application over the second connection using the second RAT,
• wherein the wireless communication device maintains the first connection using the first RAT and the second connection using the second RAT in parallel.

A computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium having computer program code stored thereon, the computer program code comprising instructions, that when executed by one or more processors of a wireless communication device configurable to connect wirelessly using a plurality of radio access technologies (RATs) to one or more wireless networks, cause the wireless communication device to:

• engage in data communication for an application over a first connection using a first radio access technology (RAT);
• obtain, from an application layer by a connection manager between the application layer and a radio interface layer, indications of:
• (i) the application, (ii) an activity being performed by the application, the activity being one of a plurality of activities for the application, and (iii) a priority for the activity;
• determine, by the connection manager, a threshold connection quality metric for the application, the threshold connection quality metric being based at least in part on the activity being performed by the application and on the priority for the corresponding activity, wherein each of the plurality of activities for the application is associated with a distinct threshold connection quality metric, and threshold connection quality metrics for activities having higher priorities cause switching between RATs more readily than threshold connection quality metrics for activities having lower priorities;
• measure a connection quality metric of the first connection using the first RAT based at least in part on the data communication for the application over the first connection using the first RAT;
• compare the measured connection quality metric to the threshold connection quality metric;
• and
• in an instance in which the measured connection quality metric does not satisfy the threshold connection quality metric:
• switch the data communication for the application from the first connection using the first RAT to a second connection using a second RAT;
• and
• continue the data communication for the application over the second connection using the second RAT, wherein the wireless communication device maintains the first connection using the first RAT and the second connection using the second RAT in parallel.

A method for application-based access network switching performed at a wireless communication device configurable to connect wirelessly to a plurality of access networks, the method comprising the wireless communication device:

• engaging in data communication for an application over a first connection to a first access network;
• obtaining, from an application layer by a connection manager between the application layer and a radio interface layer, indications of:
• (i) the application, (ii) an activity being performed by the application, the activity being one of a plurality of activities for the application, and (iii) a priority for the activity;
• determining, by the connection manager, a threshold connection quality metric for the application, the threshold connection quality metric being based at least in part on the activity being performed by the application, wherein each of the plurality of activities for the application is associated with a distinct threshold connection quality metric, and threshold connection quality metrics for activities having higher priorities cause switching between access networks more readily than threshold connection quality metrics for activities having lower priorities;
• measuring a connection quality metric of the first connection to the first access network based at least in part on the data communication for the application over the first connection to the first access network;
• comparing, by a processor of the wireless communication device, a measured connection quality metric to the threshold connection quality metric;
• and
• in an instance in which the measured connection quality metric does not satisfy the threshold connection quality metric:
• switching the data communication for the application from the first connection to the first access network to a second connection to a second access network;
• and
• continuing the data communication for the application over the second connection to the second access network,
• wherein the wireless communication device maintains the first connection to the first access network and the second connection to the second access network in parallel.