Node selection in network transitions

A method for transferring a user equipment (UE) connected to a first network to a second network, the method comprising:

• receiving, at a packet data network gateway (PGW), information from the UE, wherein the UE is connected to the PGW via the first network;
• determining, based on the received information, at the PGW, a list of available evolved packet data network gateways (ePDGs) that can serve the UE if the UE connects to the second network, wherein the first network and the second network employ different access technologies;
• identifying, at the PGW, a single candidate ePDG out of the list of available ePDGs;
• and
• sending, from the PGW, a network address of the single candidate ePDG to the UE via the first network;
• wherein, the identification of the single candidate ePDG out of the list of available ePDGs is based on load information of the list of available ePDGs, the PGW configured to store the load information.

A method for transferring a user equipment (UE) connected to a first network and to a second network, the method comprising:

• connecting the UE to the first network;
• receiving, in a Protocol Configuration Option (PCO) message at the UE from a packet data network gateway (PGW), via the first network, (i) a first network address identifying an evolved packet data network gateway (ePDG) that can serve the UE if the UE connects to the second network, wherein the first network and the second network employ different access technologies, and (ii) a second network address identifying the PGW, wherein the first network address identifying the ePDG is included within a first container of the PCO message and the second network address identifying the PGW is included within a second container of the PCO message, wherein the first container includes a first operator specific container ID and the second container includes a second operator specific container ID;
• terminating the UE's connection to the first network;
• and
• sending, from the UE, via the second network, a request to connect to (i) the ePDG identified by the first network address, and (ii) the PGW identified by the second network address;
• wherein, the identification of the ePDG by the first network address is selected from a list of available ePDGs based on load information, the PGW configured to store the load information.