System for application server autonomous access across different types of access technology networks

Abstract

An Application Server Autonomous Access (ASAA) system for providing autonomous access to a wireless infrastructure by devices employing different types of access technology. The system includes a server, having an associated data storage device, for storing at least one policy, and a plurality of subnetworks, coupled to server, for providing access to the server. The plurality of subnetworks employ at least two different types of access technology. A plurality of wireless transmit/receive units (WTRUs) are wirelessly coupled to at least one of the subnetworks. The server monitors the wireless coupling and, depending upon the at least one policy, switches the WTRUs between different ones of the subnetworks.

1 . A method implemented in a mobility information server, the method comprising:
 communicating with a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) using Internet Protocol (IP) via a first access network of a first access technology type;   transmitting mobility-related information to the WTRU; and   communicating with the WTRU using IP via a second access network of a second access technology type on a condition that the WTRU transitions from the first access network of the first access technology type to the second access network of the second access technology type, wherein the second access technology type is different from the first access technology type.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the mobility information server is an Application Server Autonomous Access (ASAA) server. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising obtaining a permanent identity of the WTRU. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising sending mobility-related information regarding the first and the second access network to the WTRU based on a mobility policy and the permanent identity of the WTRU. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising receiving location information regarding the WTRU via a registration procedure. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the mobility-related information includes location information. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the mobility-related information includes access network profile information or network capability information. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 maintaining a list of a plurality of access networks which are available for the WTRU to connect to.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first access network is one of a wireless local area network (WLAN), a wireless private area network (WPAN), a universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) of a terrestrial radio access network (UTRAN), a code division multiple access (CDMA)  2000  network, a small office/home office (SOHO) network, a Bluetooth network, an IEEE 802.11 network, an IEEE 802.15 network or a ZigBee network. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the second access network is one of a wireless local area network (WLAN), a wireless private area network (WPAN), a universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) of a terrestrial radio access network (UTRAN), a code division multiple access (CDMA)  2000  network, a small office/home office (SOHO) network, a Bluetooth network, an IEEE 802.11 network, an IEEE 802.15 network or a ZigBee network. 
     
     
         11 . A method implemented in a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), the method comprising:
 the WTRU communicating with a mobility information server using Internet Protocol (IP) via a first access network of a first access technology type;   the WTRU receiving mobility-related information from the mobility information server;   the WTRU transitioning from the first access network of the first access technology type to a second access network of a second access technology type based on the mobility-related information, wherein the second access technology type is different from the first access technology type; and   the WTRU communicating with the mobility information server using IP via the second access network of the second access technology type.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the mobility information server is an Application Server Autonomous Access (ASAA) server. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising transmitting a permanent identity of the WTRU to the mobility information server. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the mobility-related information is based on a mobility policy and the permanent identity of the WTRU. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the mobility-related information further includes policy information in accordance with the permanent identity of the WTRU. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising transmitting location information to the mobility information server via a registration procedure. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the mobility-related information includes location information, access network profile information, or network capability information. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising receiving the mobility-related information via a push service. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the first access network is one of a wireless local area network (WLAN), a wireless private area network (WPAN), a universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) of a terrestrial radio access network (UTRAN), a code division multiple access (CDMA)  2000  network, a small office/home office (SOHO) network, a Bluetooth network, an IEEE 802.11 network, an IEEE 802.15 network or a ZigBee network. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the second access network is one of a wireless local area network (WLAN), a wireless private area network (WPAN), a universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) of a terrestrial radio access network (UTRAN), a code division multiple access (CDMA)  2000  network, a small office/home office (SOHO) network, a Bluetooth network, an IEEE 802.11 network, an IEEE 802.15 network or a ZigBee network.