Network selection scheme using a roaming broker (rb)

Abstract

A network selection method and wireless user equipment device operable in a network environment having one or more radio access networks (RANs), one or more core networks (CNs), and one or more service networks (SNs). Upon obtaining identity information of a particular network combination, a wireless user equipment (UE) device is operable to register with a roaming broker (RB), whereby additional information may be provided to the device for facilitating appropriate network selection.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A network selection method operating at a wireless user equipment (UE) device, the method comprising:
 upon obtaining identity information of a particular network combination available to the UE device, registering with a brokering entity, the registration including the particular network combination;   receiving a redirect message from the brokering entity, the redirect message including identity information of an additional network combination determined to be more suitable to the wireless UE device, wherein at least one of the particular network combination and the additional network combination is identified as a combination of identification codes corresponding to a radio access network (RAN) and at least one of a core network (CN) and a service network (SN) disposed in an interconnected arrangement; and   selecting one of the particular network combination and the additional network combination for obtaining service.   
     
     
         2 . The network selection method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising providing network advertisement information to the brokering entity, the network advertisement information comprising identity information associated with each network combination discovered by the wireless UE device. 
     
     
         3 . The network selection method as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the network advertisement information comprises capability information associated with each network combination discovered by the wireless UE device. 
     
     
         4 . The network selection method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising transmitting to the brokering entity at least one of capability information associated with the wireless UE device, location information associated with the wireless UE device, and an indication relating to particular services that the wireless UE device would like to use. 
     
     
         5 . The network selection method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising obtaining the identity information of the particular network combination by one of a) querying a network advertisement broker associated with at least one of a RAN, a CN, an SN, and a public packet-switched Internet Protocol (IP) network, b) receiving a broadcast control channel message from one or more RANs and c) receiving a beacon channel message available in the location area. 
     
     
         6 . The network selection method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the identity information of the additional network combination is customized based on the wireless UE device's geographic location. 
     
     
         7 . The network selection method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising obtaining the IP address of the brokering entity. 
     
     
         8 . The network selection method as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the IP address of the brokering entity is obtained via a Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN) query. 
     
     
         9 . The network selection method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising obtaining the identity information of the particular network combination via scanning in a frequency band compliant with at least one of a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) network, an Enhanced Data Rates for Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) Evolution (EDGE) network, a 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP)-compliant network, an Integrated Digital Enhanced Network (IDEN), a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network, a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) network, and a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) network. 
     
     
         10 . The network selection method a recited in  claim 1 , further comprising obtaining the identity information of the particular network combination via scanning in a frequency band compliant with at least one of a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) standard selected from: IEEE 802.11 standard, HiperLan standard, HiperLan II standard, Wi-Max standard, OpenAir standard, and Bluetooth standard. 
     
     
         11 . A wireless user equipment (UE) device, comprising:
 a logic module operable, upon obtaining identity information of a particular network combination available to the UE device, to register with a brokering entity, the registration including the particular network combination;   a logic module operable to receive a redirect message from the brokering entity, the redirect message including identity information of an additional network combination determined to be more suitable to the wireless UE device, wherein at least one of the particular network combination and the additional network combination is identified as a combination of identification codes corresponding to a radio access network (RAN) and at least one of a core network (CN) and a service network (SN) disposed in an interconnected arrangement; and   a logic module operable to select one of the particular network combination and the additional network combination for obtaining service.   
     
     
         12 . The wireless UE device as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the logic module operable to register with a brokering entity provides network advertisement information to the brokering entity, the network advertisement information comprising identity information associated with each network combination discovered by the wireless UE device. 
     
     
         13 . The wireless UE device as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the network advertisement information provided to the brokering entity comprises capability information associated with each network combination discovered by the wireless UE device. 
     
     
         14 . The wireless UE device as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the logic module operable to register with a brokering entity transmits at least one of capability information associated with the wireless UE device, location information associated with the wireless UE device, and an indication relating to particular services that the wireless UE device would like to use. 
     
     
         15 . The wireless UE device as recited in  claim 11 , further comprising a logic module operable to obtain the identity information of the particular network combination by one of a) querying a network advertisement broker associated with at least one of a RAN, a CN, an SN, and a public packet-switched Internet Protocol (IP) network, b) receiving a broadcast control channel message from one or more RANs and c) receiving a beacon channel message available in the location area. 
     
     
         16 . The wireless UE device as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the identity information of the additional network combination is customized based on the wireless UE device's geographic location. 
     
     
         17 . The wireless UE device as recited in  claim 11 , further comprising a logic module operable to obtain the IP address of the brokering entity. 
     
     
         18 . The wireless UE device as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the logic module operable to obtain the IP address of the brokering entity sends a Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN) query. 
     
     
         19 . The wireless UE device as recited in  claim 11 , further comprising a logic module operable to obtain the identity information of the particular network combination via scanning in a frequency band compliant with at least one of a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) network, an Enhanced Data Rates for Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) Evolution (EDGE) network, a 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP)-compliant network, an Integrated Digital Enhanced Network (IDEN), a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network, a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) network, and a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) network. 
     
     
         20 . The wireless UE device as recited in  claim 11 , further comprising a logic module operable to obtain the identity information of the particular network combination via scanning in a frequency band compliant with at least one of a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) standard selected from: IEEE 802.11 standard, HiperLan standard, HiperLan II standard, Wi-Max standard, OpenAir standard, and Bluetooth standard.