Systems and methods for managing offload from one radio access network to another

Abstract

A method of managing data traffic offload from a radio access network may include: determining a location of a mobile device; and identifying, based on data traffic offload requirements of a network operator and capabilities of alternative network providers, one or more alternative networks configured to be accessed by the mobile device at the determined location.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of managing data traffic offload from a radio access network, the method comprising using at least one hardware processor of a server to:
 obtain an offload profile for at least one cellular sector in a cellular network, wherein the offload profile indicates, for the at least one cellular sector, a traffic offload, needed from an alternative network; and,   issue an instruction, to at least one mobile device within the at least one cellular sector, to either transfer a connection from the cellular network to the alternative network or transfer a connection from the alternative network to the cellular network.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein issuance of the instruction is based on a signal quality within the at least one cellular sector. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein issuance of the instruction is based on peak hours for the at least one cellular sector. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein issuance of the instruction is based on traffic load within the at least one cellular sector. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one cellular sector comprises a plurality of cellular sectors, and wherein the offload profile comprises, for each of the plurality of cellular sectors, a traffic offload, needed from the alternative network. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the alternative network comprises a wireless network. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the wireless network comprises a Wi-Fi network. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the wireless network comprises another cellular network. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the offload profile comprises a traffic pattern representing a predicted amount of traffic for the at least one cellular sector during at least one time period. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising using the at least one hardware processor of the server to, for the at least one mobile device that is instructed to transfer a connection from the cellular network to the alternative network, collect a measure of data consumed through the alternative network from the mobile device. 
     
     
         11 . A system for managing data traffic offload from a radio access network, the system comprising:
 at least one hardware processor; and   one or more software modules configured to, when executed by the at least one hardware processor,
 obtain an offload profile for at least one cellular sector in a cellular network, wherein the offload profile indicates, for the at least one cellular sector, a traffic offload, needed from an alternative network, and, 
 issue an instruction, to at least one mobile device within the at least one cellular sector, to either transfer a connection from the cellular network to the alternative network or transfer a connection from the alternative network to the cellular network. 
   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein issuance of the instruction is based on a signal quality within the at least one cellular sector. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein issuance of the instruction is based on peak hours for the at least one cellular sector. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein issuance of the instruction is based on traffic load within the at least one cellular sector. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one cellular sector comprises a plurality of cellular sectors, and wherein the offload profile comprises, for each of the plurality of cellular sectors, a traffic offload, needed from the alternative network. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the alternative network comprises a wireless network. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the wireless network comprises a Wi-Fi network. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the wireless network comprises another cellular network. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the offload profile comprises a traffic pattern representing a predicted amount of traffic for the at least one cellular sector during at least one time period. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more software modules are further configured to, for the at least one mobile device that is instructed to transfer a connection from the cellular network to the alternative network, collect a measure of data consumed through the alternative network from the mobile device. 
     
     
         21 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, wherein the instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:
 obtain an offload profile for at least one cellular sector in a cellular network, wherein the offload profile indicates, for the at least one cellular sector, a traffic offload, needed from an alternative network; and,   issue an instruction, to at least one mobile device within the at least one cellular sector, to either transfer a connection from the cellular network to the alternative network or transfer a connection from the alternative network to the cellular network.   
     
     
         22 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 21 , wherein issuance of the instruction is based on a signal quality within the at least one cellular sector. 
     
     
         23 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 21 , wherein issuance of the instruction is based on peak hours for the at least one cellular sector. 
     
     
         24 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 21 , wherein issuance of the instruction is based on traffic load within the at least one cellular sector. 
     
     
         25 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one cellular sector comprises a plurality of cellular sectors, and wherein the offload profile comprises, for each of the plurality of cellular sectors, a traffic offload, needed from the alternative network. 
     
     
         26 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 21 , wherein the alternative network comprises a wireless network. 
     
     
         27 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 26 , wherein the wireless network comprises a Wi-Fi network. 
     
     
         28 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 26 , wherein the wireless network comprises another cellular network. 
     
     
         29 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 21 , wherein the offload profile comprises a traffic pattern representing a predicted amount of traffic for the at least one cellular sector during at least one time period. 
     
     
         30 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 21 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to, for the at least one mobile device that is instructed to transfer a connection from the cellular network to the alternative network, collect a measure of data consumed through the alternative network from the mobile device.