Patent ID: 9503942
Filing Date: 2016-11-22
CPC Classification: H04W

Claim Text:
1. In a wireless communication system comprising a first radio access network (RAN) configured to serve wireless communication devices (WCDs) on a first air interface according to a first air interface protocol, a second RAN configured to serve WCDs on a second air interface according to a second air interface protocol, and a network device communicatively connected to both the first and second RANs, a method comprising: at the first RAN, receiving a wireless transmission on the first air interface from a WCD including a message requesting a wireless service from the first RAN, the message including information indicative of a requested spectral efficiency for the requested wireless service, wherein the spectral efficiency corresponds to a metric of bit rate per utilized bandwidth; at the network device, receiving the information indicative of the requested spectral efficiency; based on the information, determining by the network device the requested spectral efficiency for providing the requested wireless service on the first air interface of the first RAN according to the first air interface protocol; at the network device, making a comparison of the requested spectral efficiency with at least one of (a) a threshold, or (b) a projected spectral efficiency for providing the requested wireless service on the second air interface of the second RAN according to the second air interface protocol; and based on the comparison, providing the WCD the requested wireless service on one of (i) the first air interface of the first RAN according to the first air interface protocol, or (ii) the second air interface of the second RAN according to the second air interface protocol; wherein the requested wireless service comprises a wireless communication service.