Patent ID: 9609618
Date: 2017-03-28
CPC Classifications: H04W

Claim:
1. A method for a communication network comprising: registering a user equipment (UE) within a WiFi system, wherein the registering includes associating a Media Access Control (MAC) address for the UE with an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) of a user associated with the UE; receiving a handover request for handing over the UE from a macro cell radio access network (RAN) to a small cell RAN; determining a location of the UE based, at least in part, on communications between the UE and one or more WiFi access points within the WiFi system; comparing a location for each of a plurality of small cell access points within the small cell RAN to the location of the UE; and selecting a particular small cell access point to receive handover of the UE based, at least in part, on the location of the UE and the location of the particular small cell access point.