Patent ID: 9668170
Date: 2017-05-30
CPC Classifications: H04W

Claim:
1. A method for load balancing, comprising: sending a traffic steering command to a user equipment, wherein the traffic steering command contains an indication of a first rule to be applied by the user equipment with respect to selecting radio access between cellular radio access and non-cellular radio access; evaluating which rule to apply; and sending a second traffic steering command to the user equipment based on the evaluating, wherein the second traffic steering command contains an indication of a second rule to be applied by the user equipment with respect to selecting radio access between cellular radio access and non-cellular radio access, wherein the second rule instructs the user equipment to go or to stay with cellular radio access, or instruct the user equipment to go to or stay with non-cellular radio access, wherein the non-cellular radio access comprises wireless local area network (WLAN) access networks, wherein the second traffic steering command further includes a plurality of lists that list the WLAN access networks based on at least one of a service set identifier (SSID), a basic service set identifier (BSSID), and a homogeneous extended service set identifier (HESSID) for which the rules are applicable, wherein the plurality of lists includes a first list for an operator's own WLAN access networks, and a second list for a partner's WLAN access networks, and wherein the user equipment is not using access network discovery and selection function (ANDSF MO) before receiving the first rule.