Patent ID: 9173139
Filing Date: 2015-10-27
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
1. A method for searching access points performed by a terminal supporting a multi-RAT (Radio Access Technology) in a wireless communication system, the method comprising: receiving, by the terminal, information on one or more access points (APs) located within a cell coverage of a base station, the information relating to an accessibility of each AP, a number of APs, an address of each AP, a capability of each AP, or a throughput value of each AP; determining, by the terminal, whether there are any accessible APs within the cell coverage of the base station based on the received; searching and selecting an AP within the cell coverage of the base station for an original time period, according to the determining, wherein: if it is determined that there are accessible APs within the cell coverage of the base station and a Quality of Service (QoS) of the accessible APs within the cell coverage is higher than a QoS of a base station to which the terminal is currently connected, the terminal searches and selects the AP among the accessible APs within a first time period, the first time period being shorter than the original time period for searching the AP, if it is determined that there are accessible APs within the cell coverage of the base station and the Quality of Service (QoS) of the accessible APs within the cell coverage is lower than the QoS of the base station to which the terminal is currently connected, the terminal searches and selects the AP among the accessible APs with a second time period, the second time period being equal to the original time period for searching the AP, if it is determined that there are no accessible APs within the cell coverage of the base station, the terminal searches and selects the AP within the cell coverage of the base station within a third time period, the third time period is longer than the original time period for searching the AP, the third time period initially being shorter than a certain time period (P the third time period is gradually increased until it reaches the certain time period (Pmax); and accessing, by the terminal, the selected AP.