SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INTELLIGENT NETWORK SELECTION

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a device, including: a processing system including a processor; and a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations of authenticating a mobile device; receiving a query from the mobile device for a bearer selection from a plurality of bearers; receiving network parameters associated with each bearer in the plurality of bearers; identifying a selected bearer in the plurality of bearers that should be used by the mobile device; and sending an instruction to the mobile device to use the selected bearer. Other embodiments are disclosed.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The subject disclosure relates to a system and method for intelligent network selection.

BACKGROUND

Telecommunications carriers deploy licensed spectrum that provides a substantial user experience benefit while compared to Wi-Fi. This is especially true in locations where carriers have deployed fifth generation (5G) millimeter wavelength (mmWave) spectrum (i.e., 24-39 GHz) and/or 5G mid-band spectrum (i.e., 3.5 GHz), which can provide a superior user experience in terms of data throughput as compared to Wi-Fi.

However, many mobile devices (e.g., products such as iPhone 13 or Samsung S22) are designed with settings by default to prefer Wi-Fi whenever Wi-Fi is available. Such devices keep users on Wi-Fi in locations where an improved user experience on 5G mmWave and/or 5G mid-band spectrum licensed spectrum is available, due to the faster, more secure, more reliable network provided by the carrier. In certain venues, such as stadiums, airports, and other venues where carriers have deployed ultra-fast 5G mmWave capabilities, users of such mobile devices rarely achieve the capabilities provided by the carrier network, because their devices auto attached to Wi-Fi as a priority.

For a number of reasons, devices cannot make a simplistic decision to prefer licensed spectrum over Wi-Fi. Examples include users with plans having data usage limits, users with plans having data usage thresholds, corporate users not allowed to use Wi-Fi due to security reasons, and many more.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The subject disclosure describes, among other things, illustrative embodiments for a system and method to selectively inform a mobile device, on a per user basis, of bearer priority. The decision can be based on the user's service plan, responsibility type (business/enterprise users, government users, consumers, pre-paid, etc.), and/or user selection via a carrier's customer portal or an enterprise console. Other embodiments are described in the subject disclosure.

One or more aspects of the subject disclosure include a device, including: a processing system including a processor; and a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations of authenticating a mobile device; receiving a query from the mobile device for a bearer selection from a plurality of bearers; receiving network parameters associated with each bearer in the plurality of bearers; identifying a selected bearer in the plurality of bearers that should be used by the mobile device; and sending an instruction to the mobile device to use the selected bearer.

One or more aspects of the subject disclosure include a non-transitory machine-readable medium, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processing system including a processor, facilitate performance of operations including authenticating a mobile device over a Wi-Fi connection; receiving a query from the mobile device for a bearer selection; receiving network parameters associated with bearers in the plurality of bearers; identifying a best bearer in the plurality of bearers for use by the mobile device based on the network parameters; and sending an instruction to the mobile device to use the best bearer.

One or more aspects of the subject disclosure include a method, of receiving, by a processing system including a processor, a query from an authenticated mobile device for a bearer selection among a plurality of bearers, wherein the plurality of bearers comprises 5G mmWave, 5G mid-band and Wi-Fi; identifying, by the processing system, a best bearer in the plurality of bearers for use by the authenticated mobile device; and sending, by the processing system, an instruction to the authenticated mobile device to use the best bearer, wherein the instruction overwrites settings of the mobile device for a default bearer with the selected bearer.

The system and method described herein provides a mechanism for a carrier to provide instructions to a mobile device, on a per customer basis, of a preferred network bearer priority. In cases where the customer has an eligible plan, instead of the device blindly preferring Wi-Fi, the carrier can instruct the device to 1) prefer the best bearer; 2) prefer mmWave over Wi-Fi and other bearers; 3) prefer 5G mid-band over other bearers; or 4) other possible preferences determined by the carrier. The best bearer may be identified based on network parameters, e.g., signal strength, uplink and downlink data throughput, signal quality, packet loss, jitter and latency. In an embodiment, the system and method may enable user to control bearer preference via a carrier portal.

FIG.2Ais a block diagram illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of a system to control bearer priority functioning within the communication network ofFIG.1in accordance with various aspects described herein. As shown inFIG.2A, system220comprises a network element (NE221) operating in a communications network225providing multiband 5G wireless network access services via a 5G mid-band spectrum cell223and/or a 5G mmWave cell224to a mobile device201. System220further comprises a secure entitlement server (SES222, described below) accessible via an Internet210. A Mobile device201may also obtain Wi-Fi service through an access point215to the Internet210. Mobile device201comprises settings202that define whether the mobile device201should use Wi-Fi, cellular services, cellular data, and default settings for bearer priority.

In an embodiment, the subscriber may have a plan that enables NE221to force the settings202in mobile device201to require usage of the best bearer available. In such an event, the mobile device201can measure bearer performance and can decide which bearer to use, for example, the best bearer having the highest data throughput. For example, if the throughput of Wi-Fi service through access point215is better than through communications network225, then the mobile device201may choose to use Wi-Fi. Alternatively, with 5G mid-band spectrum service provided by communications network225has superior throughput over Wi-Fi, then the mobile device201may select this bearer via 5G mid-band spectrum cell223.

In another embodiment, the carrier may direct the NE221to force the settings202in mobile device201to prefer 5G mmWave when available over Wi-Fi. In this case, the device will communicate via 5G mmWave cell224when available, without regard for throughput.

In an embodiment, the carrier may provide an instruction to mobile device201that overrides the settings202for a preferred bearer. In yet another embodiment, the carrier may direct the NE221to overwrite the settings202in mobile device201to prefer 5G mid-band as having priority over Wi-Fi. In either case, mobile device201will use 5G mmWave or 5G mid-band when available, instead of Wi-Fi.

In another embodiment, the carrier may direct the NE221to force the settings202in mobile device201to prioritize certain Wi-Fi bearers. Those Wi-Fi bearers may include carrier owned and operated Wi-Fi access points, commercial partner operated Wi-Fi access points, carrier provided residential access points, or a combination thereof.

In an embodiment, when the mobile device201is connected to Wi-Fi and the mobile device201is connected to cellular service, the settings202may have a rule that indicates Wi-Fi is preferred. In other words, when mobile device201is connected to Wi-Fi, it should use that data bearer regardless of whether the mobile device201is also connected to the cellular network. In this embodiment, the mobile device201securely connects to SES222, and requests whether the mobile device201should instead use the cellular network and/or a specific bearer. In an embodiment, mobile device201may transmit network signal strength or other parameters measured by mobile device201to SES222. In turn, SES222checks with NE221to determine a carrier-directed connection preference. For example, NE221may configure the SES222to direct the mobile device201to use the 5G mmWave network via 5G mmWave cell224. Mobile device201, upon receiving instructions from SES222, will use the 5G mmWave network via 5G mmWave cell224to connect to a website211.

FIG.2Bdepicts an illustrative embodiment of a method in accordance with various aspects described herein. As shown inFIG.2B, method230begins at step231, where a mobile device201authenticates with SES222to establish a communication protocol (entitlement) for communication of carrier determined bearer selection preference on a per device/user basis. Next in step232, SES222informs mobile device201of successful authentication. Next in step233, mobile device201queries the SES222for a bearer to use. Mobile device201may also pass along network parameters used in a subsequent determination. Then, in step234, SES222passes the query along to the carrier's core network, represented by NE221.

Next, in step235, NE221determines which bearer that mobile device201should use. NE221comprises business logic to determine the bearer based on many factors including an entitlement per plan (e.g., the business logic would exclude plans with data caps, select enterprise plans, etc.). In addition, the business logic may require control of the settings in mobile device201or permit user-supplied settings via a carrier portal to control a default bearer. In step236, NE221provides a bearer usage instruction to SES222, which in turn passes an instruction237along to mobile device201

In cases where NE221directs mobile device201to use the best bearer available—the device can measure bearer performance and the decision can be based on local performance. In cases where NE221directs mobile device201to use mmWave as a priority—the device can prefer mmWave when available, over Wi-Fi. In cases where NE221directs mobile device201to use mmWave or 5G mid-band as a priority—the device can prefer mmWave or 5G mid band when available over Wi-Fi

In an embodiment, NE221can define entitlement for all Wi-Fi, commercial carrier owned/operated Wi-Fi only, commercial partnership Wi-Fi only, carrier provided home Wi-Fi, or any combination these bearers.

The described system enables carriers to provide customers with the best connectivity available, and the means to highlight the highest performing 5G licensed spectrum available with mmWave and 5G mid-band spectrum. The system also includes balanced utilization of Wi-Fi services vs. licensed spectrum deployments in stadiums and other large capacity venues. The system enables carriers to provide their subscribers with the best connectivity available, thereby enhancing subscriber experience. By minimizing or eliminating Wi-Fi to/from licensed spectrum handoffs, subscriber experience is further enhanced. Further, the carrier can improve subscriber experience by removing Wi-Fi authentication processes for the subscriber.

Further, the described system enables the carrier to provide plan differentiation. For example, a subscriber of a premium plan can include carrier directed intelligent network selection for improve user experience in stadiums, airports, venues, and even in home settings. The described system can also ensure that the subscriber is on the best/fastest/most reliable network available in their location.

The described system can also extend to 5G network slicing, to instruct the mobile device to prefer cellular when there is traffic over a slice. A network slice is a 5G capability to provide a differentiated experience within wireless network architecture (RAN resource partition, transport and/or core routing, edge egress routing, etc.). However, similar to the core problem this disclosure seeks to address with the improved cellular experience over mmWave and mid-band, network slicing is a cellular only capability. When a user is on Wi-Fi, the user would not get the benefits of network slicing. Further, although the examples provided herein are described with respect to mmWave and 5G mid-band spectrum, the concepts can be applied to 5G and 6G wireless network technologies as well.

Referring now toFIG.3, a block diagram is shown illustrating an example, non-limiting embodiment of a virtualized communication network300in accordance with various aspects described herein. In particular a virtualized communication network is presented that can be used to implement some or all of the subsystems and functions of system100, the subsystems and functions of system220, and method230presented inFIGS.1,2A,2B and3. For example, virtualized communication network300can facilitate in whole or in part authenticating a mobile device; receiving queries and network parameters associated with bearers in a plurality of bearers; identifying a selected bearer for use by a mobile device; and sending instruction(s) to mobile device(s) to use selected bearer(s).

Turning now toFIG.4, there is illustrated a block diagram of a computing environment in accordance with various aspects described herein. In order to provide additional context for various embodiments of the embodiments described herein,FIG.4and the following discussion are intended to provide a brief, general description of a computing environment400in which the various embodiments of the subject disclosure can be implemented. In particular, computing environment400can be used in the implementation of network elements150,152,154,156, access terminal112, base station or access point122, switching device132, media terminal142, and/or VNEs330,332,334, etc. Each of these devices can be implemented via computer-executable instructions that can run on one or more computers, and/or in combination with other program modules and/or as a combination of hardware and software. For example, computing environment400can facilitate in whole or in part authenticating a mobile device; receiving queries and network parameters associated with bearers in a plurality of bearers; identifying a selected bearer for use by a mobile device; and sending instruction(s) to mobile device(s) to use selected bearer(s).

Turning now toFIG.6, an illustrative embodiment of a communication device600is shown. The communication device600can serve as an illustrative embodiment of devices such as data terminals114, mobile devices124, vehicle126, display devices144or other client devices for communication via either communications network125. For example, computing device600can facilitate in whole or in part authenticating a mobile device; receiving queries and network parameters associated with bearers in a plurality of bearers; identifying a selected bearer for use by a mobile device; and sending instruction(s) to mobile device(s) to use selected bearer(s).