Patent ID: 10779348

Abstract:
This document describes improvements in mobility for user equipment (UE) (110) between cellular and Wireless Local Area Networks (WLAN) (170) in fifth generation new radio (5G NR) wireless networks, as well as 3rd Generation Partnership Project Long-Term Evolution (3GPP LTE) or Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA) networks. A cellular-WLAN network interface is introduced to monitor and manage WLAN networks (170) and Access Points (160), and to facilitate handoffs of UE (110) between WLAN APs (160), between WLAN networks (170), and between WLAN networks (170) and cellular networks (140). The cellular-WLAN network interface enables an Access and Mobility Function (220) in a 5G network or a Mobility Management Entity (330) in an E-UTRA network to request information from UE (110) and WLAN APs (160), manage the operating configuration of WLAN APs (160), and initiate UE (110) handoffs.