Patent ID: 7436843

Claim:
A method for selecting access network for a mobile multi-access terminal in an Internet Protocol (IP)-based communication system that includes a network side of a radio interface and a mobile terminal side of the radio interface, comprising the steps of: a network-based access selection unit, arranged at the network side, requesting database information from a network-based profile server associated with a plurality of databases for retrieving database information including access network properties, operator policies, operator/user prioritization criteria, and allowed user subscription profiles; said network-based access selection unit receiving the retrieved database information from the profile server; said network-based access selection unit receiving terminal-specific information including available/current access networks from an access agent in the mobile terminal; said network-based access selection unit selecting a current best access network for the mobile terminal ( 1 ) based on the retrieved database information including one or more access network properties, one or more operator policies, one or more operator/user prioritization criteria, and one or more allowed user subscription profiles and ( 2 ) also based on the terminal-specific information including available/current access networks; and said network-based access selection unit communicating an access network recommendation including an indication of the selected current best access network to the access agent in the mobile terminal to enable a final decision, by an access manager in said mobile terminal, on which access network to use based on said access network recommendation.