Patent ID: 8452286

Claim:
A method for managing network resources for an inter-network vertical handover in a wireless communication, comprising steps being automatically executed by a network control unit in communication with, and under control of, a mobile wireless communication device: receiving a prompt to select a second communication network for the inter-network vertical handover for the mobile wireless communication device operating within a first communication network, wherein the first and second communication networks are different types of communication networks, wherein the networks are different when they provide different levels of user access and access conditions to a particular user; wherein the prompt comprises at least one element selected from a group consisting of: a capacity shortage in one of the communication networks, physical movement of the mobile wireless communication device, a connect request initiated by the mobile wireless communication device, and a time interval; identifying availability of different communication networks for the mobile wireless communication device, wherein availability is determined by referencing a look-up table located within the network control unit, said look-up table indicating the communication networks covering the device's location; evaluating at least one of: current capability and load from among the identified available communication networks of each available communication network, communication costs for using the network, bandwidth, performance optimization, and the customer profile to determine the second communication network for vertical handover, wherein vertical handover requires optimizing bandwidth utilization from a network operator's point of view; selecting the second communication network from among the different available communication networks, based on the evaluation, wherein networks are different when they provide different levels of user access and access conditions to a particular user; and notifying the communication device of a recommendation of identified communication networks which recommendation automatically initiates the vertical handover to such recommended network.