Determination of a list of preferred mobile access networks

• Main Authors: VIGUE, HELENE, MARTIQUET, NICOLAS
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 05.03.2008
• Subjects: ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE; ELECTRICITY; TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHICCOMMUNICATION; WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS

A telecommunications system provides a facility for mobile nodes to communicate via a plurality of mobile access networks. The telecommunications system includes a network selection manager and a mobile node. The network selection manager is operable to determine a list of preferred mobile access networks to which the mobile node may be attached during an inactive state and to communicate the list of preferred mobile access networks to the mobile node. The inactive state of the mobile node is a state in which the mobile node is responsible for selecting a mobile access network to which the mobile node should attach. The list of preferred mobile access networks for selection is determined in accordance with operator determined conditions (e.g., load, congestion in the access networks, subscription info, location of the mobile, changes in the list since last communication to the Mobile Station, etc.). The mobile node is operable in the inactive state to select one of the plurality of mobile access networks which is available for attachment in dependence on the list of preferred mobile access networks communicated to the mobile node from the network selection manager.