Managing network resources for wireless communication

Abstract

Access to wireless communication is disclosed, wherein a network control unit identifies availability of different communication networks for a communication device. The communication device is notified of a recommendation of identified communication networks. In response to this notification, the communication device initiates access to the recommended communication network for establishing a communication channel.

1 . A method for managing network resources for wireless communication, comprising steps being automatically executed by a network control unit: 
 identifying availability of different communication networks for a communication device,    notifying the communication device of a recommendation of identified communication networks which recommendation is binding for the communication device to connect to such recommended network.    
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , comprising 
 determining a at least rough location of the communication device, and    identifying communication networks covering the device's location.    
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , comprising identifying communication networks covering the device's location according to a look-up table.  
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , comprising identifying access capability of the communication device to other communication networks.  
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 2 , comprising identifying communication networks covering the device's location and being accessible for the communication device.  
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein communication networks are recommended according to communication costs.  
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein communication networks are recommended according to a current load.  
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein communication networks are recommended according to bandwidth properties.  
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein communication networks are recommended according to a customer profile.  
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein a hand over process for establishing a communication channel on a recommended communication network is started after the communication device is notified.  
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the identification of available networks is triggered by a network control unit.  
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the identification of available networks is triggered periodically.  
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the identification of available networks is triggered when a physical movement of the communication device is detected.  
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the identification of available networks is triggered by a capacity shortage on at least one of the networks.  
     
     
         15 . A computer program element comprising computer program code which, when loaded in a processor unit of an electronic device, configures the processor unit to perform a method as claimed in  claim 1 .  
     
     
         16 . A communication network control unit, being configured for executing a method according to  claim 1 .  
     
     
         17 . A method for establishing a channel for wireless communication, comprising 
 receiving a notification from a network control unit, the notification indicating a recommendation of identified available communication networks for establishing the communication channel, which recommendation is binding for the communication device to connect to such recommended network,    initiating access to a recommended communication network for establishing the communication channel in response to the notification.    
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 17 , comprising automatically initiating access to the communication network in response to the notification.  
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 17 , comprising selecting one preferred communication network out of several recommended networks indicated in the notification before initiating access to this network.  
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 17 , comprising deriving access data from an information block of the notification and supporting access to the communication network with the access data derived.  
     
     
         21 . A computer program element comprising computer program code which, when loaded in a processor unit of a communication device, configures the processor unit to perform a method as claimed in  claim 17 .  
     
     
         22 . An electronic communication device, comprising 
 access units for different wireless networks, and    a control unit for having the corresponding access unit establish a communication channel on a particular one of the networks in response to a notification from a network control unit recommending this network, which recommendation is binding for the communication device to connect to such recommended network.    
     
     
         23 . A method for establishing a channel for wireless communication, comprising: 
 steps performed by a network control unit: 
 identifying availability of different communication networks for a communication device, and  
 notifying the communication device of a recommendation of identified communication networks, which recommendation is binding for the communication device to connect to such recommended network,  
   comprising steps performed by the communication device: 
 receiving the notification, and  
 initiating access to a recommended communication network for establishing the communication channel in response to the notification.  
   
     
     
         24 . A communications system, comprising 
 a first network for wireless communication,    a second network for wireless communication,    a communication device being capable of accessing at least the first and the second network,    a network control unit being configured for: 
 identifying availability of communication networks for the communication device,  
 notifying the communication device of a recommendation of identified communication networks, which recommendation is binding for the communication device to connect to such recommended network,  
   the communication device comprising a control unit for initiating access to a recommended network for establishing a communication channel in response to the notification.    
     
     
         25 . An article of manufacture comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein for causing establishment of a channel for wireless communication, the computer readable program code means in said article of manufacture comprising computer readable program code means for causing a computer to effect the steps of  claim 17 .  
     
     
         26 . A program storage device readable by machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for managing network resources for wireless communication, said method steps comprising the steps of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         27 . A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein for causing functions of an electronic communication, the computer readable program code means in said computer program product comprising computer readable program code means for causing a computer to effect the functions of  claim 22 .  
     
     
         28 . An article of manufacture comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein for causing establishment of a channel for wireless communication,, the computer readable program code means in said article of manufacture comprising computer readable program code means for causing a computer to effect the steps of  claim 23 .  
     
     
         29 . A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein for causing functions of a communication system, the computer readable program code means in said computer program product comprising computer readable program code means for causing a computer to effect the functions of  claim 24.