NETWORK SELECTION

摘要

A mobile station MS1 can communicate through a PLMN (2) and also through a number of local wireless networks e.g. WLAN (6) and WiMAX (7). When the user of MS1 wishes to run an application, for example an video player application, a suitable one of the networks is selected for the communication by obtaining data from the candidate networks using SIP INVITE messages that produce responses containing network parameter data for each of the candidate networks. The handset MS1 may also monitor local network traffic to determine network congestion and also check past history to determine whether many handovers have been made during previous sessions. The data is collated and checked with a service provider (10) so that a network selection decision can be made.