System for Allocating Mobile Stations to a Core Network in an Unlicensed Radio Access Network

摘要

An unlicensed radio access network controller is proposed that is adapted to communicate with the core network portion of at least one public licensed mobile communication network. It is connected to a broadband packet switched network and is adapted to exchange messages with mobile stations communicating via an unlicensed radio interface with access points that are also connected to the broadband packet-switched network. The access controller is furthermore adapted to selectively communicate with a plurality of mobile service switching nodes within the core network portion and comprises a selection module arranged to select an individual one of the plurality of nodes for communicating with a mobile station via said access network controller The provision of a connection with several mobile service switching nodes for routing traffic to and from mobile station connected to the unlicensed radio access network enables the access controller to better distribute traffic over the core network, so improving its efficiency.