A session establishment method and an apparatus, such that an established packet data network (PDN) connection is transferred to a network slice in a fifth generation (5G) network during inter-system mobility of a terminal. The method includes receiving, by a terminal from a control plane function entity, corresponding network slice information used for transferring an established PDN connection to a 5G network, where the corresponding network slice information includes corresponding single network slice selection assistance information (S-NSSAI). The method further includes sending a packet data unit (PDU) session establishment request, where the PDU session establishment request includes corresponding S-NSSAI used for transferring a first PDN connection to the 5G network and a corresponding data network name (DNN) used for transferring the first PDN connection to the 5G network, and the first PDN connection is any one of one or more established PDN connections.

Embodiments of the present invention apply to the technical field of communications, and disclosed are a network switching method, system, and network side device. In the embodiment of the invention, within coverage of network side devices on one signaling plane, when a current network side device bearing data plane information of a terminal device determines that handover from the current network side device to a target network side device is required, the current network side device performs handover confirmation with the target network side device, so that the target network side device enables a data plane information communication function with the terminal device and completes switching the bearer of the data plane information.

In order to make it possible to appropriately select a secondary base station in a case of establishing dual connectivity after a handover, a base station 100 includes: a memory storing instructions; and one or more processors configured to execute the instructions to: communicate with a terminal apparatus 300 in accordance with a first radio access technology; obtain handover result information related to results of handovers from the base station 100 to other base stations 10, 20, 30, and 40; and transmit, when the terminal apparatus 300 performs a handover from the base station 100 to a base station 200 communicating in accordance with a second radio access technology, the handover result information to the base station 200.

Battery life of a user equipment (UE) can be extended when the UE is roaming internationally in a country that has multiple carrier networks each utilizing multiple public land mobile network (PLMN) identifiers. Scan control tables, stored in a universal integrated circuit card (UICC) of the UE, are populated with the identifiers of a PLMN having the highest priority in a defined area (e.g., Circle). A roaming control applet of the UICC can compare serving cell data with the scan control tables to determine if the UE is to perform a higher priority (HP) PLMN search. Utilization of the scan control table avoids unnecessary searches for HPPLMNs that are unavailable in the UE's current location and accordingly extends battery life of the UE.

A cell site gateway comprises a first interface connected to a base station, a second interface connected to a packet network gateway, a forwarding layer, and a third interface connected to a control server. The forwarding layer transmits and receive packets. The control plane information comprises at least one first label value and at least one second label value. The control server exchanges the control plane information.

A wireless terminal can communicate with two radio access networks (RAN) (304, 306) of different types. The wireless terminal can register simultaneously with a RAN of the first type and a RAN of the second type and can wirelessly connect to a RAN of either the first type or the second type in a connected state. The wireless terminal when registered with both a first RAN and a second RAN and when wirelessly connected to the first RAN in the connected state, receives a mobility signal via the first RAN indicating a RAN of the second type and, in response to receiving the mobility signal and in response to being so registered with the first RAN and second RAN, transmits an access trigger signal (417). The access trigger signal indicates that the wireless terminal is to be connected to the second RAN in the connected state.

A method of managing evolved universal mobile telecommunication system terrestrial radio access network (E-UTRAN) capability of a user equipment (UE) is provided that includes switching from a first radio access technology (RAT) to a second RAT if the first RAT fails to provide circuit switched (CS) services to the UE, the first RAT and the second RAT being associated with a first public landline mobile network (PLMN). The UE establishes a CS call session with the second RAT. In the meanwhile, the UE receives a network handover command to move to a second PLMN. The UE may also perform a movement from the first PLMN to the second PLMN and connect with a third RAT associated with the second PLMN to continue the CS call session. The UE enables the E-UTRAN capability after moving to the second PLMN to connect with a fourth RAT available in the second PLMN.

Systems and methods are disclosed for providing a network-instructed handover of a wireless device from a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) to a Radio Access Network (RAN) of another Radio Access Technology (RAT), e.g., a 3.sup.rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) or 3.sup.rd Generation Partnership Project 2 (3GPP2) RAT. In one embodiment, a WLAN access node determines that a handover of a wireless device from the WLAN to another RAN of a different RAT is to be performed and transmits a handover instruction to the wireless device that instructs the wireless device to perform a handover from the WLAN to a RAN of a different RAT. In this manner, the WLAN access node is able to steer the wireless device from the WLAN to a RAN of a different RAT.

Device group partitions and a settlement platform are provided. In some embodiments, device group partitions (e.g., partitions of devices based on associated device groups) are provided. In some embodiments, a settlement platform service is provided. In some embodiments, a settlement platform service is provided for partitioned devices. In some embodiments, collecting device generated service usage information for one or more devices in wireless communication on a wireless network; and aggregating the device generated service usage information for a settlement platform for the one or more devices in wireless communication on the wireless network is provided. In some embodiments, a settlement platform implements a service billing allocation and/or a service/transactional revenue share among one or more partners. In some embodiments, service usage information includes micro-CDRs, which are used for CDR mediation or reconciliation that provides for service usage accounting on any device activity that is desired. In some embodiments, each device activity that is desired to be associated with a billing event is assigned a micro-CDR transaction code, and a service processor of the device is programmed to account for that activity associated with that transaction code. In some embodiments, a service processor executing on a wireless communications device periodically reports (e.g., during each heartbeat or based on any other periodic, push, and/or pull communication technique(s)) micro-CDR usage measures to, for example, a service controller or some other network element for CDR mediation or reconciliation.

In a wireless communications network, the presence of a wireless local area network in a cell segment is determined. An identifier of the wireless local area network in the cell segment is sent to at least one mobile station in the cell segment to enable the at least one mobile station to hand off to the wireless local area network. Optionally, information identifying geographic boundaries of cell segments and the wireless local area network can be sent to the at least one mobile station.