FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 OF 1970)
AND
THE PATENT RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See section 10 and rule 13)
“SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ENSURING QUALITY OF SERVICE IN
HETNET”
We, Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited, an Indian National, of, 101, Saffron, Nr. Centre Point, Panchwati 5 Rasta, Ambawadi, Ahmedabad-380006, Gujarat, India.
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.

TECHNICAL FIELD:
The present invention generally relates to wireless network and more particularly, to systems and methods for ensuring quality of service in wi-fi offload and vice versa in HetNet.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE:
The following description of the related art is intended to provide background information pertaining to the field of the disclosure. This section may include certain aspects of the art that may be related to various features of the present disclosure. However, it should be appreciated that this section is used only to enhance the understanding of the reader with respect to the present disclosure, and not as admissions of the prior art.
Over the past few years, wireless communication technologies have been enhanced to a great extent. With an advancement in the wireless communication technologies, various cellular deployments are now capable of providing various means to enable wireless communication via various electronic devices/user equipment. In a traditional cellular deployment, suitable powered macrocells are being deployed to cover sufficiently large areas. However, with macrocells-only deployment, there is quick capacity degradation as the number of user equipment (UE) operating in the macrocells coverage areas increase. Therefore, operators are now reinforcing their macrocells deployment with one or multiple low powered small cellular cells (generally termed as Femto/Pico/Micro cells) placed at multiple strategic locations within one or more macro coverage areas. This kind of reinforced cellular network is generally termed as Heterogeneous network, in short, HetNet. For a typical HetNet, strategic locations for small cells generally include areas with high density of users, such as shopping malls, airports, railway/bus stations, colleges, etc. Also, these locations might include area with dead-spots, or areas with low macro signal strength, such as indoor

establishments or peripheral locations of a macro coverage area. Reinforced with small cells placed at multiple strategic locations as described above, Heterogeneous Networks not only provide the increased mobile data capacity but also provide better mobile coverage, thereby enhancing the overall user’s mobile broadband experience.
In recent years, Wi-Fi technology based on IEEE 802.11 standards has also seen tremendous growth and commercialization. Almost all available UE (user equipment) with cellular capability support now have Wi-Fi capability by default in order to connect to Wi-Fi networks operating in either of the unlicensed frequency bands, 2.4 GHz, or 5 GHz. The fact, therefore, is also motivating cellular operators to use ubiquitous and cost -effective Wi-Fi technology in pursuing their HetNet strategy. Many operators are now deploying low powered Wi-Fi cells along with cellular small cells at multiple strategic locations identified for a HetNet. Further, for ease of maintenance and provision, few operators are also using Wi-Fi integrated versions of small cellular cells, wherein Wi-Fi and cellular small cell technology are made available on common equipment.
Figure 1 illustrates an exemplary block diagram representation of a heterogeneous communication network architecture [100]. As shown in Figure 1, a typical heterogeneous network (HetNet) comprises macro base station [101A] for providing wide area coverage to serve users. Further, Figure 1 depicts that within a macro cell [100], several low power nodes are employed in service areas having a higher density of users requiring high data rates. Examples of such low power nodes comprise micro cells [101B] and [101C]. Also, Figure 1 depicts micro cell integrated with Wi-Fi radio [101D] which are used widely to provide multi technology hotspot capacity/coverage goals. Furthermore, in a HetNet, the operators could also deploy independent & cost-effective Wi-Fi Access points in hotspot areas to offload cellular load, and to meet capacity/coverage requirements of users, such as [101E], [101F], [101G], [101H] and [101I] as illustrated in Figure 1. Furthermore, in the heterogeneous network as depicted in

the Figure 1, the macro base station [101A] coverage could be used for wide area overlay mobility coverage, while Micro base stations along with Wi-Fi Access points ([101B] to [101I]) coverage could be used for mobile capacity upgrade.
For autonomous Cellular Network (such as LTE) to WLAN (and vice versa) data/voice offload, Access Network Detection and Selection Function (ANDSF) is defined by 3GPP. This client-server architecture is aimed to realize seamless Wi-Fi offload for improving customer experience through connection with a good quality Wi-Fi and at the same time is an effective tool for decongestion of operator LTE/Cellular network. ANDSF provides functionality to operators to define centralized policies for offloading to operator-preferred network connections. ANDSF server assists the user equipment (UE) to discover operator Wi-Fi networks through an ANDSF client residing on it. ANDSF client automatically enables a mobile user’s data and voice to be offloaded from LTE/Cellular Network to Wi-Fi and vice-versa based on these defined policies. A typical policy defined at the server has a list of access technology type for e.g. Wi-Fi, preferred Wi-Fi radio access identifier – the Service Set Identifier (SSID) which is simply the name of the Wi-Fi network and list of mobile operator network cell IDs as a possible source of Wi-Fi offload destination. The ANDSF client makes use of the background Wi-Fi scans from the Operating System (OS) of the device and takes a decision to automatically offload on policy preferred SSID if in acceptable range. As an alternative, the ANDSF client can periodically check if the user is in the expected network Cell ID coverage, turn ON Wi-Fi on the device and attempt to connect to preferred SSID if in acceptable range.
ANDSF server assists the user equipment (UE) to discover operator Wi-Fi networks through a WLAN offload module (client) residing on it. The client automatically enables a mobile user’s data and voice to be offloaded from LTE/Cellular Network to Wi-Fi and vice-versa based on these defined policies or can dynamically identify and connect with different Wi-Fi access network names that are connectable within the operator network. A mobile network operator can also deploy an

enterprise Wi-Fi solution to augment the LTE/cellular network. The enterprise Wi-Fi solution can make use of EAP-AKA (Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) -mechanism for authentication and session key distribution that uses the 3rd generation Authentication and Key Agreement (AKA) algorithm which typically runs in the SIM (subscriber identification module).
Any ANDSF ISMP policy (Inter-system mobility policy), has a list of access technology type for e.g. Wi-Fi, preferred Wi-Fi radio access identifier – the Service Set Identifier (SSID) which is simply the name of the Wi-Fi network and list of mobile operator network cell IDs as a possible source of Wi-Fi offload destination. It does not however, have any parameter which can be utilized to ensure quality of service (QoS) in offloaded users. The current standard based ANDSF solution discovers operator Wi-Fi access network in its vicinity and selects the preferred network based on defined policies. The defined policy does not have any mechanism to monitor and regulate quality of Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) link in making offload decisions.
Known solutions describe eNodeB as the 3GPP node to communicate the access point (AP) information to a user equipment (UE), wherein the AP information enables the UE to select WLAN APs to receive data via traffic offloading between the 3GPP node and the one or more WLAN APs. Also, the known solutions discloses monitoring of health of each network nodes in a communication network by using PIP data packets to take decisions such as Re-routing in an MPLS network and changing CODEC in a VOIP session. The known solutions also describes about dynamic authentication of network operators through a connectivity engine in the UE for a device with a plurality of SIMs and is related to the dynamic network operator selection system in Multi SIM devices (i.e. related to connection management for multi operator selection). In the known solutions the dynamic network operator selection has been described with an example provided for DSDS/DSDA devices, where the operator selection (single radio or both) is driven by a connection manager/connectivity engine. The dynamic selection of operators

and/or RATs is based on following conditions like cost, network coverage, network congestion, network interference, unified billing, quality of service, bandwidth, Wi-Fi efficiency and/or device power consumption, policy based an operator selection based on time-of-day and operator selection based on a per-application operation specification.
In general, all the existing solutions have the limitation of not providing solution to the problem of dynamically identifying the right parameters relating to QoS for WLAN using ANDSF policy. More particularly, the major problems of the existing arts are described as listed below.
The ANDSF aim is to offload users from heavily congested cellular radio access network such as LTE to WLAN access network which operates in unlicensed spectrum (most prominent WLAN bands being 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz). The cellular network operators have both cellular as well as WLAN network rolled out. The mobile network operator (MNO) thus can use ANDSF to serve more customers on their cellular networks (operating in heavily priced licensed portion of the spectrum) by offloading a portion of its user base on their severely unutilized WLAN network or any other public/privately owned WLAN network. The cellular networks such as LTE networks being operated in licensed spectrum enjoys fairly controlled radio environment and therefore better signal quality as compared to WLAN networks operating in unlicensed band. The LTE also benefits from smart MAC schedulers which uses features such as link adaptation to assign best possible data rates to its users as per their radio environment. Besides, WLAN access network inherently lags far behind cellular networks such as LTE in terms of multi¬user performance as it is severely affected by increasing congestion on the network. These limitations of WLAN access network therefore demand a set of quality checks on WLAN access network which can be used to ensure that Quality of Service (QoS) observed by a user offloaded by ANDSF is either comparable or better as compared to a normal user on LTE or any other wireless network.

Therefore, in view of the above highlighted and other inherent limitations in the existing solutions, there is a need for novel technique, that can dynamically set of quality checks on WLAN access network which shall be used to ensure that Quality of Service (QoS) to offloaded traffic by ANDSF is either comparable or better as compared to a normal user on LTE or any other wireless network. Hence, there exists a need in the art to provide a system and a method for efficiently and effectively ensuring quality of service in wi-fi offload and vice versa in HetNet.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
This section is provided to introduce certain objects and aspects of the present invention in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify the key features or the scope of the claimed subject matter.
In order to overcome at least some of the drawbacks mentioned in the previous section and those otherwise known to persons skilled in the art, an object of the present invention is to provide a method and system for ensuring quality of service in wi-fi offload in HetNet. Also an object of the present invention is to provide a method and system for initiating an effective and efficient WLAN to cellular network rove-out and vice versa to ensure quality of service in HetNet. Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a novel method and system that can dynamically provide a set of quality checks on WLAN access network which can be used to ensure that Quality of Service (QoS) to offloaded traffic by ANDSF is either comparable or better as compared to a normal user on LTE or any other wireless network. Another object of the present disclosure is to propose a framework which enhances the scope of ANDSF from being a blind WLAN offload solution to an intelligent solution which serves subscribers of the operator best user experience over either WLAN or LTE radio network. Also, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a novel mechanism to efficiently handle Wi-Fi Offload QoS scenarios to LTE and vice-versa. Another object of the present disclosure is to

provide a novel mechanism to provide WLAN offload solution based on the parameters on averaging instantaneous received signal strength indicator (RSSI), Passive throughput, packet loss, latency and jitter. An object of the present disclosure is to provide a novel mechanism to provide appropriate Wi-Fi configuration and attempt connection to desired enterprise Wi-Fi AP using one of the methods for successful connection for better QoS. Also, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a novel mechanism to improve probability of Wi-Fi offload to user’s preferred network for providing QoS data/voice offload. Further, one another object of the present disclosure is to increase the Wi-Fi offload during the peak consumption hours by leveraging the use of the Enterprise/ Home Gateway’s (connected to ONTs) for offloading LTE/cellular network traffic to Wi-Fi at office/home with QoS maintained. Also another object of the present disclosure is to use service operator SSIDs configured on enterprise Wi-Fi APs to maintain QoS in outdoor locations like Bus Stops, Malls, Schools, and Colleges etc. Another object of the present disclosure is to use service operator SSIDs on standalone Wi-Fi Access points with QoS to offload LTE/cellular network traffic during day time and night hours, when most of the users are at home. Also, an object of the present disclosure is to provide solution that can discover dynamically service operator Wi-Fi access network in its vicinity and selects the preferred network based on dynamic policies with QoS maintained. Another object of the present disclosure is to provide solution that uses a learning-based method, where the ANDSF client will automatically connect to those SSIDs which the end-user connects to most often of the times, provided it is reachable from operator network with QoS maintained. Also, another object of the present disclosure is to provide solution that maximizes the Wi-Fi offload opportunity in operator network by evaluating Wi-Fi offload criteria based on both managed SSID defined in policy as well as the SSIDs identified by learning method with QoS maintained. Another object of the present disclosure is to provide an efficient and effective novel mechanism of offloading in heterogeneous networks with QoS maintained. One other object of the present disclosure is to provide users with the enhanced experience in high density areas, such as shopping malls, airports,

railway/bus stations, colleges, etc. situated within a HetNet coverage area. Also, an object of the present disclosure is to provide coverage in area with dead-spots, or areas with low macro signal strength, such as indoor establishments or peripheral locations within a HetNet coverage area with QoS maintained. Another object of the present disclosure is to provide users with the features and ability to receive seamless services simultaneously or sequentially consequently without any latency and call drops with QoS maintained. Furthermore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide features and ability to handle high volume calls and sessions concurrently with QoS maintained. Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide a method that can be used across vendors in a Heterogeneous Network with QoS maintained.
Furthermore, in order to achieve the aforementioned objectives, the present invention provides a method and system for ensuring quality of service in wi-fi offload in HetNet.
A first aspect of the present invention relates to the method for ensuring quality of service in wi-fi offload in HetNet. The method encompasses receiving, at a transceiver unit of a user equipment (UE) from a server unit, a policy comprising at least one or more Wi-Fi SSIDs, a downlink (DL) throughput threshold parameter, an uplink (UL) throughput threshold parameter, a ping threshold parameter, a latency threshold parameter, a jitter threshold parameter and an information of a quality server. Thereafter, the method encompasses determining, by a processing unit of the user equipment, an offloading of a traffic from the cellular network to a WLAN corresponding to a WLAN SSID. Also, the method further comprises performing, by the processing unit of the user equipment, a first passive throughput check based on the offloading of the traffic from the cellular network to the WLAN, wherein the first passive throughput check is further based on a comparison of at least one of the DL throughput threshold parameter with a passive ongoing DL traffic on the user equipment and the UL throughput threshold parameter with a passive ongoing UL traffic on the user equipment. The method

thereafter comprises initiating, by the processing unit of the user equipment, a set of ICMP ping requests to the quality server based on a failure of the first passive throughput check, wherein the set of ICMP ping requests is initiated to perform an ICMP ping test based on a comparison of at least one of an average packet loss of a ping session with the ping threshold parameter, an average latency of the ping session with the latency threshold parameter and an average jitter of the ping session with the jitter threshold parameter. Further the method encompasses initiating, by the processing unit of the user equipment, an HTTP fallback check based on a failure of the ICMP ping test. The method thereafter comprises initiating, by the processing unit of the user equipment, the WLAN to cellular network rove-out based on at least one of the failure of the ICMP ping test and a failure of the HTTP fallback check. Further the method comprises automatically offloading, by the processing unit of the user equipment, the traffic from the WLAN to the cellular network based on the WLAN to cellular network rove-out, to ensure the quality of service is achieved.
Another aspect of the present invention relates to a user equipment for ensuring quality of service in wi-fi offload in HetNet. The user equipment comprises a transceiver unit, configured to receive from a server unit, a policy comprising at least one or more Wi-Fi SSIDs, a downlink (DL) throughput threshold parameter, an uplink (UL) throughput threshold parameter, a ping threshold parameter, a latency threshold parameter, a jitter threshold parameter and an information of a quality server. Also, the user equipment comprises a processing unit, configured to determine, an offloading of a traffic from the cellular network to a WLAN corresponding to a WLAN SSID. The processing unit is thereafter configured to perform, a first passive throughput check based on the offloading of the traffic from the cellular network to the WLAN, wherein the first passive throughput check is further based on a comparison of at least one of the DL throughput threshold parameter with a passive ongoing DL traffic on the user equipment and the UL throughput threshold parameter with a passive ongoing UL traffic on the user equipment. Further the processing unit is configured to initiate, a set of ICMP ping

requests to the quality server based on a failure of the first passive throughput check, wherein the set of ICMP ping requests is initiated to perform an ICMP ping test based on a comparison of at least one of an average packet loss of a ping session with the ping threshold parameter, an average latency of the ping session with the latency threshold parameter and an average jitter of the ping session with the jitter threshold parameter. Also, the processing unit is thereafter configured to initiate, an HTTP fallback check based on a failure of the ICMP ping test. Further the processing unit is configured to initiate, the WLAN to cellular network rove-out based on at least one of the failure of the ICMP ping test and a failure of the HTTP fallback check. The processing unit is thereafter configured to automatically offload, the traffic from the WLAN to the cellular network based on the WLAN to cellular network rove-out, to ensure the quality of service is achieved.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein, and constitute a part of this disclosure, illustrate exemplary embodiments of the disclosed methods and systems in which like reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the different drawings. Components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Some drawings may indicate the components using block diagrams and may not represent the internal circuitry of each component. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that disclosure of such drawings includes disclosure of electrical components, electronic components or circuitry commonly used to implement such components.
Figure 1 illustrates an exemplary block diagram representation of a heterogeneous communication network architecture, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention.
Figure 2 illustrates an exemplary block diagram of a user equipment [100] for

ensuring quality of service in wi-fi offload in HetNet, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention.
Figure 3 illustrates an exemplary method flow diagram [300], depicting a method for ensuring quality of service in wi-fi offload in HetNet , in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention.
The foregoing shall be more apparent from the following more detailed description of the disclosure.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, various specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent, however, that embodiments of the present disclosure may be practiced without these specific details. Several features described hereafter can each be used independently of one another or with any combination of other features. An individual feature may not address all of the problems discussed above or might address only some of the problems discussed above. Some of the problems discussed above might not be fully addressed by any of the features described herein.
The ensuing description provides exemplary embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the disclosure. Rather, the ensuing description of the exemplary embodiments will provide those skilled in the art with an enabling description for implementing an exemplary embodiment. It should be understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth.

Also, it is noted that individual embodiments may be described as a process which is depicted as a flowchart, a flow diagram, a sequence diagram, a data flow diagram, a structure diagram, or a block diagram. Although a flowchart may describe the operations as a sequential process, many of the operations can be performed in parallel or concurrently. In addition, the order of the operations may be re-arranged. A process is terminated when its operations are completed but could have additional steps not included in a figure. A process may correspond to a method, a function, a procedure, a subroutine, a subprogram, etc. When a process corresponds to a function, its termination can correspond to a return of the function to the calling function or the main function.
Furthermore, embodiments may be implemented by hardware, software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description languages, or any combination thereof. When implemented in software, firmware, middleware or microcode, the program code or code segments to perform the necessary tasks (e.g., a computer-program product) may be stored in a machine-readable medium. A processor(s) may perform the necessary tasks.
The term “machine-readable storage medium” or “computer-readable storage medium” includes, but is not limited to, portable or non-portable storage devices, optical storage devices, and various other mediums capable of storing, containing, or carrying instruction(s) and/or data. A machine-readable medium may include a non-transitory medium in which data can be stored and that does not include carrier waves and/or transitory electronic signals propagating wirelessly or over wired connections. Examples of a non-transitory medium may include, but are not limited to, a magnetic disk or tape, optical storage media such as compact disk (CD) or digital versatile disk (DVD), flash memory, memory or memory devices. A computer-program product may include code and/or machine-executable instructions that may represent a procedure, a function, a subprogram, a program, a routine, a subroutine, a module, a software package, a class, or any combination of instructions, data structures, or program statements. A code segment may be

coupled to another code segment or a hardware circuit by passing and/or receiving information, data, arguments, parameters, or memory contents. Information, arguments, parameters, data, etc. may be passed, forwarded, or transmitted via any suitable means including memory sharing, message passing, token passing, network transmission, etc.
The word “exemplary” and/or “demonstrative” is used herein to mean serving as an example, instance, or illustration. For the avoidance of doubt, the subject matter disclosed herein is not limited by such examples. In addition, any aspect or design described herein as “exemplary” and/or “demonstrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects or designs, nor is it meant to preclude equivalent exemplary structures and techniques known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Furthermore, to the extent that the terms “includes,” “has,” “contains,” and other similar words are used in either the detailed description or the claims, such terms are intended to be inclusive—in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as an open transition word—without precluding any additional or other elements.
Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further

understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
The term "data" as used herein means any indicia, signals, marks, symbols, domains, symbol sets, representations, and any other physical form or forms representing information, whether permanent or temporary, whether visible, audible, acoustic, electric, magnetic, electromagnetic or otherwise manifested. The term "data" as used to represent predetermined information in one physical form shall be deemed to encompass any and all representations of corresponding information in a different physical form or forms.
The terms "media data" and "media" as used herein mean data which is widely accessible, whether over-the-air, or via cable, satellite, network, internetwork (including the Internet), print, displayed, distributed on storage media, or by any other means or technique that is humanly perceptible, without regard to the form or content of such data, and including but not limited to audio, video, audio/video, text, images, animations, databases, broadcasts, displays (including but not limited to video displays, posters and billboards), signs, signals, web pages, print media and streaming media data.
The terms "reading" and "read" as used herein mean a process or processes that serve to recover data that has been added to, encoded in, combined with or embedded in, media data.
The term "database" as used herein means an organized body of related data, regardless of the manner in which the data or the organized body thereof is represented. For example, the organized body of related data may be in the form

of one or more of a table, a map, a grid, a packet, a datagram, a frame, a file, an e-mail, a message, a document, a report, a list or in any other form.
The terms "first", "second", "primary" and "secondary" are used to distinguish one element, set, data, object, step, process, function, activity or thing from another, and are not used to designate relative position, or arrangement in time or relative importance, unless otherwise stated explicitly. The terms "coupled", "coupled to", and "coupled with" as used herein each mean a relationship between or among two or more devices, apparatus, files, circuits, elements, functions, operations, processes, programs, media, components, networks, systems, subsystems, and/or means, constituting any one or more of (a) a connection, whether direct or through one or more other devices, apparatus, files, circuits, elements, functions, operations, processes, programs, media, components, networks, systems, subsystems, or means, (b) a communications relationship, whether direct or through one or more other devices, apparatus, files, circuits, elements, functions, operations, processes, programs, media, components, networks, systems, subsystems, or means, and/or (c) a functional relationship in which the operation of any one or more devices, apparatus, files, circuits, elements, functions, operations, processes, programs, media, components, networks, systems, subsystems, or means depends, in whole or in part, on the operation of any one or more others thereof.
The terms "communicate," and "communicating'' and as used herein include both conveying data from a source to a destination, and delivering data to a communications medium, system, channel, network, device, wire, cable, fiber, circuit and/or link to be conveyed to a destination and the term "communication" as used herein means data so conveyed or delivered. The term "communications" as used herein includes one or more of a communications medium, system, channel, network, device, wire, cable, fiber, circuit and link.

Moreover, terms like “user equipment” (UE), “electronic device”, “mobile station”, “user device”, “mobile subscriber station,” “access terminal,” “terminal,” “smartphone,” “smart computing device,” “handset,” and similar terminology refers to any electrical, electronic, electro-mechanical equipment or a combination of one or more of the above devices. Smart computing devices may include, but not limited to, a mobile phone, smart phone, virtual reality (VR) devices, augmented reality (AR) devices, pager, laptop, a general-purpose computer, desktop, personal digital assistant, tablet computer, mainframe computer, or any other computing device as may be obvious to a person skilled in the art to implement the features of the present invention. In general, a smart computing device is a digital, user configured, computer networked device that can operate autonomously. A smart computing device is one of the appropriate systems for storing data and other private/sensitive information. The said device operates at all the seven levels of ISO reference model, but the primary function is related to the application layer along with the network, session and presentation layer with any additional features of a touch screen, apps ecosystem, physical and biometric security, etc. Further, a ‘smartphone’ is one type of “smart computing device” that refers to the mobility wireless cellular connectivity device that allows end-users to use services on 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G and the like mobile broadband Internet connections with an advanced mobile operating system which combines features of a personal computer operating system with other features useful for mobile or handheld use. These smartphones can access the Internet, have a touchscreen user interface, can run third-party apps including the capability of hosting online applications, music players and are camera phones possessing high¬speed mobile broadband 4G LTE internet with video calling, hotspot functionality, motion sensors, mobile payment mechanisms and enhanced security features with alarm and alert in emergencies. Mobility devices may include smartphones, wearable devices, smart-watches, smart bands, wearable augmented devices, etc. For the sake of specificity, we will refer to the mobility device to both feature phone and smartphones in this disclosure but will not limit the scope of the disclosure and may extend to any mobility device in implementing the technical

solutions. The above smart devices including the smartphone as well as the feature phone including IoT devices enable the communication on the devices. Furthermore, the foregoing terms are utilized interchangeably in the subject specification and related drawings.
As used herein, a “processor” or “processing unit” includes one or more processors, wherein processor refers to any logic circuitry for processing instructions. A processor may be a general-purpose processor, a special-purpose processor, a conventional processor, a digital signal processor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in association with a DSP core, a controller, a microcontroller, a low-end microcontroller, Application Specific Integrated Circuits, Field Programmable Gate Array circuits, any other type of integrated circuits, etc. Furthermore, the term "processor" as used herein includes, but is not limited to one or more computers, hardwired circuits, signal modifying devices and systems, devices and machines for controlling systems, central processing units, programmable devices and systems, systems on a chip, systems comprised of discrete elements and/or circuits, state machines, virtual machines, data processors, processing facilities and combinations of any of the foregoing. The processor may perform signal coding data processing, input/output processing, and/or any other functionality that enables the working of the system according to the present disclosure. More specifically, the processor or processing unit is a hardware processor. The term "processor" as used herein means processing devices, apparatus, programs, circuits, components, systems and subsystems, whether implemented in hardware, tangibly-embodied software or both, and whether or not programmable.
As used herein, “memory unit”, “storage unit” and/or “memory” refers to a machine or computer-readable medium including any mechanism for storing information in a form readable by a computer or similar machine. For example, a computer-readable medium includes read-only memory (“ROM”), random access memory (“RAM”), magnetic disk storage media, optical storage media, flash

memory devices or other types of machine-accessible storage media. The memory unit as used herein is configured to retain data, whether on a temporary or permanent basis, and to provide such retained data to various units to perform their respective functions.
As used herein the “Transceiver Unit” may include but not limited to a transmitter to transmit data to one or more destinations and a receiver to receive data from one or more sources. Further, the Transceiver Unit may include any other similar unit obvious to a person skilled in the art, to implement the features of the present invention. The transceiver unit may convert data or information to signals and vice versa for the purpose of transmitting and receiving respectively.
The present invention provides a novel solution to ensure Quality of Service (QoS) for Wi-Fi offload in a HetNet 3GPP cellular network and more particularly to offload consumption of a traffic (i.e. data/voice) of a user equipment from a cellular network to a Wi-Fi network and vice-versa with a maintained QoS. To provide this, the present invention provides a novel system and method for efficiently and effectively initiating a WLAN to cellular network rove-out and vice versa. The WLAN to cellular network rove-out includes WLAN to cellular network offloading i.e. offloading of the traffic (i.e. data/voice) from the WLAN to the cellular network. Also cellular to WLAN network rove-in includes cellular network to WLAN offloading i.e. offloading of the traffic (i.e. data/voice) from the cellular network to WLAN network. The present disclosure also provides solution for ensuring Quality of Service (QoS) while connecting to a desired WLAN SSID after discovering user’s preferred Wi-Fi network access names (SSIDs) for enhancing the customer experience on LTE/Cellular and Wi-Fi networks. For instance, in an implementation the present invention encompasses identifying different access names for discovering and learning user’s preferred network for increasing the likelihood for automatic Wi-Fi offload on service operator network in multi-sim devices and enhancing customer experience to dynamically offload a user equipment. Furthermore, the present invention provides solution that uses a

learning-based method, where a client such as an ANDSF client at a UE automatically connects to those SSIDs which the end-user connects to most often of the times, provided it is reachable from operator network with QoS maintained. Also, the present solution is based on the user equipment Wi-Fi capability either in 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, so that it can perform and collect WLAN measurements in its vicinity according to certain pre-configured parameters.
The present invention includes a set of quality checks that needs to be monitored before a processing unit or an ANDSF client/client via the processing unit at a UE deems a radio access network (i.e., LTE or WLAN) suitable for migration of a user. More particularly, to ensure Quality of Service (QoS) to offload consumption of the traffic (i.e. data/voice) of the user equipment, to a Wi-Fi network and vice-versa, the present invention encompasses use of various parameters encompassed in a policy such as in an ANDSF policy. For instance, the present invention encompasses use of a cellular/LTE to WLAN Rove-In threshold parameter received in an ANDSF policy. The instantaneous received signal strength indicator (RSSI) over a window (say 2s) is averaged to tackle intermittent fluctuations in RSSI. This averaged RSSI is used to compare with the Rove-In threshold parameter such that offloading of the traffic to a WLAN SSID occurs when its RSSI meets the Rove-In threshold parameter/level. Also, the present invention encompasses use of a Passive throughput (downlink (DL) and/or uplink (UL)) threshold parameters received in the policy (such as the ANDSF policy), for monitoring the passive throughput to ensure Quality of Service when the UE is already offloaded to a WLAN SSID. The present invention also encompasses use of quality server URL and ICMP ping test thresholds for packet loss, latency and jitter, received in the policy (such as the ANDSF policy), to perform ICMP ping test to ensure Quality of Service when device/UE is already offloaded to the WLAN SSID. Also, the present invention encompasses use of HTTP fallback test thresholds for packet loss, latency and jitter received in the policy (such as the ANDSF policy), to perform HTTP fallback test using an external DNS server or any other HTTP server to ensure Quality of Service when ICMP ping test returns packet loss of 100%.

Furthermore, when the UE is already offloaded to the WLAN SSID, the present invention also encompasses use of WLAN to cellular/LTE Rove-Out threshold parameter received in the policy (such as the ANDSF policy) and averaging an instantaneous RSSI over a window (say 2s) (to tackle intermittent fluctuations in RSSI) to further use this averaged RSSI to compare with Rove-Out threshold for WLAN to cellular network rove-out. Also, the present invention encompasses use of measured cellular/LTE SINR and cellular/LTE RSRP to determine if rove-out procedure needs to be executed. Therefore, the present invention provides a solution that includes dynamically setting quality checks on WLAN access network to ensure via the UE (for instance via an ANDSF client residing at the UE), the Quality of Service (QoS) to offloaded traffic, for better customer QoS experience in a heterogeneous network. Thus the present disclosure provides a solution which enhances the scope of a client such as an ANDSF client at the UE from being a blind WLAN offload solution to an intelligent solution which serves subscribers of the operator best user experience over either WLAN or cellular/LTE radio network.
Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily carry out the present disclosure.
Referring to Figure 2, an exemplary block diagram of a user equipment (UE) [100] for ensuring quality of service in wi-fi offload in HetNet in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention is shown.
The user equipment (UE) [100] comprises, at least one transceiver unit [102], at least one processing unit [104], at least one storage unit [106], a Wi-Fi stack [108] and a Cellular stack [110]. Also, all of the components/ units of the UE [100] are assumed to be connected to each other unless otherwise indicated below. To implement the features of the present invention the UE [100] is connected to a server unit and the UE [100] comprises a client, wherein the client can be in the

form of an over-the-top (OTT) Application or integrated in the processing unit [104] of the UE [100]. Also, in Fig. 1 only a few units are shown, however, the UE [100] may comprise multiple such units or the UE [100] may comprise any such numbers of said units, as required to implement the features of the present disclosure.
The UE [100], is configured at least to ensuring quality of service in wi-fi offload in HetNet, with the help of the interconnection between the components/ units of the UE [100].
Furthermore, to implement the features of the present invention the UE [100] is implemented in a heterogeneous network, wherein the heterogeneous network may include but not limited to a macro base station with a coverage area/macro coverage area serving the user equipment (UE) [100], a Micro/Pico cell which is deployed in a hotspot area to provide capacity addition in the macro coverage area and one or more Wi-Fi Access Points (APs) deployed in the hotspot area to provide additional capacity on Wi-Fi. Furthermore, the UE [100] comprises a Wi-Fi capability on both 2.4 GHz and 5GHz unlicensed bands (via onboard 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz radios and corresponding chipsets respectively) in addition to a cellular capability consisting of cellular stack [110] and a cellular radio. Further, the Wi-Fi stack [108] of the UE [100] comprises a ‘Wi-Fi measurement’ module to carry out one or more WLAN measurements on 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz radio. Also, UE [100] comprises a Wi-Fi Event module as a part of Wi-Fi stack to trigger one or more Wi-Fi attach/detach events via the processing unit [104] based on measurements reports from the ‘Wi-Fi measurement’ module. In an implementation said attach and detach events are triggered automatically from the client such as via an ANDSF client, via the processing unit [104]. Further, the cellular stack [110] may have the capability to communicate with the ‘Wi-Fi measurement’ module and the Wi-Fi Event module. The processing unit [104], and the storage unit [106] are configured to drive all the embedded modules of the user equipment [100] to perform their respective function or more particularly the processing unit [104] is configured to

implement the features of the present invention via various modules/units of the UE [100].
More specifically, to implement the features of the present invention the UE [100] comprises the client and the UE [100] is connected to the server unit and in an implementation the server unit is an ANDSF server and the client residing in the UE [100] is an ANDSF client. Furthermore, when the client such as the ANDSF client is first installed in the UE [100], it securely passes on unique credentials of the user device for registration and authentication with the server unit such as the ANDSF server unit, via the transceiver unit [102]. Only if the registration and authentication is successful, the client via the processing unit [104], fetches a public land mobile network (PLMN) from the UE [100] and communicate the same to the server unit via the transceiver unit [102], for fetching/receiving a policy such as an ANDSF policy. Thereafter, the server unit communicates to the client via the transceiver unit [102], the policy comprising a list of cell IDs based on reported PLMN along with one or more parameters comprising details like one or more Wi-Fi SSIDs for connection, a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) information, one or more quality check thresholds and an analytic profile upload configuration etc. Further, in an implementation, once the policy (for instance the ANDSF policy) is delivered to the client and if a preferred Service Set Identifier (SSID) scan is received from the UE’s [100] operating system (OS), the processing unit [104] of the UE [100] makes WLAN offload decision based on signal threshold parameter RSSI received in the policy. If the signal conditions are met, the client via the processing unit [104] automatically turns on Wi-Fi at the UE [100] and connect to a suitable Wi-Fi AP. Furthermore, in an implementation, the server unit may be any policy server unit and the client is any decision client/client that may be present on the UE [100]/multi-SIM device, to implement the features of the present disclosure. More specifically, the implementation of the features of the present invention via the UE [100] are as follows:

The transceiver unit [102] of the UE [100] is configured to receive from the server unit, the policy comprising at least one or more Wi-Fi SSIDs, a downlink (DL) throughput threshold parameter, an uplink (UL) throughput threshold parameter, a ping threshold parameter, a latency threshold parameter, a jitter threshold parameter, an information of a quality server, a Rove-In threshold parameter and a Rove-Out threshold parameter. In an implementation, the downlink (DL) throughput threshold parameter comprises a value in units such as Bits per sec, Kbits per sec, etc., the uplink (UL) throughput threshold parameter comprises a value in units such as Bits per sec, Kbits per sec, etc., the ping threshold parameter comprises a value in units of packet loss percentage, the latency threshold parameter comprises a value in units of milliseconds, the jitter threshold parameter comprises a value in units of milliseconds, the information of a quality server comprises at least one of a URL and an IP address of the quality check server, the Rove-In threshold parameter comprises a WLAN signal strength in dBm, the Rove-Out threshold parameter comprises at least one of a WLAN signal strength in dBm, Cellular/LTE Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) in dBm, Cellular/LTE Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ) in dB and Cellular/LTE Signal to Interference Plus Noise Ratio (SINR) in dB. The policy is received at the client residing at the UE [100] via the transceiver unit [102] from the server unit, wherein the client can be in the form of the OTT Application or integrated in the processing unit [104] or in a Modem connected to the processing unit [104]. Also, in an implementation the client is the ANDSF client and the server unit is the ANDSF server unit.
Once the policy is received at the client, the processing unit [104] of the UE [100] is configured to automatically offload a traffic (i.e. data/voice) from the cellular network to a WLAN corresponding to a WLAN SSID based on one or more parameters received in the policy. More particularly, to automatically offload the traffic (i.e. data/voice) from the cellular network to the WLAN corresponding to the WLAN SSID, the processing unit [104] is configured to generate, one of a first positive indication and a first negative indication based on a comparison of a signal

strength parameter associated with the WLAN SSID with the Rove-In threshold parameter, wherein the Rove-In threshold parameter is received in the Policy. In an implementation the processing unit [104] is configured to measure the signal strength parameter associated with the WLAN SSID (i.e. WLAN signal strength) by a Received Signal Strength Identifier (RSSI) of a WLAN Access Point (AP) of the WLAN SSID. The RSSI is an estimated measure of power level that a WLAN client device/UE [100] is receiving from a WLAN AP/AP. The RSSI of any radiating WLAN AP gets weaker as the distance between the AP and the UE [100] increases, therefore this leads to reduced data rates at lower RSSI levels. On the other hand the RSSI of any radiating WLAN AP gets stronger as the distance between the AP and the UE [100] decreases.
The first positive indication is generated in an event the signal strength parameter associated with the WLAN SSID is greater than the Rove-In threshold parameter. Also, the first negative indication is generated in an event the signal strength parameter associated with the WLAN SSID is lesser than the Rove-In threshold parameter. Thereafter, the processing unit [104] is configured to analyze, the signal strength parameter for a pre-defined interval of time based on the first positive indication (i.e. the event when the signal strength parameter associated with the WLAN SSID is greater than the Rove-In threshold parameter), to generate one of a second positive indication and a second negative indication. The second positive indication is generated in an event the signal strength parameter associated with the WLAN SSID is greater than the Rove-In threshold parameter for the pre-defined interval of time and the second negative indication is generated in an event the signal strength parameter associated with the WLAN SSID is lesser than the Rove-In threshold parameter for the pre-defined interval of time. Thereafter, the processing unit [104] is configured to automatically offload, the traffic (i.e. the data/voice) from the cellular network to the WLAN to ensure a quality of service is achieved, wherein said automatically offloading is based on the second positive indication, i.e. based on the event when the signal strength parameter associated with the WLAN SSID is greater than the Rove-In threshold

parameter for the pre-defined interval of time. For instance, in an implementation if a Rove-In threshold parameter is received at the ANDSF client in the ANDSF policy via the transceiver unit [102], the processing unit [104] is configured to start ANDSF offload (by automatically enabling WLAN and by connecting to a WLAN SSID) based on the Rove-In threshold parameter. More particularly, in said implementation when one or more WLAN background scans are available with the client (i.e. the ANDSF client), the client via the processing unit [104] regularly monitors the RSSI levels of available SSID/s and when the RSSI level of an available SSID/WLAN SSID gets better than the Rove-In threshold defined in the ANDSF policy, the client via the processing unit [104] monitors said RSSI level of said available SSID/WLAN SSID for an averaging window of a short span (say 2s). Further, if the averaged RSSI level at the end of said window remains better than the Rove-In threshold, the processing unit [104] connected to the ANDSF client is configured to consider the WLAN AP corresponding to said available SSID/WLAN SSID, fit for offloading the traffic. Also, the processing unit [104] thereafter starts the ANDSF offload (i.e. offloading of a traffic (i.e. data/voice) at the UE [100] from the cellular network to said available SSID).
Furthermore, in an implementation the Rove-In threshold parameter is valued in accordance with a good WLAN signal quality (-60 dBm <= RSSI <= -70 dBm), to optimize the number of users offloading in a good WLAN coverage, as using an aggressive Rove-In threshold such as -50 dBm can limit the inflow of users whereas using a relaxed Rove-In threshold such as -80 dBm may lead users to offloading on WLAN AP but poor data rates owing to low RSSI level.
Once the traffic from the cellular network to the WLAN is offloaded based on the implementation of the features of the present invention, the processing unit [104] is configured to determine said offloading of the traffic from the cellular network to the WLAN corresponding to the WLAN SSID. For example, if a data and a voice traffic on a user equipment [100] is offloaded/being offloaded from an LTE network to a WLAN, the processing unit [104] is configured to determine the data

and the voice traffic has been/is being offloaded from the LTE network to the WLAN. In one another example if a data and a voice traffic on a user equipment [100] is offloaded from an LTE network to a WLAN, the processing unit [104] is configured to determine an ongoing data and voice traffic on a WLAN SSID corresponding to the WLAN.
Thereafter, the processing unit [104] is configured to perform, a first passive throughput check based on the offloading of the traffic from the cellular network to the WLAN, wherein the first passive throughput check is further based on a comparison of at least one of the DL throughput threshold parameter with a passive ongoing DL traffic on the user equipment [100] and the UL throughput threshold parameter with a passive ongoing UL traffic on the user equipment [100]. In an implementation, the processing unit [104] is configured to monitor at least one of the passive ongoing DL traffic and the passive ongoing UL traffic on the user equipment [100] based on one or more APIs on which the client is hosted. Furthermore, the first passive throughput check is a successful first passive throughput check if at least one of the passive ongoing DL traffic and the passive ongoing UL traffic on the user equipment [100] is greater or equal to the DL throughput threshold parameter and the UL throughput threshold parameter, respectively. Also, the first passive throughput check is an unsuccessful first passive throughput check if at least one of the passive ongoing DL traffic and the passive ongoing UL traffic on the user equipment [100] is lesser than the DL throughput threshold parameter and the UL throughput threshold parameter, respectively. Further, if the first passive throughput check is successful, the processing unit [104] is further configured to perform, a second passive throughput check based on the successful first passive throughput check, wherein the second passive throughput check is performed after a fixed time interval initiated after the successful first passive throughput check. For example, in an implementation as soon as an ANDSF offload is successful and the UE [100] gets connected to a WLAN SSID, the processing unit [104] via the client/ANDSF client starts a quality check of the WLAN network corresponding to the WLAN SSID.

More particularly, in said implementation, the processing unit [104] is configured to monitor via the client a passive downlink (DL) and uplink (UL) ongoing traffic on the UE [100] and to perform a passive throughput check to validate said passive downlink (DL) and uplink (UL) ongoing traffic with corresponding thresholds parameters received in an ANDSF policy for passive DL and UL throughput (i.e. the DL throughput threshold parameter and the UL throughput threshold parameter). Furthermore, in an implementation, the Passive throughput thresholds can either be configured only for either of DL, UL or both DL and UL. Also, in the given example, if passive throughput check (i.e. the first passive throughput check) passes, the processing unit [104]/the client is configured to wait for a lay-off window (say 5 minute). After said lay-off window is over, the processing unit [104] is configured to begin the passive throughput check again (i.e. the second passive throughput check) via the client. The second passive throughput check is initiated after the successful first passive throughput check after the fixed time interval/lay¬off window to periodically monitor quality of service related to the WLAN network based on at least one of the passive downlink (DL) and uplink (UL) ongoing traffic on the UE [100]. The periodic monitoring of the quality of service related to the WLAN network further helps in providing a better user experience in the HetNet.
Also, if the first passive throughput check is failed/unsuccessful, the processing unit [104] is configured to initiate, a set of Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) ping requests to the quality server based on the failure of the first passive throughput check. Furthermore, the set of ICMP ping requests is initiated to perform an ICMP ping test based on a comparison of at least one of an average packet loss of a ping session with the ping threshold parameter, an average latency of the ping session with the latency threshold parameter and an average jitter of the ping session with the jitter threshold parameter. Furthermore, the ICMP ping test is a successful ICMP ping test, if at least one of the average packet loss of the ping session, the average latency of the ping session and the average jitter of the ping session is lesser than or equal to the ping threshold parameter, the latency threshold parameter and the jitter threshold parameter respectively. Also, the

ICMP ping test is an unsuccessful ICMP ping test, if at least one of the average packet loss of the ping session, the average latency of the ping session and the average jitter of the ping session is greater than the ping threshold parameter, the latency threshold parameter and the jitter threshold parameter, respectively. Further, if the ICMP ping test is successful, the processing unit [104] is configured to perform, the second passive throughput check based on the successful ICMP ping test, wherein the second passive throughput check is performed after the fixed time interval initiated after the successful ICMP ping test. Also, if the ICMP ping test is unsuccessful, the processing unit [104] is configured to initiate an HTTP fallback check based on the failure of the ICMP ping test. The HTTP fallback check is performed based on a comparison of the average packet loss with the ping threshold parameter, the average latency with the latency threshold parameter and the average jitter with the jitter threshold parameter. Furthermore, the HTTP fallback check is a successful HTTP fallback check, if at least one of the average packet loss of the ping session, the average latency of the ping session and the average jitter of the ping session is lesser than or equal to the ping threshold parameter, the latency threshold parameter and the jitter threshold parameter respectively. Also, the HTTP fallback check is an unsuccessful HTTP fallback check, if at least one of the average packet loss of the ping session, the average latency of the ping session and the average jitter of the ping session is greater than the ping threshold parameter, the latency threshold parameter and the jitter threshold parameter, respectively. Further, if the HTTP fallback check is successful, the processing unit [104] is configured to perform, the second passive throughput check based on the successful HTTP fallback check, wherein the second passive throughput check is performed after the fixed time interval initiated after the successful HTTP fallback check. For example, in an implementation if passive throughput readings on the UE [100] fails to meet the thresholds (i.e. at least one of the DL throughput threshold parameter and the UL throughput threshold parameter) received in an ANDSF policy, the processing unit [104] via the client is configured to initiate an ‘N’ number (say 10) of ICMP ping request to a quality server (QoS server) whose URL/IP is present in the ANDSF policy. In an

implementation a mobile network operator (MNO) may also opt to choose any DNS server on which ICMP ping test can be performed. Further in said implementation the processing unit [104] is configured to check via the client at least one of an average packet loss, average latency and average jitter of a ping session. Thereafter the processing unit [104] is configured to verify the average packet loss, the average latency and the average jitter individually with corresponding thresholds parameters for ping, latency and jitter received in the ANDSF policy (i.e. the ping threshold parameter, the latency threshold parameter and the jitter threshold parameter). Furthermore, if obtained values i.e. the average packet loss, the average latency and the average jitter of the ping session meets the designated thresholds (i.e. the ping threshold parameter, the latency threshold parameter and the jitter threshold parameter, respectively), the processing unit [104]/the client waits for the lay-off duration/the fixed time interval (say 5 minute) and upon expiry of the same the processing unit [104] is configured to restart the passive throughput test (i.e. the processing unit [104] performs the second passive throughput check) via the client. Furthermore, in an event if the MNO chooses to use an internal server of its own as QoS server which is accessible to the processing unit [104] via the UE [100] over intra-net, a probable case of ICMP ping test failure can be some reachability issue with the QoS server and ping test returns 100% packet loss. Hence in such event as a back-up check to this particular scenario, the processing unit [104] is configured to perform an HTTP fallback check, wherein to perform the HTTP fallback check, the processing unit [104] is configured to trigger a HTTP request to a DNS or any other server accessible over internet. If response of the HTTP request is received the HTTP fallback check is successful and the processing unit [104]/the client again waits for the lay-off duration/ the fixed time interval before initiating the second passive throughput check.
Further, if at least one of the ICMP ping test and the HTTP fallback check is failed, the processing unit [104] is further configured to initiate, the WLAN to cellular network rove-out based on at least one of the failure of the ICMP ping test and

the failure of the HTTP fallback check. Also, the processing unit [104] is configured to automatically offload the traffic from the WLAN to the cellular network based on the WLAN to cellular network rove-out, to ensure the quality of service is achieved. The processing unit [104] is thereafter configured to ban the WLAN SSID for a pre-defined time limit based on the WLAN to cellular network rove-out, wherein the pre-defined time limit is received in the policy. For example, if in an implementation, the ICMP ping test fails and result ping packet loss is not 100%, the processing unit [104] via the client is configured to initiate preferred WLAN to LTE rove-out and apply a ban on the WLAN SSID on which the UE [100] was connected, for a certain duration (say 5 min) i.e. the duration rendered in the policy such as the ANDSF policy. Also, the processing unit [104] is also configured to apply the same ban on the WLAN SSID on which the UE [100] was connected, in an event the HTTP fall back test fails, such that processing unit [104] via the client/ANDSF client shall not attempt to offload/ANDSF offload on the said WLAN SSID until ban time expires. The ban on the WLAN SSID stops the offloading of the traffic on the WLAN SSID due to its poor quality and therefore helps in providing a better user experience in the HetNet.
Further, in an implementation to offload the traffic from the WLAN to the cellular network in the WLAN to cellular network rove-out, the processing unit [104] is further configured to generate, one of a third positive indication and a third negative indication based on a comparison of the signal strength parameter associated with the WLAN SSID with the Rove-Out threshold parameter, wherein the Rove-Out threshold parameter is received in the Policy. Also, the third positive indication is generated in an event the signal strength parameter associated with the WLAN SSID is lesser than the Rove-Out threshold parameter for the pre¬defined interval of time. The third negative indication is generated in an event the signal strength parameter associated with the WLAN SSID is greater than the Rove-Out threshold parameter. Thereafter, the processing unit [104] is further configured to measure, at least one of a cellular Reference Signal Receive Power (RSRP) parameter and a cellular signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR)

parameter, based on the third positive indication i.e. based on the event when the signal strength parameter associated with the WLAN SSID is lesser than the Rove-Out threshold parameter for the pre-defined interval of time. Further, the processing unit [104] is configured to compare, at least one of the cellular RSRP parameter with a cellular RSRP threshold parameter received in the Policy and the cellular SINR parameter with a cellular SINR threshold parameter received in the Policy, to generate one of a fourth positive indication and a fourth negative indication. The fourth positive indication is generated in an event at least one of the cellular RSRP parameter is greater than or equal to the cellular RSRP threshold parameter and the cellular SINR parameter is greater than or equal to the cellular SINR threshold parameter. Also, the fourth negative indication is generated in an event at least one of the cellular RSRP parameter is lesser than the cellular RSRP threshold parameter and the cellular SINR parameter is lesser than the cellular SINR threshold parameter. Thereafter, the processing unit [104] is configured to initiate, the WLAN to cellular network rove-out based on the fourth positive indication. Also, the processing unit [104] is further configured to automatically offload the traffic from the WLAN to the cellular network based on the WLAN to cellular network rove-out to ensure the quality of service is achieved, wherein the WLAN to cellular network rove-out is based on the fourth positive indication. For example, if in an implementation, an end user experience starts to degrade as WLAN RSSI of a connected Wi-Fi AP falls. The processing unit [104] via the client such as an ANDSF client is configured to rove-out from the WLAN to the cellular network (such as an LTE network) when it detects that WLAN RSSI of the connected preferred SSID/ Wi-Fi AP has fallen below certain limits (i.e. below a Rove-out threshold parameter defined in an ANDSF policy). Furthermore, as soon as the processing unit [104] via the client detects that the connected RSSI of the SSID has fallen below the Rove-out threshold, the processing unit [104] via the client is configured to initiate the Rove-out procedure, but in order to ensure that the user is served better of the cellular/LTE or WLAN network, the processing unit [104] before roving out to LTE, measures LTE RSRP and LTE SINR and compares it with corresponding thresholds received in the policy/ANDSF policy (i.e.

cellular/LTE RSRP threshold parameter and cellular/LTE SINR threshold parameter, respectively). This is to ensure that the user has at least some data/voice connectivity over WLAN even though poor if the LTE network coverage is either not present or extremely poor. Hence, processing unit [104] via the client when verifies that LTE RSRP and LTE SINR are above thresholds (i.e. above the cellular RSRP threshold parameter and the cellular SINR threshold parameter, respectively), the processing unit [104] is configured to execute the rove-out from WLAN to LTE. Also, if the LTE RSRP and LTE SINR do not meet thresholds, the processing unit [104] does not execute the rove-out from WLAN to LTE and keep the UE [100] on WLAN SSID.
Referring to Figure 3 an exemplary method flow diagram depicting a method for ensuring quality of service in wi-fi offload in HetNet, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention is shown.
The method is performed at a user equipment (UE) [100]. More particularly, to implement the features of the present invention the UE [100] is connected to a server unit and the UE [100] comprises a client, wherein the client can be in the form of an over-the-top (OTT) Application or integrated in a processing unit [104] or in a modem connected to the processing unit [104]. Also, in an implementation the server unit is an ANDSF server and the client residing in the UE [100] is an ANDSF client. Furthermore, when the client such as the ANDSF client is first installed in the UE [100], it securely passes on unique credentials of the user device for registration and authentication with the server unit (such as the ANDSF server unit), via the transceiver unit [102]. Only if the registration and authentication is successful, the client via the processing unit [104], fetches a public land mobile network (PLMN) from the UE [100] and communicates the same to the server unit via the transceiver unit [102], for fetching/receiving a policy such as an ANDSF policy. Thereafter, the server unit communicates to the client via the transceiver unit [102], the policy comprising a list of cell IDs based on reported PLMN along with one or more parameters comprising details like one or more Wi-Fi SSIDs for

connection, a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) information, one or more quality check thresholds and an analytic profile upload configuration etc. Furthermore, in another implementation, the server unit may be any policy server unit and the client is any decision client/client that may be present on the UE [100]/multi-SIM device, to implement the features of the present disclosure.
Also, to implement the features of the present invention the method is implemented in a heterogeneous network, wherein the heterogeneous network may include but not limited to a macro base station with a coverage area/macro coverage area serving the user equipment (UE) [100], a Micro/Pico cell which is deployed in a hotspot area to provide capacity addition in the macro coverage area and one or more Wi-Fi Access Points (APs) deployed in the hotspot area to provide additional capacity on Wi-Fi. Also as shown in Figure 3, the method starts at step [302].
Further at step [304] the method comprises receiving, at a transceiver unit [102] of a user equipment (UE) from a server unit, the policy comprising at least one or more Wi-Fi SSIDs, a downlink (DL) throughput threshold parameter, an uplink (UL) throughput threshold parameter, a ping threshold parameter, a latency threshold parameter, a jitter threshold parameter, an information of a quality server, a Rove-In threshold parameter and a Rove-Out threshold parameter. In an implementation, the downlink (DL) throughput threshold parameter comprises a value in units such as Bits per sec, Kbits per sec, etc., the uplink (UL) throughput threshold parameter comprises a value in units such as Bits per sec, Kbits per sec, etc., the ping threshold parameter comprises a value in units of packet loss percentage, the latency threshold parameter comprises a value in units of milliseconds, the jitter threshold parameter comprises a value in units of milliseconds, the information of a quality server comprises at least one of a URL and an IP address of the quality check server, the Rove-In threshold parameter comprises a WLAN signal strength in dBm, the Rove-Out threshold parameter comprises at least one of a WLAN signal strength in dBm, Cellular/LTE Reference

Signal Received Power (RSRP) in dBm, Cellular/LTE Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ) in dB and Cellular/LTE Signal to Interference Plus Noise Ratio (SINR) in dB. More particularly, the method encompasses receiving the policy at the client residing at the UE [100] via the transceiver unit [102] from the server unit, wherein the client can be in the form of the OTT Application or integrated in the processing unit [104] of the UE or in a Modem connected to the processing unit [104]. Also, in an implementation the client is the ANDSF client and the server unit is the ANDSF server unit.
Once the policy is received at the client, the method encompasses automatically offloading via the processing unit [104], a traffic (i.e. data/voice) from the cellular network to a WLAN corresponding to a WLAN SSID based on one or more parameters received in the policy. Furthermore, to offload the traffic from the cellular network to the WLAN, the method comprises generating, by the processing unit [104] of the user equipment, one of a first positive indication and a first negative indication based on a comparison of a signal strength parameter associated with the WLAN SSID with the Rove-In threshold parameter, wherein the Rove-In threshold parameter is received in the Policy. Also, in an implementation the method encompasses measuring by the processing unit [104], the signal strength parameter associated with the WLAN SSID (i.e. WLAN signal strength) based on a Received Signal Strength Identifier (RSSI) of a WLAN Access Point (AP) of the WLAN SSID. The RSSI is an estimated measure of power level that a WLAN client device/UE [100] is receiving from a WLAN AP/AP.
The first positive indication is generated in an event the signal strength parameter associated with the WLAN SSID is greater than the Rove-In threshold parameter. Also, the first negative indication is generated in an event the signal strength parameter associated with the WLAN SSID is lesser than the Rove-In threshold parameter. The method thereafter encompasses analyzing, by the processing unit [104] of the user equipment, the signal strength parameter for a pre-defined interval of time based on the first positive indication (i.e. based on the event when

the signal strength parameter associated with the WLAN SSID is greater than the Rove-In threshold parameter), to generate one of a second positive indication and a second negative indication. The second positive indication is generated in an event the signal strength parameter associated with the WLAN SSID is greater than the Rove-In threshold parameter for the pre-defined interval of time. Also, second negative indication is generated in an event the signal strength parameter associated with the WLAN SSID is lesser than the Rove-In threshold parameter for the pre-defined interval of time. Thereafter the method comprises automatically offloading, by the processing unit [104] of the user equipment [100], the traffic (i.e. the data/voice) from the cellular network to the WLAN to ensure a quality of service is achieved, wherein said automatically offloading is based on the second positive indication, i.e. based on the event when the signal strength parameter associated with the WLAN SSID is greater than the Rove-In threshold parameter for the pre-defined interval of time. For instance, in an implementation, if the method encompasses receiving at an ANDSF client of the UE [100], a Rove-In threshold parameter in an ANDSF policy via the transceiver unit [102], the method leads to initiating by the processing unit [104], an ANDSF offload (i.e. by automatically enabling WLAN and by connecting to a WLAN SSID) based on the Rove-In threshold parameter. More particularly, in said implementation when one or more WLAN background scans are available with the client (i.e. the ANDSF client), the method comprises regularly monitoring by the client via the processing unit [104], an RSSI level of available SSID/s and when the RSSI level of an available SSID/WLAN SSID gets better than the Rove-In threshold defined in the ANDSF policy, the method leads to monitoring by the client via the processing unit [104] said RSSI level of said available SSID/WLAN SSID for an averaging window of a short span (say 2s). Further, if the averaged RSSI level at the end of said window remains better than the Rove-In threshold, the method via the processing unit [104] connected to the ANDSF client comprises selecting the WLAN AP corresponding to said available SSID/WLAN SSID for offloading the traffic. The method thereafter encompasses starting by the processing unit [104], the ANDSF offload (i.e.

offloading of the traffic (i.e. data/voice) at the UE [100] from the cellular network to said available SSID).
Once the traffic from the cellular network to the WLAN is offloaded based on the implementation of the features of the present invention, the method at step [306] comprises determining, by the processing unit [104] of the user equipment [100], the offloading of the traffic from the cellular network to the WLAN corresponding to the WLAN SSID. For example, if a data and a voice traffic on a user equipment [100] is offloaded/being offloaded from an LTE network to a WLAN, the method encompasses determining by the processing unit [104] that the data and the voice traffic has been/is being offloaded from the LTE network to the WLAN. In one another example if a data and a voice traffic on a user equipment [100] is offloaded from an LTE network to a WLAN, the method encompasses determining by the processing unit [104] an ongoing data and voice traffic on a WLAN SSID corresponding to the WLAN.
Thereafter at step [308] the method comprises performing, by the processing unit [104] of the user equipment, a first passive throughput check based on the offloading of the traffic from the cellular network to the WLAN, wherein the first passive throughput check is further based on a comparison of at least one of the DL throughput threshold parameter with a passive ongoing DL traffic on the user equipment [100] and the UL throughput threshold parameter with a passive ongoing UL traffic on the user equipment [100]. In an implementation, the method encompasses monitoring by the processing unit [104], at least one of the passive ongoing DL traffic and the passive ongoing UL traffic on the user equipment [100] based on one or more APIs on which the client is hosted Furthermore, the first passive throughput check is a successful first passive throughput check if at least one of the passive ongoing DL traffic and the passive ongoing UL traffic on the user equipment [100] is greater or equal to the DL throughput threshold parameter and the UL throughput threshold parameter, respectively. Also, the first passive throughput check is an unsuccessful first passive throughput check if at least one

of the passive ongoing DL traffic and the passive ongoing UL traffic on the user equipment [100] is lesser than the DL throughput threshold parameter and the UL throughput threshold parameter, respectively. Further, if the first passive throughput check is successful, the method further comprises performing, by the processing unit [104] of the user equipment [100], a second passive throughput check based on the successful first passive throughput check, wherein the second passive throughput check is performed after a fixed time interval initiated after the successful first passive throughput check.
For example, in an implementation as soon as an ANDSF offload is successful and the UE [100] gets connected to a WLAN SSID, the method encompasses initiating by the processing unit [104] via the client/ANDSF client, a quality check of the WLAN network corresponding to the WLAN SSID. More particularly, in said implementation, the method comprises monitoring by the processing unit [104] via the client, a passive downlink (DL) and uplink (UL) ongoing traffic on the UE [100], to perform a passive throughput check (i.e. the first passive throughput check) in order to validate said passive downlink (DL) and uplink (UL) ongoing traffic with corresponding thresholds parameters received in an ANDSF policy (i.e. the DL throughput threshold parameter and the UL throughput threshold parameter). Furthermore, in an implementation, the Passive throughput thresholds can either be configured only for either of DL, UL or both DL and UL. Also, in the given example, if passive throughput check (i.e. the first passive throughput check) passes, the method encompasses configuring the processing unit [104]/the client to wait for a lay-off window (say 5 minute). After said lay-off window is over, the method encompasses initiating by the processing unit [104], the passive throughput check again (i.e. initiating the second passive throughput check) via the client. The second passive throughput check is initiated after the successful first passive throughput check after the fixed time interval/lay-off window to periodically monitor quality of service related to the WLAN network based on at least one of the passive downlink (DL) and uplink (UL) ongoing traffic

on the UE [100]. The periodic monitoring of the quality of service related to the WLAN network further helps in providing a better user experience in the HetNet.
The method further at step [310] comprises initiating, by the processing unit [104] of the user equipment [100], a set of ICMP ping requests to the quality server based on a failure of the first passive throughput check. The set of ICMP ping requests is initiated to perform an ICMP ping test based on a comparison of at least one of an average packet loss of a ping session with the ping threshold parameter, an average latency of the ping session with the latency threshold parameter and an average jitter of the ping session with the jitter threshold parameter. Furthermore, the ICMP ping test is a successful ICMP ping test, if at least one of the average packet loss of the ping session, the average latency of the ping session and the average jitter of the ping session is lesser than or equal to the ping threshold parameter, the latency threshold parameter and the jitter threshold parameter respectively. Also, the ICMP ping test is an unsuccessful ICMP ping test, if at least one of the average packet loss of the ping session, the average latency of the ping session and the average jitter of the ping session is greater than the ping threshold parameter, the latency threshold parameter and the jitter threshold parameter, respectively.
Further, if the ICMP ping test is successful, the method further comprises performing, by the processing unit [104] of the user equipment [100], the second passive throughput check based on the successful ICMP ping test, wherein the second passive throughput check is performed after the fixed time interval initiated after the successful ICMP ping test. Also, if the ICMP ping test is unsuccessful, the method at step [312] comprises initiating, by the processing unit [104] of the user equipment [100], an HTTP fallback check based on a failure of the ICMP ping test. Furthermore, the HTTP fallback check is based on a comparison of the average packet loss with the ping threshold parameter, the average latency with the latency threshold parameter and the average jitter with the jitter threshold parameter. Furthermore, the HTTP fallback check is a successful HTTP

fallback check, if at least one of the average packet loss of the ping session, the average latency of the ping session and the average jitter of the ping session is lesser than or equal to the ping threshold parameter, the latency threshold parameter and the jitter threshold parameter respectively. Also, the HTTP fallback check is an unsuccessful HTTP fallback check, if at least one of the average packet loss of the ping session, the average latency of the ping session and the average jitter of the ping session is greater than the ping threshold parameter, the latency threshold parameter and the jitter threshold parameter, respectively. Further, if the HTTP fallback check is successful, the method further comprises performing, by the processing unit [104] of the user equipment [100], the second passive throughput check based on the successful HTTP fallback check, wherein the second passive throughput check is performed after the fixed time interval initiated after the successful HTTP fallback check.
For example, in an implementation if passive throughput readings on the UE [100] fails to meet the thresholds (i.e. at least one of the DL throughput threshold parameter and the UL throughput threshold parameter) received in an ANDSF policy, the method encompasses initiating by the processing unit [104] via the client, an ‘N’ number of ICMP ping request to a quality server (QoS server) whose URL/IP is present in the ANDSF policy. Further in said implementation the method comprises checking by the processing unit [104] via the client at least one of an average packet loss, average latency and average jitter of a ping session. Thereafter the method comprises verifying by the processing unit [104] the average packet loss, the average latency and the average jitter individually with corresponding thresholds parameters for ping, latency and jitter received in the ANDSF policy (i.e. the ping threshold parameter, the latency threshold parameter and the jitter threshold parameter). Furthermore, if obtained values i.e. the average packet loss, the average latency and the average jitter of the ping session meets the designated thresholds (i.e. the ping threshold parameter, the latency threshold parameter and the jitter threshold parameter, respectively), the method encompasses configuring the processing unit [104]/the client to wait for

the lay-off duration/the fixed time interval and upon expiry of the same the method leads to restarting by the processing unit [104] the passive throughput test (i.e. the method performs the second passive throughput check by the processing unit [104]) via the client. Furthermore, in an event if the MNO chooses to use an internal server of its own as the QoS server which is accessible to the processing unit [104] via the UE [100] over intra-net, a probable case of ICMP ping test failure can be some reachability issue with the QoS server and ping test returns 100% packet loss. Hence in such event as a back-up check to this particular scenario, the method encompasses performing by the processing unit [104] an HTTP fallback check, wherein to perform the HTTP fallback check, the method comprises initiating by the processing unit [104] a HTTP request to a DNS or any other server accessible over internet. If response of the HTTP request is received the HTTP fallback check is successful and the method comprises configuring the processing unit [104]/the client to wait for the lay-off duration/the fixed time interval before initiating the second passive throughput check.
Further, if at least one of the ICMP ping test and the HTTP fallback check is failed, the method at step [314] comprises initiating, by the processing unit [104] of the user equipment [100], the WLAN to cellular network rove-out based on at least one of the failure of the ICMP ping test and the failure of the HTTP fallback check. Also, initiating, by the processing unit [104] of the user equipment [100], the WLAN to cellular network rove-out further comprises offloading by the processing unit [104] of the user equipment [100], the traffic from the WLAN to the cellular network. Therefore, at step [316] the method encompasses automatically offloading, by the processing unit [104] of the user equipment, the traffic from the WLAN to the cellular network based on the WLAN to cellular network rove-out, to ensure the quality of service is achieved. Also the method thereafter comprises banning by the processing unit [104] of the user equipment, the WLAN SSID for a pre-defined time limit based on the WLAN to cellular network rove-out, wherein the pre-defined time limit is received in the policy. For example, if in an implementation, the ICMP ping test fails and result ping packet loss is not 100%,

the method encompasses initiating by the processing unit [104] via the client, preferred WLAN to LTE rove-out and applying a ban on the WLAN SSID on which the UE [100] was connected, for a certain duration i.e. the duration rendered in the policy such as the ANDSF policy. Also, the method encompasses applying by the processing unit [104], the same ban on the WLAN SSID on which the UE [100] was connected, in an event the HTTP fall back test fails, such that processing unit [104] via the client/ANDSF client shall not attempt to offload/ANDSF offload on the said WLAN SSID until ban time expires. The ban on the WLAN SSID stops the offloading of the traffic on the WLAN SSID due to its poor quality and therefore helps in providing a better user experience in the HetNet.
Furthermore, in an implementation to offload the traffic from the WLAN to the cellular network in the WLAN to cellular network rove-out, the method further comprises generating, by the processing unit [104] of the user equipment [100], one of a third positive indication and a third negative indication based on a comparison of the signal strength parameter associated with the WLAN SSID with the Rove-Out threshold parameter, wherein the Rove-Out threshold parameter is received in the Policy. Furthermore, the third positive indication is generated in an event the signal strength parameter associated with the WLAN SSID is lesser than the Rove-Out threshold parameter for the pre-defined interval of time. Also, the third negative indication is generated in an event the signal strength parameter associated with the WLAN SSID is greater than the Rove-Out threshold parameter. Thereafter the method comprises measuring, by the processing unit [104] of the UE [100], at least one of a cellular Reference Signal Receive Power (RSRP) parameter and a cellular signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) parameter, based on the third positive indication, i.e. based on the event when the signal strength parameter associated with the WLAN SSID is lesser than the Rove-Out threshold parameter for the pre-defined interval of time. The method thereafter comprises comparing, by the processing unit [104] of the UE [100], at least one of the cellular RSRP parameter with a cellular RSRP threshold parameter received in the Policy and the cellular SINR parameter with a cellular SINR threshold

parameter received in the Policy, to generate one of a fourth positive indication and a fourth negative indication. The fourth positive indication is generated in an event at least one of the cellular RSRP parameter is greater than or equal to the cellular RSRP threshold parameter and the cellular SINR parameter is greater than or equal to the cellular SINR threshold parameter. Also, the fourth negative indication is generated in an event at least one of the cellular RSRP parameter is lesser than the cellular RSRP threshold parameter and the cellular SINR parameter is lesser than the cellular SINR threshold parameter. Further the method comprises initiating, by the processing unit [104] of the user equipment, the WLAN to cellular network rove-out based on the fourth positive indication to further offload the traffic from the WLAN to the cellular network in the WLAN to cellular network rove-out. More particularly, the method encompasses automatically offloading, by the processing unit [104] of the user equipment, the traffic from the WLAN to the cellular network based on the WLAN to cellular network rove-out to ensure the quality of service is achieved, wherein the WLAN to cellular network rove-out is based on the fourth positive indication. For example, if in an implementation, an end user experience starts to degrade as WLAN RSSI of a connected Wi-Fi AP falls. The method encompasses initiating by the processing unit [104] via the client, a rove-out from the WLAN to the cellular network (such as an LTE network), in an event when the processing unit [104] detects that the WLAN RSSI of the connected preferred SSID/ Wi-Fi AP has fallen below certain limits (i.e. below a Rove-out threshold parameter defined in an ANDSF policy). Furthermore, as soon as the processing unit [104] via the client detects that the connected RSSI of the SSID has fallen below the Rove-out threshold, the method encompasses initiating by the processing unit [104] via the client the Rove-out procedure, but in order to ensure that the user is served better of the cellular/LTE or WLAN network, the method encompassed measuring by the processing unit [104], LTE RSRP and LTE SINR before roving out to LTE. Thereafter the method encompasses comparing the measured LTE RSRP and LTE SINR with corresponding thresholds received in the policy/ANDSF policy (i.e. cellular/LTE RSRP threshold parameter and cellular/LTE SINR threshold parameter, respectively) to ensure that

the user has at least some data/voice connectivity over WLAN even though poor if the LTE network coverage is either not present or extremely poor. Hence, the method comprises verifying by the processing unit [104] via the client, that the LTE RSRP and the LTE SINR are above thresholds (i.e. above the cellular RSRP threshold parameter and the cellular SINR threshold parameter, respectively), to execute the rove-out from WLAN to LTE. Also, if the LTE RSRP and the LTE SINR do not meet thresholds, the method does not execute the rove-out from WLAN to LTE and keep the UE [100] on WLAN SSID.
Thereafter, the method terminates at step [318].
Thus, the present invention provides a novel solution for efficiently and effectively initiating a WLAN to cellular network rove-out and vice versa based on various QoS parameters received in a policy to ensure QoS while offloading the traffic in a HetNet. Moreover, the present invention provides a solution that dynamically sets quality checks on WLAN access network to ensure that the Quality of Service (QoS) to offloaded traffic by ANDSF is either comparable or better as compared to a normal user on LTE or any other wireless network to increase the likelihood for automatic Wi-Fi offload on operator network and to enhance user customer QoS experience in a heterogeneous network. Also, the present invention encompasses use of signal strength parameter associated with a WLAN SSID to offload a user traffic on said WLAN SSID from a cellular network. The present invention encompasses various periodic quality checks such as including but not limited to a passive throughput check, an ICMP ping test and an HTTP fallback check to ensure QoS in a heterogeneous network. The present invention also encompasses use of a cellular network’s RSRP and SNIR parameters to offload a user traffic from a WLAN to the cellular network. Also, the present invention provides a solution which enhances the scope of ANDSF from being a blind WLAN offload solution to an intelligent solution which serves subscribers of the operator best user experience over either WLAN or LTE radio network.

While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that many embodiments can be made and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiments without departing from the principles of the invention. These and other changes in the preferred embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter to be implemented merely as illustrative of the invention and not as limitation.

We Claim:
1. A method for ensuring quality of service in wi-fi offload in HetNet, the method comprising:
- receiving, at a transceiver unit [102] of a user equipment (UE) from a server unit, a policy comprising at least one or more Wi-Fi SSIDs, a downlink (DL) throughput threshold parameter, an uplink (UL) throughput threshold parameter, a ping threshold parameter, a latency threshold parameter, a jitter threshold parameter and an information of a quality server;
- determining, by a processing unit [104] of the user equipment, an offloading of a traffic from the cellular network to a WLAN corresponding to a WLAN SSID;
- performing, by the processing unit [104] of the user equipment, a first passive throughput check based on the offloading of the traffic from the cellular network to the WLAN, wherein the first passive throughput check is further based on a comparison of at least one of the DL throughput threshold parameter with a passive ongoing DL traffic on the user equipment and the UL throughput threshold parameter with a passive ongoing UL traffic on the user equipment;
- initiating, by the processing unit [104] of the user equipment, a set of ICMP ping requests to the quality server based on a failure of the first passive throughput check, wherein the set of ICMP ping requests is initiated to perform an ICMP ping test based on a comparison of at least one of an average packet loss of a ping session with the ping threshold parameter, an average latency of the ping session with the latency threshold parameter and an average jitter of the ping session with the jitter threshold parameter;
- initiating, by the processing unit [104] of the user equipment, an HTTP fallback check based on a failure of the ICMP ping test;

- initiating, by the processing unit [104] of the user equipment, the WLAN to cellular network rove-out based on at least one of the failure of the ICMP ping test and a failure of the HTTP fallback check; and
- automatically offloading, by the processing unit [104] of the user equipment, the traffic from the WLAN to the cellular network based on the WLAN to cellular network rove-out, to ensure the quality of service is achieved.
2. The method as claimed in claim1, wherein offloading of the traffic from the cellular network to the WLAN further comprises:
- generating, by the processing unit [104] of the user equipment, one
of a first positive indication and a first negative indication based on
a comparison of a signal strength parameter associated with the
WLAN SSID with a Rove-In threshold parameter, wherein:
the Rove-In threshold parameter is received in the Policy, the first positive indication is generated in an event the signal strength parameter associated with the WLAN SSID is greater than the Rove-In threshold parameter, and the first negative indication is generated in an event the signal strength parameter associated with the WLAN SSID is lesser than the Rove-In threshold parameter,
- analysing, by the processing unit [104] of the user equipment, the
signal strength parameter for a pre-defined interval of time based
on the first positive indication, to generate one of a second positive
indication and a second negative indication, wherein:
the second positive indication is generated in an event the signal strength parameter associated with the WLAN SSID is greater than the Rove-In threshold parameter for the pre¬defined interval of time, and
the second negative indication is generated in an event the signal strength parameter associated with the WLAN SSID is

lesser than the Rove-In threshold parameter for the pre¬defined interval of time, and
- automatically offloading, by the processing unit [104] of the user
equipment, the traffic from the cellular network to the WLAN based
on the second positive indication, to ensure the quality of service is
achieved.
3. The method as claimed in claim 1, the method further comprises banning by the processing unit [104] of the user equipment, the WLAN SSID for a pre-defined time limit based on the WLAN to cellular network rove-out, wherein the pre-defined time limit is received in the policy.
4. The method as claimed in claim 1, the method further comprises
- generating, by the processing unit [104] of the user equipment, one
of a third positive indication and a third negative indication based
on a comparison of the signal strength parameter associated with
the WLAN SSID with a Rove-Out threshold parameter, wherein:
the Rove-Out threshold parameter is received in the Policy, the third positive indication is generated in an event the signal strength parameter associated with the WLAN SSID is lesser than the Rove-Out threshold parameter for the pre¬defined interval of time, and
the third negative indication is generated in an event the signal strength parameter associated with the WLAN SSID is greater than the Rove-Out threshold parameter,
- measuring, by the processing unit [104] of the UE, at least one of a cellular RSRP parameter and a cellular SINR parameter, based on the third positive indication,
- comparing, by the processing unit [104] of the UE, at least one of the cellular RSRP parameter with a cellular RSRP threshold parameter received in the Policy and the cellular SINR parameter with a cellular SINR threshold parameter received in the Policy, to

generate one of a fourth positive indication and a fourth negative
indication, wherein:
the fourth positive indication is generated in an event at least one of the cellular RSRP parameter is greater than or equal to the cellular RSRP threshold parameter and the cellular SINR parameter is greater than or equal to the cellular SINR threshold parameter, and
the fourth negative indication is generated in an event at least one of the cellular RSRP parameter is lesser than the cellular RSRP threshold parameter and the cellular SINR parameter is lesser than the cellular SINR threshold parameter,
- initiating, by the processing unit [104] of the user equipment, the WLAN to cellular network rove-out based on the fourth positive indication, and
- automatically offloading, by the processing unit [104] of the user equipment, the traffic from the WLAN to the cellular network based on the WLAN to cellular network rove-out to ensure the quality of service is achieved, wherein the WLAN to cellular network rove-out is based on the fourth positive indication.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, the method further comprises performing, by the processing unit [104] of the user equipment, a second passive throughput check based on a successful first passive throughput check, wherein the second passive throughput check is performed after a fixed time interval initiated after the successful first passive throughput check.
6. The method as claimed in claim 1, the method further comprises performing, by the processing unit [104] of the user equipment, the second passive throughput check based on a successful ICMP ping test, wherein the second passive throughput check is performed after the fixed time interval initiated after the successful ICMP ping test.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, the method further comprises performing, by the processing unit [104] of the user equipment, the second passive throughput check based on a successful HTTP fallback check, wherein the second passive throughput check is performed after the fixed time interval initiated after the successful HTTP fallback check.
8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the HTTP fallback check is based on a comparison of the average packet loss with the ping threshold parameter, the average latency with the latency threshold parameter and the average jitter with the jitter threshold parameter.
9. A user equipment for ensuring quality of service in wi-fi offload in HetNet, the user equipment comprising:

- a transceiver unit [102], configured to receive from a server unit, a policy comprising at least one or more Wi-Fi SSIDs, a downlink (DL) throughput threshold parameter, an uplink (UL) throughput threshold parameter, a ping threshold parameter, a latency threshold parameter, a jitter threshold parameter and an information of a quality server;
- a processing unit [104], configured to:
determine, an offloading of a traffic from the cellular network to a WLAN corresponding to a WLAN SSID, perform, a first passive throughput check based on the offloading of the traffic from the cellular network to the WLAN, wherein the first passive throughput check is further based on a comparison of at least one of the DL throughput threshold parameter with a passive ongoing DL traffic on the user equipment and the UL throughput threshold parameter with a passive ongoing UL traffic on the user equipment,
initiate, a set of ICMP ping requests to the quality server based on a failure of the first passive throughput check, wherein the set of ICMP ping requests is initiated to

perform an ICMP ping test based on a comparison of at least one of an average packet loss of a ping session with the ping threshold parameter, an average latency of the ping session with the latency threshold parameter and an average jitter of the ping session with the jitter threshold parameter, initiate, an HTTP fallback check based on a failure of the ICMP ping test,
initiate, the WLAN to cellular network rove-out based on at least one of the failure of the ICMP ping test and a failure of the HTTP fallback check,
automatically offload, the traffic from the WLAN to the
cellular network based on the WLAN to cellular network
rove-out, to ensure the quality of service is achieved.
10. The user equipment as claimed in claim 9, wherein to offload the traffic
from the cellular network to the WLAN, the processing unit [104] is
configured to:
generate, one of a first positive indication and a first negative indication based on a comparison of a signal strength parameter associated with the WLAN SSID with a Rove-In threshold parameter, wherein:
the Rove-In threshold parameter is received in the Policy, the first positive indication is generated in an event the signal strength parameter associated with the WLAN SSID is greater than the Rove-In threshold parameter, and the first negative indication is generated in an event the signal strength parameter associated with the WLAN SSID is lesser than the Rove-In threshold parameter, analyse, the signal strength parameter for a pre-defined interval of time based on the first positive indication, to generate one of a second positive indication and a second negative indication, wherein:

the second positive indication is generated in an event the signal strength parameter associated with the WLAN SSID is greater than the Rove-In threshold parameter for the pre¬defined interval of time, and
the second negative indication is generated in an event the signal strength parameter associated with the WLAN SSID is lesser than the Rove-In threshold parameter for the pre¬defined interval of time, and automatically offload, the traffic from the cellular network to the WLAN based on the second positive indication, to ensure the quality of service is achieved.
11. The user equipment as claimed in claim 9, wherein the processing unit [104] is further configured to ban the WLAN SSID for a pre-defined time limit based on the WLAN to cellular network rove-out, wherein the pre¬defined time limit is received in the policy.
12. The user equipment as claimed in claim 9, wherein the processing unit [104] is further configured to:
generate, one of a third positive indication and a third negative indication based on a comparison of the signal strength parameter associated with the WLAN SSID with a Rove-Out threshold parameter, wherein:
the Rove-Out threshold parameter is received in the Policy, the third positive indication is generated in an event the signal strength parameter associated with the WLAN SSID is lesser than the Rove-Out threshold parameter for the pre¬defined interval of time, and
the third negative indication is generated in an event the signal strength parameter associated with the WLAN SSID is greater than the Rove-Out threshold parameter, measure, at least one of a cellular RSRP parameter and a cellular SINR parameter, based on the third positive indication,

compare, at least one of the cellular RSRP parameter with a cellular RSRP threshold parameter received in the Policy and the cellular SINR parameter with a cellular SINR threshold parameter received in the Policy, to generate one of a fourth positive indication and a fourth negative indication, wherein:
the fourth positive indication is generated in an event at least one of the cellular RSRP parameter is greater than or equal to the cellular RSRP threshold parameter and the cellular SINR parameter is greater than or equal to the cellular SINR threshold parameter, and
the fourth negative indication is generated in an event at least one of the cellular RSRP parameter is lesser than the cellular RSRP threshold parameter and the cellular SINR parameter is lesser than the cellular SINR threshold parameter, initiate, the WLAN to cellular network rove-out based on the fourth positive indication, and
automatically offload, the traffic from the WLAN to the cellular network based on the WLAN to cellular network rove-out to ensure the quality of service is achieved, wherein the WLAN to cellular network rove-out is based on the fourth positive indication.
13. The user equipment as claimed in claim 9, wherein the processing unit [104] is further configured to perform, a second passive throughput check based on a successful first passive throughput check, wherein the second passive throughput check is performed after a fixed time interval initiated after the successful first passive throughput check.
14. The user equipment as claimed in claim 9, wherein the processing unit [104] is further configured to perform, the second passive throughput check based on a successful ICMP ping test, wherein the second passive throughput check is performed after the fixed time interval initiated after the successful ICMP ping test.

15. The user equipment as claimed in claim 9, wherein the processing unit [104] is further configured to perform, the second passive throughput check based on a successful HTTP fallback check, wherein the second passive throughput check is performed after the fixed time interval initiated after the successful HTTP fallback check.
16. The user equipment as claimed in claim 9, wherein the HTTP fallback check is based on a comparison of the average packet loss with the ping threshold parameter, the average latency with the latency threshold parameter and the average jitter with the jitter threshold parameter.