In an embodiment, the processor is being configured to select the first communication link as the prioritization link, if the link quality of the second communication link indicates a disturbance or that the processor selects the second communication link as the prioritization link, if the link quality of the first communication link indicates a disturbance. An indication of a disturbance if of high relevance for the user experience. If such a disturbance is detected on one communication link the other is automatically selected as the prioritization link.

In an embodiment, the processor is configured to determine a reduction of a data rate or a reduced data rate on the first/second communication link for reducing the data amount communicated over the first/second communication link. The processor is further configured to determine an increase of a data rate or an increased data rate on the second/first communication link, in particular a corresponding increase of the data rate, for increasing the data amount communicated over the second/first communication link. The data rates indicate the amount of data per time of the data streams that are communicated over the first communication link or the second communication link, respectively. A distribution of the amount of data may further increase the quality and/or the data rate of the communication links on the UE by distributing a predetermined amount of data onto two different amounts of data that are transmitted via the first and the second communication link.

The data flow manager and other entities of the communication network are in general not able to directly determine a quality of a communication link that is established within the home network (e.g. the third communication link), in particular established by the home gateway. The first data signal indicating the link quality of the first communication link and the third status signal indicating the link quality of the composite communication link allow the data flow manager to determine indirectly the link quality of the third communication link.

In an embodiment, the processor is configured to assess that the third communication link is distributed if the first link quality is higher than the third link quality or if the link quality indicated by the third status signal has deteriorated within a predetermined time interval with respect to the first link quality.

The third link quality, i.e. the quality of the third communication link, may deteriorate. If the deterioration is bigger than a predetermined value in a predetermined time, the processor may determine that the link quality of the third link is not good enough for a failure-free transmission or for providing a certain data rate. In this case, the second communication link is selected as the prioritization link.

In an embodiment, the respective link quality or data rate may be determined via a link quality indicator that indicates at least one of the following link quality parameters: possible data throughput, bit error rate, packet error rate, communication delay, SNR, communication bandwidth, latency, RTT, capacity, available capacity, packet loss rate, signal strength, RSSI, RSRP, RSRQ, SINR, QCI and/or QoS. These parameters influence a transmission and may be detected directly or indirectly.

In an embodiment, the processor is configured to determine the reduction of the amount of data and the increase of the amount of data upon a basis of a look-up table, the look-up table assigning reduction of amounts of data and increase of amounts of data to link qualities. A look-up table can also be used to store the limits of the data rates of the communication links and to store the predefined limits regarding the quality of the communication links.

A look-up table may shorten the processing time that is needed to determine the reduction and/or the increase of the amount of data, respectively. For example, a quality of the communication links can be described as bit error rate, packet error rate, communication delay and/or SNR, latency, RTT, capacity, available capacity, packet loss rate, signal strength, RSSI, RSRP, RSRQ, SINR, QCI and/or QoS of the communication line.

In an embodiment, the processor is configured to output a first data control signal indicating a change (e.g. a reduction) of the amount of data and to output a second data control signal indicating a change (e.g. an increase) of the amount of data, wherein the network interface is configured to transmit the first data control signal towards the first network access entity and to transmit the second control signal towards the second network access entity. Alternatively, the network interface is configured to transmit the first data control signal and the second data control signal towards a network node, in particular a network node of a user plane such as a router, which manages data communications towards the first network access entity and the second network access entity. Hence, the 5G principles of control plane/user plane split (CUPS) can be applied. The control signals are based on the selection of the prioritization link in a way that the network access entity increases the amount of data for the prioritization link.

Providing control signals to control the data stream of the user equipment allows the data flow manager to directly influence the data stream of the user equipment.

In an embodiment, the network interface is communicatively connected to the first network access entity for receiving the first status signal and the third status signal from the first network access entity, and wherein the network interface is communicatively connected to the second network access entity for receiving the second status signal.

In an embodiment, the processor of the data flow manager is being configured to output user equipment control signals and the network interface is being configured to transmit the user equipment control signals via the first communication link and/or the second communication link to the user equipment. This enables the data flow manager to communicate and to interact with the user equipment. On the basis of the user equipment control signals the user equipment can select the prioritization link when it requires data from the communication network. Possible user equipment control signals are: Announcement of data-flow manager availability, Negotiation of multi-connectivity capability/capabilities, Indicating from the network to the UE to take over the control on connectivity and/or interface steering, Indicating Uplink traffic distribution, Indicating link prioritization, and Indicating link qualities. The control signals can be transferred via the first and/or the second communication link.

In an embodiment, the user equipment control signals are configured to control the user equipment's multi-connectivity network functions. In this case, the user equipment is no longer free to decide which prioritization link it selects on basis of the control signals. The user equipment control signals overrule decisions of the user equipment and take over the control of the user equipment's multi-connectivity functions. This means, if the user equipment control signals state that the first communication link is to be selected as the prioritization link than the user equipment prefers to use this link for data transfer in Uplink-mode. Therefore, the control signals are configured to transfer control of the connectivity or multi-connectivity functions or the corresponding communication interfaces of the user equipment to the data flow manager. According to a second aspect, a communication system is provided. The communication system comprises at least a first communication link and a second communication link for providing access to a communication network, wherein the second communication link is independent of the first communication link. The communication system also comprises a user equipment being configured to simultaneously communicate with the first communication link and the second communication link. The communication system further comprises a data flow manager comprising: a network interface being configured to receive a first status signal indicating a first link quality of the first communication link, a second status signal indicating a second link quality of the second communication link; and an evaluation unit with a processor being configured to perform load-balancing by selecting a prioritization link from the first communication link or the second communication link independent of the first link quality and the second link quality provided that the first link quality is above a first quality threshold and the second link quality is above a second quality threshold, wherein the processor being configured to submit at least one priority indicator to the user equipment based on the selected prioritization link, wherein the priority indicator sets a prioritization of the first communication link or second communication link.

The communication system may provide a constantly high data rate and link quality for the user equipment. The priority indicator enables the user equipment to select the prioritization link when it requires data from the communication network. If the prioritization link is for example selected with respect to offering the highest possible bandwidth to the user equipment it follows that the user equipment gets the highest possible data rate by selecting the prioritization link.

In an embodiment, communication system may comprises a first network access entity for providing a network access via a first communication link to a communication network for a home gateway, a second network access entity for providing a network access via a second communication link to the communication network for a user equipment. The home gateway is configured to connect to the communication network via the first communication link and the user equipment is configured to connect to the home gateway via a third communication link. The first communication link and the third communication link form a composite communication link. The user equipment is configured to simultaneously communicate over the composite communication link and the second communication link in a communication network. This is a typical technical setup for a user equipment which is used by a person at home.

In an embodiment, the processor of the data flow manager is configured to output a user equipment control signal, wherein the network interface is configured to transmit the user equipment control signal via the first communication link and/or the second communication link to the user equipment. The user equipment control signal offers the technical possibility that a user equipment can receive signals, which have information about the status of the communication network like link quality and/or available bandwidth. On that basis the user equipment can request data from the prioritization link and send data to the prioritization link.

In an embodiment, the user equipment control signals are configured to control the user equipment's multi-connectivity network functions. Many user equipment devices have their own multi-connectivity network functions in order to receive, to request and/or send data of their preferred communication link. For example, the user equipment may detect, that one communication link has a lower bandwidth than another does so it may request/send the data from the communication link with the higher bandwidth. The downside is that such individual requests of the user equipment do not take the global status of the communication network or the choice of the provider into account. Therefore, it is beneficial if the user equipment control signals controls the user equipment's multi-connectivity network functions in order deliver the requested data via the prioritization link to the user equipment.

According to a third aspect of the invention, a user equipment is provided for use in a communication system comprising: A multi-connectivity unit configured to request an amount of data from at least a first communication link and a second communication link, a communication interface configured to receive at least one priority indicator, wherein the one priority indicator serves as a user equipment control signals, a control unit configured to select a prioritization link from the first communication link or the second communication link on account of the priority indicator. This is advantageous for the user equipment in terms of a higher data rate and a higher link quality. The control unit can decide if it wants to select the prioritization link that is indicated as the selected one from the priority indicator. The communication system may provide a constantly high data rate and link quality for the user equipment.

In an embodiment, the control unit is configured to mandatorily select the prioritization link according to the priority indicator. In this case, the priority indicator serves as a user equipment control signal that overrules automatic (internal) decisions of the user-equipment or manual decisions or selections of the user of the user equipment. The control signals are configured to transfer control of the connectivity or multi-connectivity functions or the corresponding communication interfaces of the user equipment to the data flow manager.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, a method is provided for assigning data of a data stream of a user equipment via a first communication link and via a second communication link, wherein the second communication link is independent of the first communication link.

The method comprises:

- receiving a first status signal, a second status signal and a third status signal, the first status signal indicating a link quality of the first communication link, the second status signal indicating a link quality of the second communication link, and the third status signal indicating a link quality of the composite communication link; and
- performing a load balancing by selecting a prioritization link from the first communication link or the second communication link and to determine an increase of an amount of data of the data stream communicated over the prioritization link, if the link quality of the prioritized link lies within predefined limits.

It is understood that the invention can also be used without the use of home gateways—for example in public hotspots.

FIG. 2 shows a data flow manager 200. In the described embodiment, the data flow manager 200 acts as an access resource manager. The data flow manager 200 comprises a processor 201. The processor 201 is in the described embodiment the CPU of a server entity within the communication network. In another embodiment, the processor 201 is a virtual processor of a network entity or a plurality of network entities or a microcontroller.

The data flow manager 200 comprises a network interface 202. The network interface 202 of the data flow manager is a control plane interface. The network interface 202 comprises an interface for receiving and transmitting signals in a direction of a core network and interfaces for receiving and transmitting signals in a direction towards the first network access entity and the second network access entity, respectively. The network interface 202 is a logical interface of a network entity the data flow manager 200 is located on. In another embodiment, wherein the data flow manager 200 is a physical entity, the network interface 202 is a physical interface for receiving or transmitting fixed line or radio signals.

The data flow manager 200 is allocated in a core access and mobility management function, AMF, UPS, or UPF-ATSSS of a 5G network architecture. In another embodiment, the data flow manager 100 is allocated in a session management control function SMF, of a 5G network or another network entity of a 5G network or of an LTE network, in particular a mobility management entity. In yet another embodiment, the data flow manager 200 is distributed on a functional layer over a plurality of functional network entities, in particular in an edge cloud of the communication network.

FIG. 3 shows an arrangement with the data flow manager 200 according to an embodiment of the invention. The arrangement 300 comprises a home network 301. The home network 301 comprises a home gateway 302. The home gateway 302 is a router for providing a network access to the communication network for private users or business users.

The home network 301 comprises a user equipment 303. The user equipment 303 is a mobile phone, used in the home network 301. In other embodiments, the user equipment 303 is another computer system, in particular a tablet computer, a desktop computer or a smart watch.

The arrangement 300 further shows a first network access entity 304 and a second network access entity 305. In the described embodiment, the first network access entity 304 is an access entity for a fixed line network and provides access to a DSL network.

The second network access entity 305 is a radio access network entity and provides access to a radio access network, RAN. For example, the second network access entity 305 is an eNodeB for an LTE network or gNodeB for a 5G network.

In another embodiment, the first network access entity 304 is also a network access entity for a radio access network. In this embodiment the first network access entity 304 and the second network access entity 305 may be allocated in the same or in different radio cells.

In another embodiment, the first and/or the second network access entity 304 is a hybrid network access entity for a fixed access network and a radio access network.

The data flow manager 200 is functionally connected to the first network access entity 304 and the second network access entity 305.

The home gateway 302 is connected to the first network access entity 304 via a first communication link 306. In the described embodiment, the first communication link 306 is a fixed line network link.

The second network access entity 305 provides a radio access network. The user equipment 303 is configured to connect to the radio access network that is provided by the second network access entity 305. The connection between the user equipment 303 to the second network access entity is a second communication link 307. Therefore, the second communication link 307 is a radio access network communication link.

The home gateway 302 is configured to provide a third communication link 308, in particular a wireless local area network. In another embodiment, the third communication link 308 may comprise another kind of network link, like fixed-line local area network link, radio access network link or others.

In another embodiment of the invention, the user equipment 303 is directly connected to the first communication link 306 without the use of the home gateway 302 or the third communication link 308.

The user equipment 303 has access to the communication network via the second communication link 307 using the second network access entity 305 or via the third communication link 308 and the first communication link 306, therefore, the third communication link 308 and the first communication link 306 forming a composite communication link. The composite communication link includes the home gateway 302.

The data flow manager 300 is configured to receive status signals. In particular, the network interface 202 of the data flow manager 200 is configured to receive status signals and the processor 201 is configured to process status signals. The first network access entity 304 and the second network access entity 305 are configured to forward status signals that are transmitted from the home gateway 302 and/or the user equipment 303 towards the data flow manager 200, i.e. towards the communication network.

The home gateway 302 is configured to transmit a first status signal indicating a link quality of the first communication link 306. The home gateway 302 transmits a status signal and the data flow manager 200 can determine the signal quality and therefore the link quality of the first communication link 306. In particular, the first status signal is a test signal comprising quality information relating the first communication link 306, e.g. bit error rate.

The user equipment 303 is configured to transmit a second status signal via the second communication link 307 towards the data flow manager 200. The second status signal indicates a link quality of the second communication link 307. The user equipment 303 is also configured to transmit a third status signal towards the communication network, in particular towards the data flow manager 200, via the composite communication link. This third status signal can also be a test signal. The third status signal indicates the link quality of the composite communication link. The third status signal indicates the link quality of a combination of the first communication link 306 and the third communication link 308.

The data flow manager 200 is configured to compare the link quality of the first communication link 306, the link quality of the second communication link 307 and the link quality of the composite communication link 308 by comparing the first status signal, the second status signal and the third status signal. The processor 201 of the data flow manager 200 is also configured to perform load-balancing by selecting a prioritization link from the first communication link 306 or the second communication link 307 and to determine an increase of an amount of data of the data stream communicated over the prioritization link, if the link quality of the prioritized link lies within predefined thresholds. An algorithm is implemented on the processor in order to perform this selection. The data flow manager 200 is configured to determine a split of the data stream towards the user equipment 303. For splitting the data stream towards the user equipment 303, the results of the comparisons of the status signals indicating above-mentioned link qualities and/or data rates are used. In a preset, the data stream is transmitted via the first communication link 306 to the home gateway 304 and therefore via the composite communication link towards the user equipment 303.

The result of the comparison of the third status signal and the first status signal indicates the link quality of the third communication link.

The amount of data transmitted on the prioritization link is increased. The prioritization link can transfer to total amount of data or it can share the traffic load with the non-selected link. If the link quality of the prioritization link lies within predefined thresholds, it is selected without further consideration of the other link qualities. In other words: Load-balancing is prioritized with respect to quality-balancing.

Quality-balancing gets relevant, if link the quality of the prioritization link lies outside the predefined limits and if the comparison of the first status signal and the third status signal indicates that the link quality of the third communication link 308 is lower than the link quality of the first communication link 306. In this case, the amount of data transmitted over the second communication link 307 is increased and the data rate and/or the amount of data transmitted over the first communication link