Access Gateway Selection Using Latency Measurements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems face challenges in minimizing latency and managing resource distribution across access gateways, particularly in packet-switched networks, which can lead to degraded service quality and unfair usage patterns, as existing methods do not consider current performance metrics or subscriber behavior.
Innovation Solution
The Radio Access Network (RAN) measures round trip latency among access gateways and creates a rank-ordered list to select access gateways with low latency for incoming calls, and also considers historical network usage profiles to assign calls appropriately, thereby optimizing service quality and discouraging heavy usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a hash function is used to distribute WCDs to access gateways, then the number of WCDs is balanced across gateways, but latency is not optimized and service quality degrades
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the selection parameter from a static hash function based on IMSI to a dynamic parameter that considers current access gateway performance metrics, specifically latency. The RAN measures round trip latency to each access gateway and uses this measured parameter to select the optimal gateway, thereby optimizing service quality and reducing call initiation latency.
2Reliability
If access gateways are selected without considering current performance metrics, then the selection process is simple, but network resource distribution becomes unfair and service quality degrades
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the RAN continuously measures round trip latency to access gateways and uses this feedback information to dynamically select the best access gateway for each WCD. This feedback loop ensures that the selection process adapts to changing network conditions, providing fair resource distribution and maintaining high service quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The RAN performs preliminary latency measurements to access gateways before actual call initiation. By measuring round trip latency in advance and maintaining updated performance information, the system prepares the selection criteria beforehand, enabling optimal gateway selection when calls are initiated without adding significant delay to the call setup process.
3Productivity
If all WCDs are treated equally in access gateway assignment, then the system is simple to operate, but heavy usage patterns are not discouraged and network resources are misallocated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different selection criteria to different WCDs based on their individual usage patterns. Instead of treating all WCDs equally, the system identifies WCDs with heavy usage patterns and assigns them to different access gateways than those assigned to normal users. This localized differentiation optimizes network resource utilization by preventing any single gateway from being overwhelmed while maintaining simple operation through automated measurements and selections.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems are defined that support, in a radio access network, measuring the latency between the radio access network and each respective access gateway of a plurality of access gateways. From these measurements, a list of access gateways, rank ordered from lowest to highest latency, is created. If the radio access network receives an incoming call indication designating that an associated incoming call is latency-sensitive, the radio access network will preferably assign the incoming call to an access gateway that is one with a measured respective round trip latency less than or equal to a median measured respective round trip latency. Additionally, the radio access network maintains a profile for at least some wireless communication devices that use its services. When the radio access network receives an incoming call indication for a wireless communication device, the radio access network preferably determines, from the wireless communication device's profile, if the wireless communication device has a history of heavy network usage. If the wireless communication device has a history of heavy network usage, the radio access network preferably assigns the incoming call to an access gateway that is one with a measured respective round trip latency greater than or equal to the median measured respective round trip latency.