Access Indication Message for Seamless UE Handover

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Solution Overview

Problem

In the process of inter-system bearer handover in 3GPP networks, service interruptions often occur when user equipment (UE) transfers from a 3GPP network to a WLAN or vice versa, disrupting normal service operations.

Innovation Solution

A method where a source side access device sends an access indication message to the UE to instruct it to access a target side access device while maintaining a connection with the source side access device, either through a control plane or user plane connection, ensuring seamless handover without service interruption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the UE transfers all bearers of the source side access device to the target side access device during handover, then the handover process is completed, but service interruption is caused and normal service running is affected

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice continuityVSAvoidservice interruption time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The source side access device sends an access indication message to the UE before the handover is completed, instructing the UE to access the target side access device in advance. This preliminary action allows the UE to prepare for handover without disconnecting from the source side, thereby avoiding service interruption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The source side access device maintains a connection with the UE during the handover process. This continuous connection ensures that service data can continue to be transmitted without interruption, while the UE simultaneously establishes connection with the target side access device for seamless handover completion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

2Adaptability or versatility

If the UE disconnects connection with source side access device and re-accesses target side access device during handover, then the handover is achieved, but service interruption occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork switching capabilityVSAvoidservice continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The connection state between the UE and access devices is made dynamic during handover. The source side access device maintains connection while the UE simultaneously establishes connection with the target side, allowing flexible transition without rigid disconnection-connection sequence that causes service interruption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS11172416B2Method for accessing network by user equipment, and access device

Publication Date: 2021.11.09 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD

AI summary

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method for accessing a network by a user equipment (UE), and an access device. The method includes: sending, by a source side access device, an access indication message to a UE, where the access indication message is used to instruct the UE to access a target side access device; or sending, by a source side access device, a first notification message to a target side access device, where the first notification message is used to instruct the target side access device to send, to a UE, access information used to instruct the UE to access the target side access device; and in a process in which the UE accesses the target side access device, maintains a connection between the UE and the source side access device.