Access Point Gateway for Seamless LIPA Handover in Enterprise Femtocells
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Solution Overview
Problem
In enterprise environments, users experience discontinuity in Local IP Access (LIPA) connectivity when moving beyond the coverage of a femtocell, as existing solutions require complex new interfaces and architecture changes, or relocation of the Serving Gateway, which is impractical.
Innovation Solution
A wireless communication system with an access point gateway that selectively routes data between femtocells and the core network or local network, using intercepted control messages to determine communication paths and maintain continuous LIPA connectivity by anchoring handovers between access points connected to the same gateway.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a new interface Sxx between HeNB and local gateway is introduced to provide LIPA in enterprise environments, then local network access is enabled, but device complexity and implementation complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The existing S1 interface between HeNB and access point gateway is made multi-functional by enabling it to carry both traditional core network traffic and local network traffic. The access point gateway is designed to perform multiple functions including routing decisions, local network connectivity, and core network interfacing, eliminating the need for a dedicated new interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The access point gateway acts as an intermediary between the HeNB and both the core network and local network. It receives traffic from the HeNB via the existing S1 interface, makes routing decisions based on destination, and forwards traffic appropriately - either to the core network or to devices on the local network, thereby enabling LIPA without modifying the HeNB or creating new interfaces.
2Reliability
If the Serving Gateway is relocated to the enterprise to maintain LIPA connectivity during handover, then connectivity continuity is improved, but device complexity and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The access point gateway serves as a local intermediary that maintains LIPA connectivity during handover. When a UE hands over between HeNBs within the same enterprise, the access point gateway continues to anchor the local network connection, routing traffic locally without requiring SGW relocation. This intermediary approach maintains connectivity while avoiding the complexity of moving the SGW.
Solution Approach 2:
The network functions are segmented such that the access point gateway handles local network routing and connectivity management separately from the core network's Serving Gateway. This segmentation allows the SGW to remain in the core network while the access point gateway provides local anchoring for LIPA connections during handover, eliminating the need for SGW relocation.
3Productivity
If Local IP Access is deployed in enterprise environments with multiple femtocells, then network capacity is increased, but connectivity continuity is lost when users move between femtocells
Solution Approach 1:
The access point gateway acts as a mobility anchor for LIPA connections across multiple HeNBs. When a UE moves from one HeNB to another within the same enterprise, the access point gateway maintains the local network connection by continuing to route traffic through its local network interface, ensuring seamless connectivity while enabling multiple femtocells to share the same local network access point.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple HeNBs within the same enterprise are merged at the network layer by connecting them to a common access point gateway. This merging allows the gateway to manage LIPA connections for multiple femtocells centrally, maintaining connectivity continuity as users move between HeNBs while preserving the network capacity benefits of having multiple femtocells.
Data Source
AI summary
A wireless communication system (100) comprises a plurality of access points (102) for communicating with a plurality of wireless communication devices (104) within an enterprise (106). A local gateway (108) provides access to a local network (110) within the enterprise and an access point gateway (114) is coupled to the local gateway (108) and is communicably coupled to each of the plurality of access points (102) and to a core network (116) of the wireless communication system. The access point gateway (114) is arranged to receive control messages sent between the core network (116) and the plurality of access points (102) via the access point gateway (114) and to selectively route data via at least one of a communication path (118) between the access points (102) and the core network (116) and a communication path (120) between an access point (102) and the local network (110) via the local gateway (108) based on a received control message. A method of routing data and a method of handing over a wireless communication device, having an established data connection to a local network, is also claimed and disclosed.