Access Point Pre-Emptive Handover for Unstable WLAN Connections
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication devices experience low Quality-of-Experience (QoE) due to inefficient and reactive Wi-Fi to cellular handover processes, often resulting in prolonged periods of limited connectivity and increased network signaling.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize a pre-emptive handover process, where an access point (AP) assesses signal quality and sends a request to a pre-emptive handover system for likelihood estimation based on historical data, anticipating and accelerating the handover to a cellular network when the likelihood of disconnecting from the Wi-Fi exceeds a threshold.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If reactive handover is used (waiting for signal degradation), then network signaling is reduced, but Quality-of-Experience deteriorates due to prolonged connectivity issues
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by analyzing historical connection data and predicting future disconnection events before they occur. When the prediction model determines a high probability of upcoming disconnection, the system proactively initiates handover to cellular network in advance, rather than waiting for actual signal degradation to trigger reactive handover.
2Reliability
If aggressive handover settings are applied to improve connectivity, then Quality-of-Experience improves, but network signaling increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring actual connection outcomes and using this information to refine prediction accuracy. The prediction model learns from historical data whether handovers were necessary, adjusting future predictions to minimize unnecessary handovers and reduce network signaling while maintaining connectivity reliability.
3Loss of time
If predictive handover is implemented, then handover timing improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces an intermediary prediction model that acts as a mediator between the access point and handover execution. This model analyzes historical connection data and provides probabilistic predictions about future disconnections, enabling the handover system to make informed decisions without requiring complex real-time analysis at the access point level.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a method performed by an access point, AP (120), of a WLAN (125), for handling a wireless device (140) connected to the AP (120). The method comprises obtaining information on signal quality of signals sent between the AP (120) and the wireless device (140), and when the obtained information on signal quality reveals that the signal quality is below a signal quality threshold, determining a current value of a wireless device characteristic. The method further comprises obtaining, from a pre-emptive handover system (150), an estimation of a likelihood of the wireless device (140) disconnecting from the WLAN for the current value of the wireless device characteristic, wherein the likelihood was determined from statistical information of earlier handling of the wireless device (140) by the AP (120) for different values of the wireless device characteristics. Further, when the received estimation of likelihood is above a likelihood threshold, accelerating a handover process of the wireless device (140) connection from the AP (120) to a network node (130) of a cellular communication network (100).