Anchor Management Device for Heterogeneous Network Handover
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current 3GPP SAE networks fail to maintain continuity of data services when user equipment (UE) is handed over between heterogeneous access networks using different mobility management protocols, such as GTP and MIP, due to the inability to seamlessly transition between distinct management protocols.
Innovation Solution
An access network handover method and anchor management device that obtain and store anchor addresses corresponding to multiple mobility management protocols, allowing the Mobility Management Entity (MME) or access gateway (GW) to select the appropriate protocol for setting up connections, ensuring continuity of data services by resolving anchor domain names to obtain IP addresses and establishing connections using the corresponding mobility management protocols.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the same mobility management protocol (MIP) is used for handover between heterogeneous access networks, then continuity of data service can be realized, but handover between networks of different mobility management protocols (e.g., GTP and MIP) cannot be supported
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an anchor management device as an intermediary between the MME and the PDN GW. This device stores multiple anchor addresses (GTP-C address and HA) and selectively provides the appropriate one based on the mobility management protocol used by the target access network. When UE hands over from a 3GPP network (using GTP) to a non-3GPP network (using MIP), the anchor management device mediates the protocol transition by providing the HA address, enabling seamless handover while maintaining data service continuity.
Solution Approach 2:
The anchor management device is designed with multi-functionality to support both GTP and MIP protocols. It stores multiple types of anchor addresses (GTP-C address for 3GPP networks and HA for non-3GPP networks) and can provide the appropriate address type based on the protocol requirements of the target network. This universal design enables the system to handle handovers between different mobility management protocols while maintaining service continuity.
2Reliability
If the GTP-C address and HA are stored as separate addresses in the HSS or AAA server, then protocol-specific addressing is maintained, but seamless handover between different protocols cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the storage and management of GTP-C address and HA into a single anchor management device. Instead of maintaining separate storage mechanisms in different network elements, the invention consolidates multiple anchor address types in one device, simplifying the overall system architecture. The device maintains a mapping between UE identifiers and multiple anchor address types, providing a unified management interface for protocol-specific addressing.
3Adaptability or versatility
If protocol-specific anchor addresses are maintained separately, then protocol independence is preserved, but handover between heterogeneous networks with different protocols fails
Solution Approach 1:
The anchor management device acts as an intermediary that abstracts the complexity of protocol-specific address management from the MME. The MME simply requests an anchor address for the target protocol, and the anchor management device automatically provides the appropriate address type (GTP-C or HA) based on the protocol requirements. This mediation simplifies the handover operation while maintaining protocol flexibility.
Data Source
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AI summary
An access network handover method, an anchor management device, and a mobile access device are disclosed. The method includes the following steps: when a User Equipment (UE) moves from a first network based on a first mobility management protocol to a second network based on a second mobility management protocol, an access Gateway (GW) or a Mobility Management Entity (MME) obtains an anchor address corresponding to the second mobility management protocol, where the anchor address corresponding to the second mobility management protocol indicates an anchor device used by the UE in the first network; and the access GW or MME uses the second mobility management protocol to set up a connection from the access GW or the MME to the anchor device indicated by the anchor address corresponding to the second mobility management protocol according to the anchor address corresponding to the second mobility management protocol.