Base Station UE Context Release Handling for LTE WLAN Interworking
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Solution Overview
Problem
In network-controlled LTE/WLAN interworking (RC-IWK), user equipment (UE) may unexpectedly switch between LTE and WLAN, causing unnecessary signaling, traffic interruption, and reduced network performance due to improper handling of network indications and traffic steering.
Innovation Solution
A processing method and apparatus that determine the cause of UE context release indications to initiate connection reconfiguration procedures, keeping the UE in a connected state when traffic is steered from LTE to WLAN, preventing unnecessary state changes and maintaining network performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the UE enters idle state after traffic steering from LTE to WLAN, then the UE can save energy and reduce signaling, but the UE may unexpectedly switch back to LTE causing traffic interruption and reduced network performance
Solution Approach 1:
The base station performs preliminary action by determining the cause of UE context release indication before the UE enters idle state. When the cause indicates traffic steering to WLAN, the base station proactively initiates connection reconfiguration procedure to keep UE in connected state, preventing unexpected switching back to LTE and ensuring continuous network performance.
2Loss of information
If the UE enters idle state after traffic steering, then signaling overhead is reduced, but unnecessary state changes occur causing traffic interruption
Solution Approach 1:
The base station uses feedback mechanism by determining the cause of UE context release indication. When the cause indicates traffic steering to WLAN, the base station responds by initiating connection reconfiguration procedure, creating a feedback loop that prevents unnecessary state changes and maintains traffic flow continuity while avoiding excessive signaling.
3Reliability
If the base station initiates connection reconfiguration procedure to keep UE in connected state, then network performance is maintained, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The base station applies local quality principle by selectively initiating connection reconfiguration procedure only when the cause of UE context release indication specifically indicates traffic steering to WLAN. This targeted approach maintains network performance for affected UEs while avoiding unnecessary processing for other UEs, thus limiting the increase in base station processing complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A processing apparatus and method for network indication and a communications system in a procedure of RC-IWK. The processing method includes: a base station determines whether UE context release indication contains information on a cause of release indicating that a traffic of a UE is steered from the LTE to the WLAN, when the UE context release indication transmitted by an MME; and initiates a connection reconfiguration procedure to the UE so that the UE is kept in a connected state, in a case where the UE context release indication contains the information on the cause of release indicating that the traffic of the UE is steered from the LTE to the WLAN. Hence, a case, for example, where the UE not expecting to use the LTE is steered to the LTE system again, will not occur.