Base Station WLAN Interworking Signaling Optimization

Solution Overview

Problem

Current LTE systems face challenges in efficiently managing the interworking between cellular and WLAN networks, particularly in optimizing traffic switching between E-UTRAN and WLAN, due to limitations in determining suitable WLAN access points and managing the associated wireless LAN termination apparatuses.

Innovation Solution

The system configures User Equipment (UE) to report only WLAN access points operated by the same network operator, using threshold values for signal strength and quality, and employs an Access Network Discovery and Selection Function (ANDSF) server to manage ANDSF information, enabling UE-based switching control and reducing signaling overhead by filtering out non-compatible access points.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If the base station configures UE to report all detected WLAN access points, then the UE can provide comprehensive WLAN information, but the signaling overhead increases and network management complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveWLAN access point information completenessVSAvoidnetwork management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the necessary and compatible WLAN access point information for reporting. The base station filters WLAN APs by operator affiliation, and the UE reports only those operated by the same network operator, eliminating unnecessary information about incompatible APs and reducing signaling overhead while maintaining management simplicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The base station performs preliminary filtering of WLAN access points by operator affiliation before requesting reports. It pre-configures the UE with a list of target WLAN APs operated by the same network operator, so the UE only needs to report on pre-selected compatible APs rather than all detected APs, reducing signaling overhead and simplifying network management

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of information

If the base station requests reports on all WLAN access points, then comprehensive WLAN coverage information is obtained, but the signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveWLAN coverage informationVSAvoidsignaling overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the necessary WLAN access point information for reporting. The base station filters WLAN APs by operator affiliation, and the UE reports only those operated by the same network operator, eliminating unnecessary information about incompatible APs and reducing signaling overhead while maintaining coverage information completeness for compatible networks

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The base station performs preliminary filtering of WLAN access points by operator affiliation before requesting reports. It pre-configures the UE with a list of target WLAN APs operated by the same network operator, so the UE only needs to report on pre-selected compatible APs rather than all detected APs, reducing signaling overhead while obtaining sufficient coverage information

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3300429B1Base station

Publication Date: 2020.01.15 KYOCERA CORP

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AI summary

Abase station according to an embodiment comprises: a controller configured to receive an identifier of a wireless LAN access point added in a wireless LAN termination apparatus from the wireless LAN termination apparatus.