Base Station WLAN Steering Configuration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies face challenges in enhancing cooperation between WWAN and WLAN systems for efficient communication, particularly in managing WLAN access point steering and measurement reporting, which affects network mobility and resource allocation.
Innovation Solution
A base station controller transmits WLAN measurement configuration information to a radio terminal, including a predetermined identifier for a group of WLAN access points, allowing the terminal to autonomously measure and report signal quality without explicit base station commands, reducing signaling overhead and enabling seamless steering between access points.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the base station transmits detailed configuration information for each WLAN access point to the radio terminal, then the terminal can accurately measure and report signal quality, but the signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the WLAN access point group into a manageable unit with a predetermined identifier, allowing the terminal to measure multiple access points using a single configuration message. This segmentation enables the terminal to autonomously identify and measure access points in the group without receiving individual configuration information for each access point, thereby reducing signaling overhead while maintaining measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The predetermined identifier serves as a universal key that represents the entire group of WLAN access points. The terminal uses this single identifier to access and measure multiple access points within the group, making the configuration information multi-functional. This universal identifier approach allows the same configuration message to enable measurements across multiple access points, reducing the need for repeated signaling.
2Reliability
If the base station maintains control over WLAN access point selection by issuing commands, then network coordination is improved, but the terminal's autonomy and responsiveness are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The base station performs preliminary action by pre-configuring the terminal with the predetermined identifier for the WLAN access point group before the terminal needs to make steering decisions. This preliminary configuration enables the terminal to autonomously identify and measure access points in the group without requiring real-time commands from the base station, thus maintaining terminal autonomy while ensuring network coordination through the pre-established configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The terminal is empowered to self-serve by autonomously measuring and evaluating WLAN access points using the predetermined identifier provided in the configuration information. The terminal can independently determine which access point to connect to based on measurement results without requiring continuous base station commands, thereby enhancing terminal autonomy while maintaining reliable network coordination through the initial configuration.
3Speed
If the terminal autonomously steers among access points without base station commands, then steering responsiveness is improved, but network coordination may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The base station performs preliminary action by providing the terminal with the predetermined identifier and configuration information for the WLAN access point group before autonomous steering is needed. This preliminary configuration enables the terminal to quickly and autonomously steer among access points based on real-time conditions without requiring base station commands, thus improving steering responsiveness while maintaining network coordination through the pre-established configuration framework.
Solution Approach 2:
The terminal autonomously measures WLAN access point signals and can report measurement results to the base station, creating a feedback loop. This feedback mechanism allows the terminal to make responsive steering decisions based on local conditions while keeping the base station informed, thus achieving both fast steering responsiveness and reliable network coordination through the combination of autonomous action and feedback reporting.
Data Source
AI summary
A base station according to one embodiment is configured to perform communication with a radio terminal and a wireless wide area network (WWAN) system. The base station comprises a controller configured to transmit first configuration information with which the radio terminal configures a measurement report in the radio terminal. The measurement report is a report of a measurement result about a signal transmitted by a wireless local area network (WLAN) system from an access point. The first configuration information includes a predetermined identifier associated with a group of access points to be measured by the radio terminal. The predetermined identifier is associated with an identifier of each of the access points in the group. The group is a group in which the radio terminal is capable of steering among access points without being dependent on a command from the base station.