Wireless Access Device Bearer Binding for Wi-Fi LTE Convergence
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Solution Overview
Problem
In a multi-radio access environment with converged cellular and WLAN networks, managing radio bearers over Wi-Fi links to conceal the connectionless-oriented Wi-Fi radio link in the lower layer and enable common IP and upper layer applications for both radio interfaces is a critical challenge.
Innovation Solution
The method involves using VLAN tags to identify and manage Wi-Fi radio bearers, dynamically establishing and binding them with backhaul data bearers, allowing seamless transportation of mobile IP traffic flows without modifying IP or upper layer applications, and utilizing existing WLAN technologies for compatibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If Wi-Fi radio interface is used for data transmission, then radio access capacity is increased, but the connectionless-oriented nature of Wi-Fi makes it difficult to manage bearers transparently for upper layer applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mapping mechanism between Wi-Fi radio bearers and backhaul data bearers. The wireless access device maintains a mapping relationship between radio bearer identifiers and backhaul data bearer identifiers, enabling transparent translation between the connectionless Wi-Fi interface and the connection-oriented backhaul network, thus resolving the bearer management complexity while maintaining high capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the bearer management into two independent parts: radio bearer management at the Wi-Fi interface and backhaul data bearer management at the network interface. This segmentation allows each layer to operate independently with its own QoS parameters, simplifying the overall system while enabling transparent upper layer access
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate bearer management is implemented for cellular and WLAN interfaces, then each interface can be optimized independently, but common IP and upper layer applications cannot be shared between the two interfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the bearer management of cellular and WLAN interfaces at the backhaul level by binding radio bearers to common backhaul data bearers. This allows both interfaces to share common IP addresses and upper layer applications while maintaining independent QoS optimization for each radio interface, as the backhaul bearers provide a unified transport layer
3Productivity
If modifications are made to IP or upper layer applications to support multi-radio access, then radio access capacity is enhanced, but system compatibility and ease of deployment are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary binding mechanism at the wireless access device that translates between radio bearer identifiers and backhaul data bearer identifiers. This intermediary layer enables multi-radio access capacity enhancement without requiring any modifications to IP protocols or upper layer applications, as all translations occur at the bearer management level below the IP layer
Data Source
AI summary
In the converged access environment of multiple radio access modes, such as a cellular mobile network and a WLAN etc. the existing technology can't set up and manage the radio bearer, over a WLAN, corresponding to the data bearer in the cellular mobile network. The invention provides a method of managing data bearers in a wireless access device, wherein, the access device integrates the access functions of a first bearer network and a second bearer network, the method comprises the following steps: a. maintaining a radio bearer with UEs, the radio bearer (Wi-Fi radio bearer) being used for bidirectional data transmission and based on the second bearer network; b. maintaining a backhaul data bearer (S bearer) with the connected serving gateways of the first bearer network; c. binding the radio bearer and the backhaul data bearer. By adopting the invention, the backhaul data bearer of a LTE network can seamlessly converge with the radio bearer of a Wi-Fi network, thereby achieving that the mobile data traffic is transported over a Wi-Fi.