Dynamic Bearer Management for VoIP Offloading
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing demand for VoIP and packet-based real-time media services in cellular networks strains resources, particularly limited air interface resources, leading to decreased quality of service for users as dedicated IMS bearers consume significant network resources.
Innovation Solution
Establishing a second bearer connection via a small cell base station for media content communication while maintaining control signaling via a macro base station, thereby offloading media content from macro base stations and conserving licensed frequency spectrum.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If dedicated IMS bearers are established for VoIP and real-time media services, then quality of service for media communication is improved, but network resources particularly air interface resources are consumed and depleted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the bearer connection into two separate connections: a first bearer for control signaling and a second bearer for media content. This segmentation allows the control plane and user plane to be separated, enabling independent resource allocation and management, thereby reducing the resource consumption on any single bearer while maintaining quality of service.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a small cell base station as an intermediary to handle media content communication. Instead of routing all traffic through the macro base station, the small cell acts as a mediator for media traffic, offloading resources from the macro base station and enabling more efficient resource utilization across the network.
2Reliability
If dedicated IMS bearers are established for VoIP services, then media communication quality is improved, but air interface resources are strained leading to decreased quality of service
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the bearer into control and user plane components, the patent enables independent optimization of each path. The control bearer maintains reliable signaling while the user bearer can be optimized for media traffic, improving overall air interface resource efficiency without compromising media communication quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The small cell base station serves as an intermediary that handles media content, allowing the macro base station to focus on control signaling. This division of labor improves air interface resource efficiency by preventing the macro base station from being overwhelmed by media traffic.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple bearers are established for different communication services, then service versatility is improved, but device complexity and network configuration complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments communication services into distinct bearers (control bearer and user bearer), each handling specific types of traffic. This segmentation simplifies bearer management by clearly defining the function of each bearer, making it easier to configure, monitor, and manage multiple services without increasing overall complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes a universal bearer management framework that can handle multiple service types through standardized procedures. The same bearer setup and management mechanisms can be applied to different services, reducing the complexity of configuring diverse communication services.
Data Source
AI summary
When a UE has a first bearer with a gateway via a first base station and the UE engages in session setup signaling with a session server via that first bearer to set up a media session, the network may establish for the UE a second bearer via a second base station, and may the second bearer for communication of media content of the session while using the first bearer for communication control signaling for the session. In practice, the first base station could be a macro base station that operates on licensed frequency spectrum, while the second base station could be a small cell that operates on unlicensed frequency spectrum. The disclosed process can thereby help to offload communication of session content to be via the small cell instead of via the macro base station, while maintaining session control signaling to be via the macro base station.