Collaborative Access Network Selection for Seamless Handoff
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mobile networks face challenges in efficiently offloading data traffic to alternative access networks due to the lack of seamless transition protocols between cellular and Wi-Fi networks, leading to suboptimal performance and increased costs for network operators.
Innovation Solution
A collaboration server system that processes data from mobile devices to provide optimized access network selection by generating communication environment identification data and observed performance data, allowing devices to select the best access node based on predetermined criteria, thereby facilitating efficient handoffs and idle mobility decisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mobile devices perform scanning operations to discover available access nodes before measuring RSS, then the device can identify potential handoff targets, but this causes excessive handoff delays
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs access node discovery and creates a list of available ANs in advance, before actual handoff is needed. The ANDSF database pre-populates information about available access nodes, so when handoff is required, the device already has candidate targets identified and can quickly measure their RSS without performing full scanning operations, thus reducing handoff delay while maintaining reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The ANDSF (Access Network Discovery and Selection Function) acts as an intermediary that provides pre-collected information about available access nodes to mobile devices. This mediator eliminates the need for devices to perform time-consuming scanning operations themselves, as the intermediary has already performed the discovery function and made the information available for quick handoff decisions
2Measurement precision
If operators manually manage and update the ANDSF database to keep it current, then the database accuracy is maintained, but this is labor intensive and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automatic self-updating of the ANDSF database through distributed contributions from mobile devices themselves. Devices report their observed access node information back to the database, allowing it to self-maintain and self-update without requiring manual operator intervention. This preserves database accuracy while eliminating the labor-intensive manual management process
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where mobile devices report their observed access node information (such as RSS measurements and available ANs) back to the ANDSF database. This feedback loop allows the database to automatically update and refine its information based on real-world observations from multiple devices, maintaining high accuracy without manual management
3Reliability
If the ANDSF database includes only ANs known to the network operator, then security and control are maintained, but the mobile device may connect to ANs that cannot deliver desired performance
Solution Approach 1:
Mobile devices autonomously discover and report new access nodes they encounter to the ANDSF database. This self-service mechanism allows the database to expand its coverage to include ANs beyond those initially known to operators, while the existing operator-controlled approval processes maintain security and reliability standards for included ANs
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary verification and approval of new access nodes through operator-controlled processes before adding them to the ANDSF database. This preliminary action ensures that only reliable and secure ANs are included, maintaining connection reliability while gradually expanding the database coverage to include newly discovered ANs that can deliver desired performance
Data Source
AI summary
Devices and methods are disclosed for selecting an optimal access network in a wireless communications environment, such as when offloading mobile data traffic. In various embodiments disclosed herein, a contributing device comprises processing logic configured to generate a set of communication environment identification data corresponding to the location of the communication device, to generate a set of observed AN availability and communication performance data corresponding to the location of the communication device, and to transmit the set of communication environment identification data and the set of observed communication performance data to a server. In some embodiments, the contributing device is location-aware and in some embodiments, the contributing device is location-unaware.