Context Transfer Manager for Heterogeneous Network Handovers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current context transfer mechanisms in heterogeneous access networks face challenges such as unpredictable handover processes, failure in transferring context between different technologies, high security association requirements, and increased management and storage needs due to numerous trust relationships, as well as inefficiencies in bandwidth usage and power consumption during wireless handovers.
Innovation Solution
A context transfer manager that determines neighboring access networks based on location information, generates dynamic contexts considering capabilities and parameters of both the mobile terminal and access networks, and transmits these contexts to facilitate seamless handovers across different access technologies, reducing the need for extensive security associations and optimizing management traffic.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If pro-active context transfer is implemented to reduce handover duration, then session continuity is improved, but the complexity of selecting appropriate candidate access networks increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a context transfer manager as an intermediary entity that handles the complex task of selecting candidate access networks. This mediator receives context information from the mobile terminal, determines suitable target networks, and manages the context transfer process, thereby reducing the selection complexity for the mobile terminal while enabling pro-active context transfer to reduce handover duration
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary context transfer to candidate access networks before the actual handover occurs. The context transfer manager proactively prepares context information and transfers it to potential target networks in advance, allowing the mobile terminal to quickly switch networks without experiencing session interruption, thus reducing handover duration
2Adaptability or versatility
If context transfer is performed between heterogeneous access networks with different technologies, then mobility and versatility are improved, but the number of security associations required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The context transfer manager acts as a trusted intermediary that handles security association management between heterogeneous networks. It maintains security contexts and performs authentication/authorization functions, allowing mobile terminals to transfer context between different access network technologies without each network needing direct security associations with every other network, thus reducing the overall number of security associations required
Solution Approach 2:
The context transfer manager provides universal security management functionality that works across multiple heterogeneous access network technologies. It implements a unified security framework that can handle context transfer between Wi-Fi, cellular, and other networks using the same security mechanisms, eliminating the need for technology-specific security associations
3Reliability
If multiple trust relationships are established for context transfer between access networks, then reliability is improved, but management and storage requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The context transfer manager serves as a centralized trust intermediary that maintains security contexts and trust relationships. Instead of establishing multiple direct trust relationships between access networks, the manager centralizes trust management, significantly reducing the number of security contexts that need to be stored and managed across the network while maintaining reliable context transfer
4Device complexity
If reactive context transfer is used instead of pro-active transfer, then system complexity is reduced, but handover duration increases causing session discontinuity
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements pro-active context transfer by performing context transfer operations before the actual handover occurs. The context transfer manager receives context information in advance, determines appropriate target networks, and transfers context data proactively, ensuring that when handover occurs, the session can be immediately resumed without interruption, thus minimizing session discontinuity time
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for a context transfer in a communication network comprising a plurality of heterogeneous access networks, (220, 221, 222) wherein a mobile terminal is attached to one of the access networks. Further, the present invention relates to a context transfer manager performing the method (220, 600). Moreover, the present invention relates to a mobile terminal specially adapted to perform the provided method for a context transfer. To facilitate a context transfer between heterogeneous access networks, the present invention introduces a context transfer manager generating at least one context based on capabilities and parameters associated to the mobile terminal and capabilities and parameters of the neighboring access networks taking into account the respective access technology (FIG. 5). Further the context transfer manager is common to the heterogeneous access networks in the communication network and performs the context transfers related to a particular mobile terminal.