Femtocell Base Station Local Bypass Access for Mobile Core Network Offloading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Femtocell-based communication systems face challenges in efficiently offloading traffic data from macro cells to mobile core networks, leading to increased bandwidth consumption and difficulties in managing high-speed data services, as well as limitations in service policy enforcement and revenue generation for mobile user equipment accessing the internet through fixed access networks.
Innovation Solution
A method where a Femtocell base station establishes a resource configuration for a fixed access network, allowing mobile user equipment to establish an IP connection and perform local bypass access, using an allocated IP address from the fixed access network, enabling legal traffic monitoring, differentiated service quality, and commercial charging mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If all traffic data of UE are backhauled to the mobile core network via IP security tunnel and FGW, then the traffic data flow is offloaded from macro cell wireless access, but it fails to be successfully offloaded from the mobile core network and increases bandwidth consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments traffic data flow into two paths: (1) control signaling and certain traffic through IP security tunnel to mobile core network, and (2) local traffic directly bypassing the mobile core network through fixed access network. This segmentation enables partial offloading to achieve both mobile core network relief and bandwidth efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The Femtocell base station acts as an intermediary device that receives traffic from UE and intelligently routes it - either through the traditional IP security tunnel to FGW and mobile core network, or directly through fixed access network gateway to external networks, thereby mediating between mobile and fixed networks to optimize traffic flow.
2Ease of operation
If UE obtains local private IP address of Femtocell but is hidden behind home gateway, then Internet access is reduced, but it becomes difficult to legally monitor UE traffic and enforce service policies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the Femtocell base station reports UE traffic information to the mobile core network through controlled channels, and the network can enforce service policies by providing feedback commands to the Femtocell, enabling both local access convenience and network-level monitoring与控制.
Solution Approach 2:
The Femtocell base station performs multiple functions: it serves as a local access point providing private IP addressing for UE, simultaneously acts as a monitoring node reporting traffic to mobile core network, and functions as a policy enforcement point receiving and implementing network commands, thereby combining convenience with controllability.
3Reliability
If Femtocell base stations are deployed to provide Internet service access, then indoor service quality is improved, but the mobile core network burden increases and revenue generation opportunities are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a new dimension by integrating fixed access network capabilities into the Femtocell architecture, creating a hybrid access system that combines mobile radio access with fixed broadband backhaul, thereby relieving the mobile core network burden while maintaining improved indoor service quality.
4Productivity
If local bypass access is implemented through fixed access network, then mobile core network burden is reduced, but service policy enforcement and differentiated service quality become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-configuring service policies and quality of service parameters in the Femtocell base station before traffic bypass occurs, enabling the Femtocell to enforce these policies locally on bypassed traffic, thereby maintaining service differentiation capabilities while reducing mobile core network burden.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention provides a method and apparatus of providing network services to a mobile user equipment, where the mobile user equipment is connected to a fixed access network via a Femtocell base station and thus connected to the mobile core network. The mobile core network provides an access token to a Femtocell base station. The Femtocell requests the fixed access network with the access token to perform network resource configuration for the mobile user equipment. The mobile user equipment establishes a network service connection based on the network resource configuration. In this way, technically, it may be guaranteed that the mobile user equipment can be legal listened. Dependent on different service attributes of the mobile user equipment, different network access manners may be implemented, such that operators of mobile and fixed access networks may reasonably commercially apportion the charges based on their respective network resource occupation situations.