Inter-system Handoff Control via Packet Tunneling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Efficient handoff between access systems with different communication procedures and protocols is challenging in wireless communication networks, leading to potential service interruptions and increased latency.
Innovation Solution
An inter-system handoff control component facilitates session handoff by implementing packet tunneling from a source access system to a target access system, allowing pre-setup of tunnels during handover preparation and execution, reducing the need for session setup during handoff and minimizing interruptions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If standard handoff procedures are used between heterogeneous access systems, then service continuity is maintained, but handoff latency increases and service interruptions occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-establishing tunnels during the handoff preparation stage before the actual handoff occurs. The source access system sets up packet tunnels to the target access system in advance, so that when handoff is executed, data packets can immediately flow through the pre-configured tunnels without waiting for new tunnel establishment, thereby reducing handoff latency while maintaining service continuity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the source access system as an intermediary to forward data packets through tunnels to the target access system during handoff. The source access system maintains the tunnel connection and acts as a mediator that routes packets through the handoff process, enabling seamless transition without direct peer-to-peer connection establishment between terminal and target system during the critical handoff moment
2Reliability
If session setup is performed during handoff, then service continuity is ensured, but handoff complexity and interruption time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates session setup from the handoff execution by performing tunnel establishment and session configuration in advance during the preparation stage. The source access system configures tunnels and session parameters before handoff is triggered, so that when handoff executes, only simple packet routing switches are needed without complex session negotiation, thereby reducing handoff complexity and interruption time while ensuring service continuity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the handoff process into distinct phases: preparation (tunnel setup, session configuration), execution (packet routing switch), and completion (teardown of old connections). By dividing the complex handoff procedure into separable stages with different complexity levels, the critical execution phase becomes simple and fast while the complex setup work is performed in advance when time is not critical
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Systems and methods for switching among networks (e.g., heterogeneous) and inter-working between a source access system and a target access system, by implementing tunneling from the AT to the target access system via the source access system. An inter-system handoff control component can facilitate setting tunneling by the mobile unit to the target access and/or between the source access system and the target access system - wherein signaling/packeting associated with the target system can be transferred over the source system.