Handoff Server for Seamless Heterogeneous Network Transitions
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Solution Overview
Problem
The patchwork nature of modern telecommunication networks, supporting various communication technologies, creates challenges in providing seamless handoffs between heterogeneous networks, leading to service disruptions and complexity in integrating different communication protocols.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that facilitate handoffs between heterogeneous networks by using a handoff server to transmit node identifiers, establish and manage communication links across different protocols, allowing for transparent handoffs and simplified integration with existing components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If handoffs are performed between heterogeneous networks supporting different communication protocols, then service coverage and flexibility are improved, but system complexity and integration difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a handoff server as an intermediary component that mediates handoff operations between heterogeneous networks. The handoff server receives handoff requests from mobile stations, identifies the appropriate communication links, and coordinates the handoff process between different networks (e.g., circuit-switched and packet-switched networks), thereby reducing the complexity for individual network components while enabling seamless handoffs.
Solution Approach 2:
The handoff server is designed with multi-functional capabilities to handle various communication protocols and network types universally. It can manage handoffs between different network architectures (circuit-switched, packet-switched, wireless, wired) through a unified interface and standardized procedures, allowing a single system component to adapt to diverse network environments without requiring separate specialized mechanisms for each network type.
2Reliability
If seamless handoffs are implemented between different communication networks, then user experience and service continuity are improved, but protocol integration complexity and service disruption risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The handoff server performs preliminary actions by pre-identifying and pre-establishing communication links before the actual handoff occurs. When a mobile station requests a handoff, the server proactively sets up the necessary routing paths and communication channels in advance, ensuring that the handoff can execute seamlessly without service disruption. This preliminary preparation reduces the complexity of real-time protocol integration during the handoff execution phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The handoff server acts as a mediator that abstracts and manages protocol differences between heterogeneous networks. It handles protocol translation, routing information extraction, and link identification, shielding the mobile station and network components from the complexity of direct protocol integration. This intermediary approach ensures service continuity while containing protocol integration complexity within the handoff server.
3Measurement precision
If manual handoff management is performed across heterogeneous networks, then control precision is improved, but operational complexity and user burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service handoff management where the mobile station autonomously initiates handoff requests based on its own needs (e.g., mobility, signal quality), and the handoff server automatically executes the handoff process without requiring manual user intervention. The mobile station provides its identifier, and the server handles link identification, routing information extraction, and communication establishment, thereby maintaining precise control while simplifying operation for the end user.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for providing telecommunication service includes transmitting a node identifier to a mobile station over a first network that supports a first communication protocol and receiving a handoff call, based on the node identifier, from the mobile station over a second network that supports a second communication protocol. The handoff call includes a mobile station identifier. The method further includes identifying a first communication link over the first network based on the mobile station identifier and initiating a second communication link with the mobile station over the second network. The method also includes terminating the first communication link.