Handover Authentication via Application Server
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current handover procedures between UMTS and WLAN networks are inefficient, leading to communication interruptions and high power consumption due to the need for simultaneous operation of both radio interfaces, especially during data transfers, and can be challenging for devices that cannot support dual radio operations.
Innovation Solution
A method where the communication device initiates an access control process for the target WLAN network while still active on the UMTS network, using an application server to pre-authenticate and authorize the device, allowing a seamless handover without the need for simultaneous radio interface operation, thus minimizing interruptions and power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If the UE operates both UTRAN and WLAN radio interfaces simultaneously during handover, then handover latency is reduced, but power consumption increases and co-existence issues arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing WLAN access control process (authentication and authorization) before the actual handover occurs. The UE initiates the access control process while still on UTRAN, and the network prepares the WLAN interface in advance. This allows the UE to switch to WLAN without needing to operate both interfaces simultaneously during the critical handover moment, thus reducing power consumption while maintaining low handover latency.
2Loss of time
If the UE operates both UTRAN and WLAN radio interfaces simultaneously during handover, then handover latency is reduced, but co-existence issues and adjacent channel interference increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves co-existence issues by performing all WLAN access control operations (authentication and authorization) before the handover to WLAN occurs. The UE completes the access control process while still connected to UTRAN, and only then switches to WLAN. This eliminates the need for simultaneous operation of both radio interfaces, thereby avoiding co-existence issues and adjacent channel interference while maintaining low handover latency.
3Device complexity
If the access control process is performed after handover initiation, then handover procedure is simplified, but communication interruption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing the WLAN access control process before the handover is completed. The UE initiates access control while on UTRAN, and the network prepares the WLAN interface in advance. This ensures that when the handover occurs, the WLAN interface is already ready to accept traffic, minimizing communication interruption while maintaining a manageable handover procedure complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses an intermediary approach by introducing a network-side mechanism that coordinates the access control process and handover. The network acts as an intermediary to manage the timing and coordination between UTRAN and WLAN interfaces, ensuring that access control is completed before handover without increasing overall procedure complexity.
4Device complexity
If TCP connection is re-established after handover, then network configuration is simplified, but data transmission must be restarted from beginning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by establishing the WLAN interface and completing access control before handover occurs. The TCP connection is maintained across the handover because the WLAN interface is prepared in advance with proper routing information. This allows data transmission to continue without interruption and without restarting from the beginning, while keeping network configuration relatively simple.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for facilitating a handover of a communication device (202) active on a first radio access network (210) to a second radio access network (206) comprises while the communication device is active on the first radio access network (210), detecting (502) a target access node (216) in the second radio access network for communication with the communication device, deciding (540) to handover the communication device from the first radio access network to the detected target access node, in response to a decision to handover and prior to handing over, initiating (506) by the communication device an access control process to authenticate and authorize the communication device for access to the second radio access network, including sending by the communication device a handover request message via the first radio access network to an application server (222) communicably coupled to the first and second radio access networks to initiate the access control process, and after the communication device is authenticated and authorized to access the second radio access network while the communication device is still active on the first radio access network, initiating (510) communication between the communication device and the detected target access node in the second radio access network and handing over the communication device from the first radio access network to the detected target access node.