Handover Timing via Traffic Analysis for WiFi Cellular

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems experience significant voice interruptions during handovers from WiFi to cellular networks, with interruptions often exceeding ten seconds due to the limitations in maintaining IP address preservation and simultaneous communication capabilities.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that utilize a traffic analysis module to determine the optimal time for handover by analyzing outgoing and incoming traffic statistics and signal strength, triggering the handover when the difference between these statistics exceeds a threshold and the signal strength falls below a certain level, thereby minimizing voice breaks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If handover is performed to maintain IP address preservation between WiFi and cellular networks, then network connectivity continuity is improved, but voice interruption time increases beyond acceptable levels

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork connectivity continuityVSAvoidvoice interruption time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by analyzing traffic statistics and signal strength before handover is triggered. The traffic analysis module continuously monitors outgoing and incoming traffic patterns, and the system determines optimal handover timing in advance based on predicted voice activity gaps, thereby preparing for seamless transition before the actual handover occurs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The handover system dynamically adjusts timing based on real-time traffic conditions. The traffic analysis module adapts to varying traffic patterns by continuously analyzing incoming and outgoing traffic statistics, allowing the system to optimize handover moments dynamically according to actual voice activity rather than using fixed thresholds.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Loss of time

If traffic analysis is performed to determine optimal handover timing, then voice interruption is reduced, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevoice interruption timeVSAvoidhandover control complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The traffic analysis module operates autonomously to determine handover timing without requiring complex external control mechanisms. By self-monitoring traffic statistics and signal strength, the system enables the mobile device to make intelligent handover decisions independently, reducing the need for complex network-side coordination and control infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes monitoring parameters (traffic statistics, signal strength thresholds) rather than fundamentally altering the handover architecture. This approach allows optimization of handover timing through parameter adjustment and analysis rather than requiring complex structural modifications to the network or device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3085159B1Method and apparatus for determining when to handover communications from a first to a second access network
Publication Date: 2020.03.18 GOOGLE TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS LLC
  • EP3085159B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3085159B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3085159B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A wireless communication device performs a method for determining when to trigger a handover of a communication session from a first access network to a second access network. The method includes determining, for an active communication session, a set of outgoing traffic statistics for outgoing traffic sent by the wireless communication device using the first access network and determining, for the active communication session, a set of incoming traffic statistics for incoming traffic received by the wireless communication device using the first access network. The method further includes analyzing the incoming and outgoing traffic statistics and determining when to trigger a handover of the active communication session from the first access network to the second access network based on the analysis of the incoming and outgoing traffic statistics.