Identifier Signaling for Heterogeneous Network Traffic Steering
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Solution Overview
Problem
In heterogeneous network deployments, there is a lack of awareness about the location of user equipment (UE) camping in either the 3GPP or WLAN network, which hinders effective traffic steering decisions, as the 3GPP RAN may not know whether a target cell can handle the load from the UE, especially during idle-mode mobility.
Innovation Solution
The UE transmits a globally unique cell identity, including a mobile-country code, mobile-network code, location-area code, and cell identity, to the WLAN network, allowing it to contact the appropriate 3GPP RAN node for load information exchange, even during idle or active modes, using a new signaling mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If the UE transmits identifier to the second network, then the 3GPP RAN can make informed traffic steering decisions, but the device complexity and signaling overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a WLAN network as an intermediary that receives the cell identity from the UE and forwards it to the 3GPP RAN node. This mediator approach allows the UE to provide location information without directly complex signaling to the 3GPP network, simplifying the overall system architecture while maintaining location awareness.
Solution Approach 2:
The UE performs cell re-selection and identifies the target 3GPP RAN node before connecting to the WLAN network. By determining the cell identity in advance and preparing the identifier information, the UE enables subsequent traffic steering decisions without requiring complex real-time signaling during the actual offloading process.
2Productivity
If the UE provides cell identity during idle-mode mobility, then traffic steering decisions can be made, but the signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential cell identity information (global cell identity comprising location-area code and cell identity) from the complete UE context and transmits only this necessary identifier to the WLAN network. This extraction approach provides sufficient information for traffic steering decisions while minimizing signaling overhead and energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The UE uses the global cell identity as a copy or representation of its location information that can be transmitted to the WLAN network. This copied identifier serves as a sufficient proxy for the UE's actual location and network context, enabling traffic steering decisions without transmitting the entire UE state or requiring extensive signaling.
3Measurement precision
If the globally unique cell identity is transmitted, then accurate UE location information is provided, but the message size and processing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent structures the global cell identity with specific local qualities - the location-area code provides regional context while the cell identity provides local cell identification. This hierarchical structure with differentiated local qualities allows the receiving network to process the information efficiently, understanding that different parts of the identifier serve different purposes at different levels of the network hierarchy.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus can be configured to attach to a first network. The first network may use a first radio-access technology. The method may also comprise connecting to a second network. The second network may use a second radio-access technology. The method may also comprise transmitting an identifier to the second network. The identifier may relate to a first network node of the first network to which the apparatus may be attached.