IMS Application Entity Capacity Feedback for Seamless Mobility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current 3GPP standards do not effectively manage user terminal mobility between different types of access networks, leading to unnecessary discovery procedures and disruption of ongoing application sessions during mobility scenarios.
Innovation Solution
A method where an application entity in the IMS network retrieves capacity information about the entry entity to manage the requested type of access and sends this information to the user terminal, allowing it to anticipate and seamlessly switch between access types, thereby simplifying mobility management and maintaining session continuity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the user terminal performs discovery procedures for each access type change, then it can find the appropriate entry entity, but the complexity of mobility management increases and session continuity is disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The network entry entity proactively provides capacity information to the user terminal before mobility occurs. This preliminary action allows the terminal to anticipate suitable entry entities for different access types, eliminating the need for discovery procedures during actual mobility events and ensuring seamless session continuity.
Solution Approach 2:
The network entry entity sends capacity information feedback to the user terminal, enabling the terminal to make informed decisions about access type changes. This feedback mechanism allows the terminal to select appropriate entry entities based on network capabilities without requiring complex discovery procedures.
2Reliability
If the user terminal systematically transfers session context between different entry entities for each access type, then service continuity is maintained, but the number of discovery procedures increases
Solution Approach 1:
The network provides capacity information in advance, allowing the user terminal to pre-determine the appropriate entry entity for each access type. This eliminates the need for systematic discovery procedures during mobility events, reducing time loss while maintaining service continuity through direct connection to the predetermined entry entity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If dedicated entry entities are used for each access type, then access-specific functionalities are optimized, but the device complexity for managing multiple entry entities increases
Solution Approach 1:
The network entry entity provides capacity information feedback that includes access type capabilities. This allows the user terminal to select the appropriate dedicated entry entity based on the current access type without requiring complex management logic, as the selection is guided by the network-provided capacity information.
Solution Approach 2:
The capacity information mechanism serves multiple functions: it indicates network capabilities, guides entry entity selection, and supports various access types simultaneously. This universal approach allows the same mechanism to handle different access types (GPRS, I-WLAN, xDSL) without requiring separate management procedures for each.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method of processing an application signalling request sent by a user terminal having activated a transmission link with an IMS network on the basis of a type of access to a transmission network, characterized in that, on receipt of said request via a first application input entity in the IMS network, said request comprising an indication of the type of access, said method comprises a step of recovering information regarding the capacity of said first application input entity to manage at least said type of access and a step of despatching a response message to said user terminal comprising the capacity information recovered.