Interworking Unit for Seamless UMTS WLAN Handover
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current telecommunication systems lack effective very tight coupling between 3GPP/UMTS and WLAN-type systems, which hinders seamless roaming and efficient resource management for mobile devices transitioning between different wireless networks.
Innovation Solution
An interworking unit (IWU) is coupled to the radio network controller (RNC) of a 3GPP/UMTS system, mimicking the functionality of a Node B and connected to WLAN access points, converting protocols and managing load balancing and handovers between logical cells to enable very tight coupling and seamless transitions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If mobile devices roam between different wireless networks (WLAN and cellular), then network coverage and accessibility are improved, but connection establishment complexity increases requiring new connections and sessions
Solution Approach 1:
The network gateway acts as an intermediary between mobile devices and heterogeneous network systems. It maintains a persistent connection with the home network gateway and manages roaming by obtaining access identifiers from visited networks, thereby simplifying the roaming process for mobile devices without requiring complex reconnection procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The network gateway is designed with multi-functionality to handle multiple types of wireless networks (WLAN, Bluetooth, cellular) through a unified interface. It can obtain access identifiers from different heterogenous network systems and manage various roaming scenarios, reducing the need for device-specific connection management
2Ease of operation
If seamless roaming is enabled between heterogenous network systems, then user mobility is improved, but network interface complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The network gateway serves as an intermediary that abstracts the complexity of heterogenous network interfaces. It provides a unified interface for managing roaming across different network types (WLAN, cellular, Bluetooth) while maintaining simple operation for end users through automatic connection management
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses access identifiers obtained from visited networks to create virtual representations of network connections. The network gateway obtains access identifiers from heterogenous network systems and uses them to maintain connections, effectively copying the necessary authentication information to enable seamless roaming without direct complex interface management
3Reliability
If mobile devices maintain access to corporate data services across locations, then service continuity is improved, but manual registration requirements increase in each location
Solution Approach 1:
The network gateway system automatically manages service continuity by obtaining access identifiers from visited networks and maintaining connections to the home network gateway. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for manual user registration at each location, as the system automatically handles the registration and connection maintenance processes
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to an interface unit comprising a first component for establishing a connection to a radio network controller of a radio network sub-system by means of a first communication protocol, a second component for establishing a connection to at least one access point of a wireless local area network by means of a second communication protocol, a third component for converting the second communication protocol to the first communication protocol and for converting the first communication protocol to the second communication protocol and a fourth component for providing data indicative of a load situation of at least one access point to the radio network controller.