IP Address Preservation Indication in WLAN Cellular Handover
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless local area networks (WLANs) integrated with cellular networks, user equipment often lacks necessary information for optimal network selection and mobility decisions, leading to less desirable network transitions and potential disruptions due to IP address changes during handovers.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that notify user equipment whether a transfer to another basic service set (BSS) or cellular data link will preserve its IP address, allowing informed decision-making and minimizing disruptions by scanning for candidate BSSs or cellular data links that support IP address preservation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If user equipment autonomously directs WLAN network selection and mobility decisions, then the user equipment can make decisions based on its own criteria, but the user equipment lacks access to network operator control and may not have necessary information for optimal network selection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where the network operator provides information about IP address preservation capability to the user equipment through WLAN access points. This intermediary information flow allows the user equipment to make autonomous decisions while having access to critical network operator information that would otherwise be unavailable.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by providing the user equipment with information about whether a target BSS or cellular data link will preserve the IP address. This feedback enables the user equipment to adjust its network selection decisions based on IP address preservation status, creating a closed-loop decision-making process.
2Productivity
If cellular network operators control network selections and mobility decisions in WLANs, then overall network capacity increases and operator control is maintained, but the user equipment does not have access to all useful information for optimal decisions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent acts as an intermediary solution that allows cellular network operators to maintain control over network capacity and selection while simultaneously providing the user equipment with necessary information about IP address preservation. The access point serves as the intermediary that translates operator control policies into actionable information for user equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the information provision process by having the access point separately indicate IP address preservation capability for different target networks (WLAN BSS vs. cellular data links). This segmentation allows the operator to control different aspects of network selection independently while providing comprehensive information to the user equipment.
3Adaptability or versatility
If user equipment transfers between BSSs or to cellular data links without IP address preservation information, then network flexibility is maintained, but transfer disruptions occur due to IP address changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by providing the user equipment with IP address preservation information before the actual transfer decision is made. This advance information allows the user equipment to pre-plan transfers that will preserve IP addresses, avoiding disruptions that would occur with post-transfer IP address changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides feedback about IP address preservation status that enables the user equipment to make informed transfer decisions. This feedback loop ensures that transfers are selected based on both network flexibility requirements and IP address continuity needs, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and reliability.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided to facilitate the transition of user equipment between basic service sets within a WLAN or from a basic service set within a WLAN to a cellular data link of a cellular network. In the context of a method from the perspective of the user equipment, a message is received that identifies one or more basic service sets or cellular data links to which user equipment is potentially capable of transferring. For each basic set or cellular data link, the method includes determining from the message whether the respective basic service set or cellular data link is a candidate to permit an internet protocol (IP) address of the user equipment to be preserved following the transfer. The method includes an indication associated with each respective basic service set or cellular data link to identify whether the IP address of the user equipment is able to be preserved following the transfer thereto.