Proactive IP Session Relocation via Application Context Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobile communication systems face disruptions during network layer handovers due to temporary lack of resources or capabilities in the new access router, leading to session degradation or teardown, especially for bandwidth-intensive applications like streaming and transcoding across different network technologies.
Innovation Solution
A method that involves sending application context information proactively before a network layer handover, allowing the new access router to prepare and reserve necessary resources and perform required procedures, ensuring seamless service continuity by executing indicated activities in response to received application context information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a network layer handover is performed in mobile communication systems, then the mobile node can move to a new access router, but the IP session may be disrupted due to temporary lack of resources or capabilities in the new access router
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by transferring application context information from the mobile node to the new access router before the actual handover occurs. This allows the new access router to prepare necessary resources and capabilities in advance, ensuring that when the handover completes, the session can continue without disruption. The context transfer includes application-layer information that enables the new router to provision services proactively.
2Reliability
If application context information is transferred proactively before handover, then resource availability is improved, but signaling overhead and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamics by making the context transfer timing flexible and adaptive. The transfer can occur at optimal moments before handover based on network conditions, mobile node mobility patterns, and application requirements. This dynamic approach allows the system to balance proactive resource preparation with minimizing unnecessary signaling overhead, transferring context information only when beneficial for session continuity.
3Device complexity
If the new access router waits for resource allocation after handover, then device complexity is reduced, but service disruption occurs during handover
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the new access router receive and process application context information before the handover completes. This enables the router to pre-allocate resources and prepare service capabilities in advance, rather than waiting until after the mobile node has already switched networks. The proactive preparation eliminates service disruptions while maintaining manageable router complexity through standardized context transfer protocols.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for supporting relocation of an IP session during a network layer handover in a mobile communication system. In the method, application context information indicating activities that are advantageously executed pro-actively before the network layer handover is sent. The indicated activities are then pro-actively executed in a receiving network node. An advantage of the method and arrangement of the invention is that the pro-active actions, including pre-allocation of some critical resources for seamless handover of an ongoing IP session, facilitate timely implementation of the activities required for handing over an IP session, and/or selection of a target access router.