Interworking Function Selection for Dual Connectivity Latency
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Solution Overview
Problem
In dual connectivity scenarios, the geographical distance between user equipment (UE) and interworking functions (IWFs) can introduce latency and jitter due to propagation delays, especially when IWFs are selected arbitrarily without considering the UE's location, affecting the quality of communications across licensed and unlicensed Radio Access Technologies (RATs).
Innovation Solution
Selecting an IWF based on the geographical proximity to the UE when it is engaged in dual connectivity, allowing for a handover from a previously selected IWF to a more proximal one, thereby reducing latency and improving communication quality by optimizing data paths through the network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If IWFs are selected arbitrarily without considering UE location, then device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but latency and jitter increase due to propagation delays
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-establishes multiple IWFs in different geographical locations before the UE needs communication services. When the UE connects, the system has already prepared the pool of available IWFs, enabling rapid selection based on UE location without real-time complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements location-aware IWF selection where the choice of IWF depends on the UE's geographical position. Different IWFs are optimized for different regions, ensuring that the selected IWF is locally optimal for the UE's location, thereby reducing propagation delays while maintaining manageable system complexity through structured regional assignment
2Reliability
If IWFs are selected arbitrarily without considering UE location, then system operation is simplified, but communication quality deteriorates due to increased jitter
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-configures multiple IWFs across different geographical locations before communication needs arise. This preliminary setup creates a ready pool of location-optimized IWFs that can be quickly assigned to UEs based on their positions, ensuring high communication quality without requiring complex real-time decision-making processes
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a location-based IWF selection mechanism where each IWF is optimized for specific geographical regions. This ensures that UEs receive communication services from the most appropriate local IWF, improving reliability and reducing jitter while keeping the selection process straightforward through location-based assignment rules
3Productivity
If data paths are not optimized through geographical proximity, then network configuration is simplified, but performance decreases due to propagation delays
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-establishes multiple IWFs in different geographical locations and pre-configures the data paths before actual communication occurs. This preliminary setup enables the network to quickly assign the optimal data path based on UE location without requiring complex real-time path optimization, thereby improving productivity while managing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements geographical optimization of data paths where each IWF serves specific regions. This ensures that data flows through the most efficient local path for each UE's location, improving communication performance while maintaining manageable network configuration through structured regional data path assignments
Data Source
AI summary
A system described herein may provide a technique for a selection of an Interworking Function (“IWF”) that facilitates an interworking between a licensed wireless network and another wireless network, such as an unlicensed wireless network, based on a geographical location of a User Equipment (“UE”) that is connected to the licensed wireless network and the other wireless network. The IWF may be selected from a set of candidate IWFs based on respective locations of the candidate IWFs and the UE and/or a wireless access point associated with the other wireless network. The IWF may communicate with the UE, via the other wireless network, using one or more tunnels. The IWF may identify control plane and user plane traffic received via the tunnel(s), and may forward such communications to appropriate network devices of the licensed wireless network.