Local Gateway Selection for Mobile Network Offload

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current technologies face challenges in efficiently establishing and managing connectivity between mobile devices and external networks, particularly in heterogeneous wireless environments, where seamless transitions between wide area and local area networks are not effectively handled, leading to suboptimal performance and resource management.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus and method that enables a device to establish connections with both wide area and local area networks, allowing for the selection and utilization of local gateways to access external networks, while managing traffic and policies to optimize connectivity and resource allocation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a device establishes connection through wide area radio access network to access external networks, then network coverage and accessibility are improved, but network performance and resource management efficiency deteriorate due to core network overhead and suboptimal traffic routing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork accessibilityVSAvoidnetwork performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a local gateway as an intermediary component that enables devices to access external networks through a local area network instead of routing all traffic through the wide area radio access network and core network. The local gateway acts as a mediator that provides direct external network access while maintaining connection to the mobile network infrastructure, thereby improving network performance by reducing core network overhead and optimizing traffic routing paths.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a device connects to both wide area and local area networks simultaneously, then connectivity versatility and resource allocation efficiency are improved, but device complexity and connection management difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnectivity versatilityVSAvoidconnection management
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic connection management that allows the device to adaptively switch between wide area radio access network and local area network connections based on current network conditions, device state, and traffic requirements. The system dynamically establishes, maintains, and terminates connections to optimize performance while reducing management complexity through automated decision-making algorithms that respond to changing network environments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If local gateway selection is implemented for local area network access, then traffic management efficiency and resource allocation are improved, but network configuration complexity and selection process difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetraffic management efficiencyVSAvoidnetwork configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service mechanisms where the device autonomously performs local gateway selection based on pre-configured criteria, network conditions, and traffic patterns. The system automatically evaluates available local gateways, selects the most appropriate one for each traffic flow, and manages connections without requiring manual user intervention or complex configuration procedures. This self-service approach simplifies network configuration while maintaining efficient traffic management through automated decision-making.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2641368B1Apparatus and method for selection of a gateway of a local area network
Publication Date: 2018.10.31 NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
  • EP2641368B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2641368B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2641368B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Aprovided apparatus is caused to direct establishment of a connection of the apparatus with a core network via a wide area radio access network(RAN), where the core network is coupled to an external network. The apparatus is also caused to select or receive selection of a local area network that is coupled to the same or different external network via one or more local gateways(L-GWs). The apparatus is caused to request selection of a L-GW of the one or more L-GWs from the core network via the wide area RAN, and in response, receive an identity of a selected L-GW. Further, the apparatus is caused to direct contact with the selected L-GWbased on the identity, and establishment of a connection of the apparatus with the selected L-GW. The apparatus may thereby be connected to the external network via the local area networkand selected L-GW.