LTE Base Station Pre-Authentication for WLAN Aggregation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The lengthy authentication procedure in WLAN networks poses a challenge for seamless mobility and service support, particularly for VoIP services in multi-RAT LTE/WLAN environments, due to the time-consuming AP selection and authentication processes.
Innovation Solution
A pre-association and pre-authentication method is introduced where the LTE base station assists in the WLAN authentication procedure by receiving WLAN information from the user equipment, performing or facilitating the authentication, and commanding the establishment of a WLAN link with a tightly coupled WLAN access point, thereby reducing the authentication overhead.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the user equipment performs AP selection and authentication autonomously in WLAN, then the UE maintains independence and flexibility, but the authentication time increases to one to a few seconds causing service interruption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs WLAN authentication in advance during RRC connection establishment or before data transmission. The eNB initiates and manages the authentication procedure with the WLAN network beforehand, so that when data needs to be offloaded to WLAN, the authentication is already complete, eliminating service interruption.
Solution Approach 2:
The eNB acts as an intermediary between the UE and the WLAN authentication process. Instead of the UE performing autonomous authentication, the eNB manages the authentication procedure on behalf of the UE, coordinating with both the UE and the WLAN access controller to reduce authentication time.
2Reliability
If the authentication procedure is performed in real-time when switching to WLAN, then the service quality is maintained, but the association and authentication overhead increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs authentication beforehand during RRC connection setup or before data offloading. By completing the authentication procedure in advance, the system eliminates the need for real-time authentication when switching to WLAN, thereby reducing overhead while maintaining service quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the WLAN authentication procedure with the existing RRC connection establishment process. By merging these procedures, the system performs authentication as part of the initial connection setup rather than as a separate step, reducing overall overhead and complexity.
3Loss of time
If the LTE base station assists in WLAN authentication procedure, then the authentication time is reduced, but the control complexity of the LTE base station increases
Solution Approach 1:
The eNB leverages its existing multi-functional role in managing both LTE and WLAN connections. By integrating WLAN authentication assistance into its existing control functions, the eNB can manage authentication without requiring fundamentally new capabilities, thereby reducing the perceived complexity increase.
Solution Approach 2:
The eNB acts as an intermediary that coordinates authentication between the UE and WLAN network without bearing the full burden of complex authentication logic. It simplifies its role by managing the procedure flow and coordinating with other network entities, reducing its own control complexity while still reducing overall authentication time.
Data Source
AI summary
A Long Term Evolution (LTE) base station, a user equipment (UE) and pre-association and pre-authentication methods thereof in a WWAN-WLAN aggregation are provided. In a Carrier Aggregation, the LTE base station is a primary cell of an Evolved Node B (eNB) and a WLAN access point (AP) is a secondary cell of the eNB. In a Dual Connectivity, the LTE base station is a master eNB and the WLAN AP is a secondary eNB. The pre-association and pre-authentication method of the LTE base station comprises the following steps. A WLAN information is received from a user equipment (UE) by the LTE base station. A WLAN authentication procedure is assisted for the UE by the LTE base station. The UE is commanded to establish a WLAN link with the WLAN AP by the LTE base station.