Inter-system Network Information Interaction for LTE-WLAN Handover

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current systems lack effective methods for inter-system network information interaction between LTE and WLAN, particularly in managing history record information, leading to inefficient resource management and increased ping-pong handovers due to the absence of direct inter-system handover procedures.

Innovation Solution

A method for inter-system network information interaction is developed, allowing network elements to acquire and manage history record information from WLAN systems, including BSSID, staying time, signal quality, and service information, to optimize resource allocation and handover policies between 3GPP and WLAN systems.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If direct inter-system handover procedures between LTE and WLAN are implemented, then handover management capability is improved, but system complexity increases due to the need for new interface definitions and information exchange protocols

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandover management capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an ANDSF (Access Network Discovery and Selection Function) as an intermediary entity that manages inter-system handover decisions between LTE and WLAN networks. The ANDSF receives history record information from both systems, processes it according to predefined policies, and generates handover recommendations without requiring direct complex interaction between LTE and WLAN systems. This mediator approach enables handover management capability while avoiding the complexity of direct inter-system protocols.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If WLAN history record information is collected and transmitted to LTE system, then resource management optimization is improved, but information loss in existing systems is reduced by defining new information elements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource management optimizationVSAvoidhistory record information availability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by having the WLAN system collect and store history record information (including BSSID, staying time, signal quality, and service information) before handover decisions are made. This pre-collected information is then made available to the LTE system through the ANDSF, enabling optimized resource management and handover decisions without requiring real-time information exchange during the handover process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Stability of the object's composition

If ping-pong handover prevention mechanisms are implemented using history record information, then handover stability is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional information processing requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandover stabilityVSAvoidinformation processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the ANDSF continuously receives history record information from both LTE and WLAN systems, analyzes this feedback information to identify patterns causing ping-pong handovers, and adjusts handover policies accordingly. The system uses the staying time and signal quality history to make informed decisions about when to trigger handovers, preventing unnecessary oscillations between networks while maintaining handover stability without excessive processing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3110205B1Method for cross-system network information interaction, and network element of terminal system network
Publication Date: 2021.10.06 ZTE CORP
  • EP3110205B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3110205B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3110205B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A method for cross-system network information interaction, and a network element of a terminal system network, and the method includes: receiving, by a terminal, a request message for acquiring history information of the terminal, transmitted by a network element of a specified system network, after the terminal successfully establishes a connection with the system network or the terminal transmits a connection establishment success message or reestablishment success message to the system network; transmitting, by the terminal, history record information of the terminal staying in all the system networks, other system networks except the system network, or a specified system network, to a network element of the system network. In the embodiments of the present invention, based on a definition of history record information of the terminal in the WLAN system, a cross-system interaction of the history record information of the terminal in 3GPP-WLAN system may be realized.