Radio Resource Availability Indication for LTE-WLAN Aggregation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current communication systems face challenges in effectively interacting and resource management between different radio access technologies, leading to inefficient data handling and increased signaling costs due to the lack of real-time resource availability information.
Innovation Solution
A method where a network node in a first radio access technology can request and receive resource availability information from a second radio access technology, allowing informed decisions on activating or continuing resource aggregation, thereby conserving resources and reducing signaling costs by assessing the second RAT's ability to meet Quality of Service (QoS) parameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If resource aggregation is activated between different radio access technologies, then data transmission capacity is improved, but signaling costs and resource management complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the WLAN network node proactively report available resource information to the LTE network node before resource aggregation is activated. This allows the LTE network node to make informed decisions about aggregation activation without needing to continuously query or manage WLAN resources, thereby reducing signaling overhead and management complexity while maintaining high data transmission capacity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If user plane tunnel is established between LTE and WLAN, then resource aggregation capability is improved, but signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the resource availability information reporting function from the resource aggregation establishment process. Instead of requiring extensive signaling to negotiate and confirm resource availability during tunnel establishment, the WLAN network node independently reports its available resources in advance. This separation reduces the signaling overhead associated with user plane tunnel establishment while maintaining full resource aggregation capability.
3Reliability
If real-time resource availability information is exchanged between radio access technologies, then network performance is improved, but communication protocol complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the Xw interface as an intermediary mechanism between LTE and WLAN networks. The standardized Xw interface provides a predefined protocol framework for resource availability information exchange, eliminating the need for complex custom protocols. This intermediary approach ensures reliable network performance through structured information exchange while keeping protocol complexity manageable through standardization.
Data Source
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AI summary
Various communication systems may benefit from communication between two different radio access technologies. For example, a long term evolution network may benefit from receiving resource availability information from a wireless local area network. A method includes receiving a request from a first RAT at a network node in a second RAT, and at least partially rejecting or at least partially accepting the request. The method also includes sending an indication of the at least partial rejection or at least partial acceptance to the first radio access technology, where the indication is used in determining whether to activate or continue radio access aggregation.