Master-Slave Mobility Management for Multi-RAT Connectivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication networks face challenges in managing mobility across multiple radio access technologies (RATs) due to the need for simultaneous connectivity and independent radio resource management, which can lead to conflicting mobility commands and inefficient resource utilization.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a 'master/slave' mobility RAT arrangement, where one RAT (the master) handles inter-RAT mobility decisions and the other (the slave) is restricted to intra-RAT mobility, with the master RAT informing the slave RAT of its role and controlling inter-RAT handovers, ensuring seamless connectivity across different RATs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If simultaneous connectivity and independent radio resource management are implemented across multiple RATs, then network capacity and data rates are improved, but conflicting mobility commands and resource utilization efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments mobility management functionality into two distinct parts: master RAT handles inter-RAT mobility decisions while slave RAT handles only intra-RAT mobility. This segmentation prevents conflicting mobility commands by assigning clear responsibilities to each RAT, allowing simultaneous connectivity across multiple RATs without management conflicts.
Solution Approach 2:
The master RAT acts as an intermediary between the slave RAT and the core network for mobility management. The master RAT receives and processes mobility-related signaling from the core network, then coordinates with the slave RAT to ensure consistent mobility decisions, thereby preventing conflicting commands while maintaining multi-RAT connectivity.
2Productivity
If master/slave mobility RAT arrangement is implemented, then mobility management efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by giving different mobility management capabilities to different RATs based on their roles. The master RAT is equipped with full inter-RAT mobility management functionality, while the slave RAT is configured with only intra-RAT mobility management. This differentiated approach improves efficiency by placing management functions where they are most needed while keeping the overall system manageable through clear role assignment.
3Reliability
If inter-RAT handover control is centralized in master RAT, then mobility coordination is improved, but signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts inter-RAT mobility management functionality from the slave RAT and places it exclusively in the master RAT. This extraction ensures that all inter-RAT handover control is centralized in the master RAT, improving mobility coordination reliability. The slave RAT focuses only on intra-RAT operations, reducing the signaling complexity it must handle while the master RAT manages the extracted inter-RAT control functions.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for joint operation of two or more radio access technologies (RATs) is provided. One method includes determining, by a network node of a first radio access technology, that a user equipment is about to connect with a second radio access technology. The method may further include informing the second radio access technology that the connection with the user equipment is a dual-radio access technology connection. The second radio access technology is one of a master or slave radio access technology, and the slave radio access technology has restricted mobility management functionality compared to the master radio access technology.