Mobile Device Wireless Network Selection Steering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile devices face challenges in intelligently steering data traffic among various wireless networks, including cellular and WLANs, due to the lack of effective network selection policies and dynamic information delivery, leading to suboptimal data traffic management.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system that uses Access Network Discovery and Selection Function (ANDSF) to deliver wireless network selection policies and Passpoint parameters to mobile devices, enabling them to dynamically select the most suitable wireless network for data traffic based on location, network metrics, and user account information, thereby facilitating intelligent data traffic steering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If mobile devices manually select wireless networks, then users have control over network choice, but network selection efficiency and data traffic optimization deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-configures network selection policies and Passpoint parameters on the mobile device before actual network selection is needed. These policies include criteria for evaluating different wireless networks (WLAN vs. cellular) and are automatically applied when the device needs to select a network, eliminating the need for manual user input while maintaining optimized selection
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile device autonomously evaluates available wireless networks against pre-configured policies and automatically selects the optimal network without requiring user intervention. The device self-manages the network selection process by comparing network metrics, location information, and policy criteria to make intelligent decisions
2Speed
If mobile devices automatically connect to available WLANs, then network switching speed improves, but network selection accuracy and service quality deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The network selection policy is dynamic and adapts to changing conditions such as device location, available networks, and service requirements. The policy evaluates multiple factors including geographic location matching, network type preferences, and service quality criteria to make context-aware selection decisions that balance speed and reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes selection parameters based on device location and service type. Different policies are applied depending on whether the device is in a home, office, or public location, and whether the service requires high reliability or high speed. This parameter adaptation ensures optimal service quality for each specific scenario
3Productivity
If comprehensive network selection policies are implemented, then data traffic optimization improves, but device complexity and policy management burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The network operator serves as an intermediary that pre-configures and manages complex network selection policies on the mobile device. The operator delivers customized policies through automated provisioning systems, shielding users from the complexity of policy management while enabling sophisticated traffic optimization. The device simply executes the delivered policies without requiring user configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The network selection policy is segmented into modular components including location-based rules, network type preferences, and service-specific criteria. This segmentation allows the complex policy to be broken down into manageable, independently evaluable elements that can be efficiently processed by the device without overwhelming complexity
4Measurement precision
If location-based network selection is implemented, then network selection accuracy improves, but information processing requirements and device resource consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs location-based network selection only when necessary - specifically when the device moves to a new location or when network selection is triggered by service requirements. Rather than continuously monitoring and re-evaluating all location parameters, the system applies location-based policies selectively, reducing overall resource consumption while maintaining accuracy when needed
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and techniques that allow a mobile device to intelligently steer wireless data traffic among various wireless networks, including cellular networks and/or wireless local area networks (WLAN), is disclosed. The mobile device selects a wireless network to steer the data traffic by following a set of wireless network selection rules or policies. Such rules and policies may include rules for deciding whether to use WLAN, which WLAN hotspots to use, whose WLAN hotspot to use, etc. The policies or rules for steering wireless data traffic may be provided in accordance with Access Network Discovery and Selection Function (ANDSF), which is a framework for specifying and delivering access network selection policies to mobile devices. The network selection is based on (i) account information associated with the mobile device, (ii) network metrics measuring data processing capacity for at least one of the wireless networks, and (iii) location of the mobile device.