Mobile Terminal Network Interworking with Randomized Offloading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current interworking between cellular networks and WLANs often leads to inefficient data offloading due to inadequate load balancing, resulting in unintended network switching and reduced user experience, as existing solutions fail to effectively manage network load and traffic distribution.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a mobile terminal that receives parameters indicating network load preferences and uses random or pseudorandom values to determine data flow initiation or maintenance between cellular and WLAN networks, incorporating scaling factors and thresholds to balance load and minimize large-scale data flow changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If data offloading is implemented between cellular networks and WLANs, then network capacity and data rates are improved, but network instability and unintended switching increase due to inadequate load balancing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by introducing a persistence parameter (alpha) that modifies the load balancing decision threshold. This parameter controls the degree of randomization in offloading decisions, allowing the system to adjust between deterministic and stochastic behavior based on network conditions, thereby stabilizing network switching while maintaining offloading benefits
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary persistence mechanism that mediates between load balancing requirements and network stability. This persistence parameter acts as a buffer that smooths out rapid switching by introducing controlled randomness, preventing small load changes from causing large-scale data flow migrations
2Productivity
If load balancing parameters are adjusted to improve data flow distribution, then network efficiency is improved, but the complexity of managing offloading decisions increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent simplifies complexity by reducing the management burden to a single persistence parameter (alpha) that encapsulates the randomization behavior. Instead of managing multiple complex load balancing algorithms, the system uses this one parameter to control the degree of stochasticity in offloading decisions, making the system easier to configure and manage while maintaining efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables self-service by allowing the mobile terminal to autonomously generate random values and apply the persistence parameter locally without requiring complex centralized control. The terminal independently makes offloading decisions based on the persistence mechanism, reducing the signaling overhead and management complexity on the network side
Data Source
AI summary
A method of operating a mobile terminal for network interworking is provided. The method includes receiving at the mobile terminal a first parameter from a first wireless communication network indicating a preference for offloading a new or current data flow to another network, the first parameter comprising a value within a first range. The method further comprises obtaining at the mobile terminal a random or pseudorandom value within a second range that at least partially overlaps the first range. The method further comprises determining whether to initiate or maintain at least one data flow between the mobile terminal and the first network or another network according to the first parameter and the random or pseudorandom value.