Mobility Context Management for LTE Wi-Fi Handover Latency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current network mobility management in mixed mobile and Wi-Fi environments faces challenges in efficiently handling handovers between LTE and Wi-Fi networks, leading to increased latency and disruption due to the need for frequent context replacements and re-attachments, especially when user equipment (UE) switches between these access technologies.
Innovation Solution
The system establishes a mobility context with a primary and secondary access network designation, using a data count variable to determine when to switch between LTE and Wi-Fi for packet forwarding, thereby minimizing disruptions and maintaining a single PDN context for robust handovers and IP Flow Mobility scenarios.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If user equipment handovers from mobile network to Wi-Fi network when within range of access point, then traffic offloading is achieved and mobile network bandwidth is conserved, but handover latency and connectivity disruption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by establishing a mobility context before actual handover occurs. The network side stores mobility context information including PDN connection parameters, IP addresses, and bearer configurations in advance. When handover is needed, this pre-prepared context enables rapid switching without requiring time-consuming re-attachment procedures, thus reducing handover latency while maintaining traffic offloading efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a mobility context as an intermediary data structure that mediates between the mobile network and Wi-Fi network. This context acts as a buffer that preserves connection state information, allowing seamless transition between networks without direct re-negotiation of parameters. The mobility context includes fields for storing PDN connection identifiers, IP addresses, and bearer configurations that enable continuous connectivity during handover.
2Adaptability or versatility
If frequent handovers occur between LTE and Wi-Fi networks, then network flexibility and access optimization are improved, but context replacement frequency increases causing service disruption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the mobility management contexts of both LTE and Wi-Fi networks into a unified mobility context structure. Instead of maintaining separate contexts that would require replacement during handover, the system combines them into a single context that can accommodate multiple access networks. This unified approach allows frequent network switching while preserving connection state, thereby maintaining both flexibility and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system prepares multiple access network configurations in advance within the mobility context, storing alternative PDN connections and bearer configurations for both LTE and Wi-Fi. When handover occurs, the pre-configured alternative context is immediately activated without requiring new negotiation, thus enabling frequent handovers without service disruption and maintaining connection stability.
3Ease of manufacture
If separate PDN contexts are maintained for mobile and Wi-Fi networks, then network-specific optimizations are achieved, but handover complexity and re-attachment requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal mobility context structure that serves multiple functions: it can store parameters for both mobile network and Wi-Fi network, support multiple PDN connections, and accommodate different access technologies. This multi-functional context eliminates the need for separate management mechanisms for different networks, reducing handover complexity while preserving network-specific optimizations through configurable parameters within the unified structure.
Data Source
AI summary
An example method is provided in one example embodiment and includes establishing a mobility context associated with a user equipment that includes a designation of a first radio access network as a primary access network and a second radio access network as a secondary access network. The method further includes defining an initial value for a data count variable representative of a number of consecutive uplink packets associated with the user equipment received over the first radio access network. The method further includes receiving at least one first uplink packet associated with the user equipment from at least one of the first radio access network and the second radio access network, modifying a value of the data count variable when the first uplink packet is received over the second radio access network, setting the value of the data count variable to the initial value of the data count variable when the first uplink packet is received over the first radio access network, and modifying the mobility context if the value of the data count variable is equal to a predetermined value.