Mobility Management Node for Multi-RAN Handovers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current telecommunication structures, primarily owned and managed by mobile network operators, fail to meet the utilities sector's demands for ubiquitous, reliable, and low-latency communication networks with strict control and security requirements, especially for critical infrastructure like decentralized power grids.
Innovation Solution
A mobility management node in the core network that acquires and manages information about wireless communication devices' locations and available frequencies across multiple non-coordinated radio access networks, enabling seamless handovers and ensuring continuous connectivity by providing access to a plurality of RANs operated by different MNOs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the utilities sector uses traditional MNO-managed cellular networks, then network coverage and basic connectivity are provided, but reliability, availability, and latency requirements for critical services cannot be guaranteed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network management function by introducing a dedicated mobility management node that operates independently from MNO base stations. This node specifically handles critical services and utilities sector requirements, separating them from general consumer services. The segmentation allows different service levels and management policies to be applied to different network accesses, enabling guaranteed reliability for critical services while maintaining basic connectivity through traditional MNO networks.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobility management node acts as an intermediary between utilities sector devices and multiple RANs. It receives devices from different MNO networks, authenticates them, and manages their connectivity to the core network. This intermediary layer provides centralized control over reliability, availability, and latency parameters, enabling the utilities sector to meet critical service requirements while utilizing existing MNO infrastructure.
2Reliability
If fibre technology is deployed to all locations for reliable communication, then high-speed and resilient communication is achieved, but deployment cost becomes prohibitive
Solution Approach 1:
The mobility management node provides universal access management for multiple RANs from different MNOs, enabling a single core network infrastructure to serve multiple wireless access technologies and operators. This multi-functionality allows the utilities sector to achieve reliable communication over existing wireless infrastructure without requiring fibre deployment at every location, significantly reducing deployment costs while maintaining service reliability through centralized management.
3Ease of operation
If MNOs maintain autonomous control over their RANs, then operational independence and security are preserved, but coordinated management for seamless handovers and ubiquitous coverage becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the mobility management functions across multiple MNO RANs into a single centralized mobility management node. This node consolidates authentication, authorization, and handover management for devices accessing any connected RAN. By combining these functions centrally, the system achieves seamless handovers and ubiquitous coverage management without requiring complex coordination protocols between autonomous MNO networks, simplifying operation while maintaining security through centralized control.
Data Source
AI summary
Managing a plurality of non-coordinated radio access networks (RANs) connected to the core network is provided by acquiring information indicating that a wireless communication device is connected to a base station in a first of the plurality of RANs, and information indicating a location of the wireless communication device, acquiring information identifying at least a second of the plurality of RANs to which the wireless communication device may connect based on the location of the wireless communication device, and information indicating available frequencies in the second RAN via which frequencies the wireless communication device is allowed to access a network being accessible by the mobility management node, said network being operated by an operator different from those operating the first and second RANs, and delivering the information identifying the second RAN and the information indicating available frequencies in the second RAN to the wireless communication device.