Mobility Management Node for Non-Coordinated RAN Handover
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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 management.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for a mobility management node in a core network that facilitates the connection of wireless communication devices between non-coordinated radio access networks (RANs) operated by different operators, enabling seamless mobility management and handover between RANs by sharing information on available frequencies and handover routing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If mobile network operators manage radio access networks for general commercial use, then network coverage and basic service availability are improved, but network reliability and control for critical infrastructure applications deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network management function by introducing a dedicated mobility management node that handles critical infrastructure traffic separately from general commercial network operations. This allows the utility sector to maintain reliable, controlled access to radio access networks while coexisting with broader commercial network coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobility management node acts as an intermediary between utility sector devices and multiple radio access networks. It enables utilities to connect to different RANs operated by various operators while maintaining centralized control, security policies, and reliable service guarantees, thus resolving the contradiction between broad network access and controlled reliability.
2Ease of operation
If mobile network operators control access to their networks, then security and commercial control are improved, but network availability and seamless connectivity for utility applications deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The mobility management node provides universal access control functionality that works across multiple radio access networks operated by different operators. It implements a single set of security policies and access control mechanisms that are universally applied regardless of which RAN the utility device connects to, thereby maintaining commercial control while enabling broad network availability.
Solution Approach 2:
As an intermediary, the mobility management node decouples security control from individual operator networks. It centralizes authentication and authorization functions, allowing utility devices to seamlessly roam across multiple RANs while the mobility management node uniformly enforces security policies, thus achieving both high availability and maintained control.
3Reliability
If fibre technology is deployed to all locations for reliable communication, then network reliability and speed are improved, but deployment cost deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of physically deploying fibre infrastructure to every location, the patent uses wireless radio access networks that copy or emulate fibre-like reliability through standardized interfaces and protocols. The mobility management node ensures that wireless connections provide comparable service quality to fibre by implementing consistent mobility management and session handling across different wireless access points.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobility management node creates a universal access layer that works over diverse physical media including wireless networks. This allows utility applications to achieve fibre-like reliability through wireless technology by providing standardized, controlled access regardless of the underlying physical infrastructure, thereby avoiding expensive fibre deployment while maintaining high reliability.
4Ease of manufacture
If mobile network operators design networks for non-critical services, then network flexibility and ease of deployment are improved, but service reliability and latency guarantees for critical applications deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments service quality handling by introducing the mobility management node that can differentiate between critical and non-critical traffic. This node enables utility sector devices to receive prioritized handling and reliability guarantees even though the underlying wireless network infrastructure is shared with commercial services, thus achieving high reliability without requiring separate dedicated infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobility management node acts as an intermediary that translates diverse service requirements into standardized quality of service parameters. It enables critical utility applications to obtain reliability guarantees and latency controls through the shared wireless network by implementing traffic prioritization, session management, and policy control at the mobility management layer.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to methods and devices for managing a plurality of non-coordinated radio access networks.In an aspect, a method of a mobility management node is provided for managing a plurality of non-coordinated radio access networks (RANs) in a wireless communication network.The method comprises receiving, from a base station of a first of the plurality of RANs, information indicating frequencies available in the first RAN for accessing a network served by the mobility management node, acquiring information identifying a base station of a second of the plurality of RANs, said network being operated by an operator different from those operating the first and second RANs; and transmitting, to the base station of the second RAN, the information indicating the frequencies available in the first RAN for accessing said network.