MPTCP Control for Wireless Terminals Based on Mobility

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Fast Moving Mobiles in wireless communications networks experience excessive signaling and increased battery consumption due to frequent connections and disconnections to WLAN networks, leading to poor user experience and increased network load, as existing solutions do not consider mobility characteristics when establishing MPTCP connections with WLAN access points.

Innovation Solution

The solution involves disabling MPTCP with WLAN networks for wireless terminals with high mobility characteristics by determining mobility states based on cell reselections, and providing system information parameters to wireless terminals to control MPTCP establishment, thereby preventing frequent connections and disconnections, and reducing battery consumption and signaling load.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If MPTCP connections are established with WLAN networks for all mobile devices, then network capacity is improved and data throughput is increased, but signaling load increases excessively and battery consumption increases for fast-moving devices

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork capacityVSAvoidbattery consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating MPTCP connection behavior based on device mobility characteristics. Low-mobility devices are allowed to establish MPTCP connections with WLAN networks to benefit from increased network capacity, while high-mobility devices are restricted from establishing such connections to avoid excessive battery consumption and signaling load. This localized differentiation resolves the contradiction by applying the same network capability selectively to different device types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Productivity

If MPTCP connections are established with WLAN networks for all mobile devices, then data throughput is increased, but signaling load increases excessively for fast-moving devices

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata throughputVSAvoidsignaling load
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements local quality by applying different MPTCP connection policies to different mobility categories. For low-mobility devices, MPTCP connections are permitted to maximize data throughput. For high-mobility devices, MPTCP connections are blocked to prevent excessive signaling load from frequent connection establishment and release. This selective application resolves the contradiction between throughput enhancement and signaling load reduction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Productivity

If WLAN interface is kept active for MPTCP connections, then network bandwidth is increased, but battery consumption increases for fast-moving devices

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork bandwidthVSAvoidbattery consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating WLAN interface behavior based on device mobility. Low-mobility devices maintain active WLAN interfaces for MPTCP connections to utilize additional network bandwidth. High-mobility devices have their WLAN interfaces restricted from establishing MPTCP connections, thereby conserving battery energy. This selective approach resolves the contradiction between bandwidth utilization and energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

4Productivity

If MPTCP is enabled for all devices, then network capacity offload to WLAN is improved, but user experience deteriorates for fast-moving devices due to frequent connections and disconnections

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork capacity offloadVSAvoiduser experience
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements local quality by applying different MPTCP enablement policies based on device mobility characteristics. Low-mobility devices benefit from MPTCP-enabled network capacity offload to WLAN networks. High-mobility devices have MPTCP disabled to prevent frequent connection and disconnection events that would deteriorate user experience. This differentiated approach resolves the contradiction between network capacity offload and user experience maintenance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3243309B1A method for controlling multipoint TCP in wireless communications networks and devices for use therein
Publication Date: 2019.12.18 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
  • EP3243309B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3243309B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3243309B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A method in a wireless terminal operating in a 3GPP wireless communications network for controlling using MPTCP with a WLAN network, The method comprises receiving from the 3GPP wireless communications network system information comprising a condition for MPTCP with a WLAN network, the condition being associated with mobility characteristics of the wireless terminal. The method further comprises determining a parameter indicative of mobility characteristics of the wireless terminal and disabling MPTCP with a WLAN network if the parameter indicative of mobility characteristics indicates that mobility of the wireless terminal is at or above a value defined in the condition.