Dynamic MVNO Traffic Offloading via Connection Manager Server
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) face capacity issues due to insufficient infrastructure and spectrum availability, leading to degraded application performance for users when offloading traffic from mobile network operators (MNOs), resulting in increased delay and lower throughput.
Innovation Solution
Implementing dynamic traffic offload policies managed by a Connection Manager Server (CMS) to identify and communicate traffic offload rules to user equipment (UEs), allowing MVNOs to control traffic in their network and reduce negative end-user experiences by proactively managing cell load and congestion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traffic is offloaded from MNO network to MVNO small cell network, then MVNO network utilization is improved, but network capacity and performance deteriorate due to insufficient infrastructure and spectrum availability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic traffic offloading policies that adjust offloading decisions based on real-time network conditions. The Connection Manager Server monitors MVNO cell capacity, user equipment performance, and network load, then dynamically modifies offloading behavior to prevent capacity exhaustion while maximizing network utilization. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by allowing high utilization when capacity is available while maintaining performance when capacity is constrained.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs feedback mechanisms where the Connection Manager Server continuously monitors network performance metrics including MVNO cell capacity, throughput, and delay. Based on this feedback, the server adjusts traffic offloading policies in real-time, reducing offloading when capacity is insufficient and increasing offloading when capacity is available, thereby resolving the contradiction between utilization and performance.
2Quantity of substance
If more MVNO small cells are deployed to increase capacity, then network capacity is improved, but device complexity and infrastructure requirements worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables MVNO small cells to serve multiple functions: they provide network capacity for offloaded traffic while also allowing UEs to maintain connections to MNO network when needed. The dual-network deployment model allows the same infrastructure to serve both MVNO and MNO customers, maximizing the utility of deployed cells without requiring separate dedicated infrastructure for each operator.
Solution Approach 2:
The Connection Manager Server acts as an intermediary that coordinates traffic distribution between MNO and MVNO networks. It intelligently directs traffic to appropriate networks based on current capacity conditions, effectively virtualizing additional capacity from the MNO network to supplement MVNO infrastructure without requiring physical deployment of additional MVNO cells.
3Reliability
If traffic offloading is restricted to maintain performance, then application performance is improved, but MVNO network utilization worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic monitoring and evaluation of MVNO cell capacity and network conditions. Rather than applying static restrictions, the Connection Manager Server periodically assesses whether capacity thresholds are met and adjusts offloading policies accordingly, enabling traffic offloading during periods when capacity is sufficient while restricting it when capacity is constrained, thus resolving the contradiction between performance and utilization.
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments comprise systems, methods, architectures, mechanisms and apparatus for managing UE migration or offloading from mobile network operators (MNO) cells to mobile virtual network operators (MVNO) cells (optionally access points) in a dual-network deployment use case by identifying and communicating one or more dynamic traffic offload policies to UE(s) based information provided by MVNO subscriber UEs and/or information generated by the network itself. In this manner, the MVNO network operator may control an amount of traffic in the MVNO small cell network while avoiding or at least reducing negative end-user experience. In various embodiments, the UE offloaded from the MNO to the MVNO may be roaming UE associated with a different MVNO.