Network-Originated Signaling for Inter-Technology Mobility
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Solution Overview
Problem
In inter-technology networks, the mobility of dual-mode mobile devices is not adequately supported, leading to inefficiencies in cross-paging and service handoffs between circuit and packet data networks, resulting in failed page attempts and resource wastage due to lack of updated network node awareness of device location.
Innovation Solution
Implementing network-originated signaling to update overlapping networks about mobility events, allowing access networks to hand off services seamlessly between nodes with overlapping but non-aligned coverage areas, ensuring accurate signaling and resource allocation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If network nodes rely on mobile device registration signaling to track mobility, then device autonomy is maintained, but mobility support fails in inter-technology networks where devices can only monitor one air interface at a time
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of having the mobile device initiate registration signaling to update network nodes about its location, the invention inverts the approach by having network nodes receive mobility event notifications from the serving access network and proactively update overlapping networks. This inversion resolves the contradiction by eliminating the need for dual-interface monitoring while maintaining reliable mobility tracking.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces an intermediary mechanism where the serving access network acts as a mediator to convey mobility event information to overlapping networks. This intermediary approach allows network nodes to be updated about device location changes without requiring the device itself to actively signal each network, thus maintaining reliability while accommodating single-interface monitoring constraints.
2Productivity
If cross-paging is performed without updated location information, then network simplicity is maintained, but resource wastage occurs due to failed page attempts
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies preliminary action by having network nodes update their location information in advance through the mobility event notification mechanism before cross-paging operations are initiated. This ensures that when paging is performed, the network has current location information, thereby improving cross-paging efficiency and avoiding wasted resources on failed page attempts to incorrect locations.
3Stability of the object's composition
If mobile devices hand off between access networks with overlapping coverage, then service continuity is improved, but network complexity increases due to coordination requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The serving access network acts as an intermediary that automatically handles the coordination of mobility events between overlapping networks. By having the serving network convey mobility event notifications to overlapping networks, the invention maintains service continuity during handoffs while avoiding the complexity that would arise from direct peer-to-peer coordination between multiple network nodes.
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments are described for supporting mobility in an inter-technology network. Such a network (300, e.g.) includes multiple interconnected access networks, utilizing various access technologies, and perhaps having overlapping, but non-aligned coverage areas. The prior art relies on remote units to originate registration signaling as they move from one service coverage area or registration region to the next, for each of the various access networks. In contrast, embodiments of the present invention utilize network originated signaling to update overlapping networks/network nodes of mobility events of which one access network (120-122, e.g.) is aware but of which other access networks (130, 131 and 133, e.g.) may not be aware.