Neutral Host Network Offload Services for Mobile Traffic
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless communication networks often face challenges in providing adequate services and quality of service to subscribers, especially during high-demand events, leading to a need for offloading network traffic to alleviate congestion.
Innovation Solution
A neutral host network (NHN) based on LTE technology is deployed to provide scalable internet connectivity, allowing UEs to discover and utilize offload services by broadcasting PLMN IDs and supporting multiple service providers, enabling UEs to switch data traffic to the NHN for specific applications or types of traffic.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mobile network capacity is increased to serve all subscribers during high-demand events, then network service quality is improved, but network infrastructure cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple mobile network operators' traffic into a single wireless network infrastructure during high-demand events. The system allows subscribers from different operators to access the internet through a unified network platform, merging previously separate network resources to handle aggregate traffic loads that would be impossible for any single operator to support alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The wireless network is designed with multi-functionality to serve multiple operators and multiple types of traffic simultaneously. The system can dynamically allocate resources to different operators based on demand, providing universal service capability that adapts to varying network conditions and subscriber requirements during events like sporting gatherings.
2Productivity
If network resources are shared among multiple operators, then resource utilization efficiency is improved, but network control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service mechanisms where the network automatically manages resource allocation and operator coordination without requiring complex manual intervention. The wireless network autonomously handles traffic routing, resource distribution, and operator authentication, reducing the control complexity that would otherwise be required to manage multi-operator resource sharing.
3Extent of automation
If autonomous mode is used for traffic offloading, then control from core network is reduced, but service discoverability and user awareness are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms that inform users about available offload services and their status. The network provides information to subscribers about when and how autonomous offloading is occurring, maintaining service discoverability through user notifications and status indicators while the actual traffic management operates autonomously without core network control.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A
AI summary
Techniques for providing offload services via a neutral host network, NHN, are described here. An example method may include establishing (402) an authorization relationship, at the NHN, with a mobile network. In addition, the example method may include sending (404) a notification indicating the authorization relationship of the NHN with the mobile network to one or more user equipments (UEs) within radio coverage of the NHN, wherein the authorization relationship specifies that the NHN is authorized by the mobile network to provide offload services for at least one UE of the one or more UEs that is associated with the mobile network.