Network Policy Function IP Address Correlation for Seamless Mobility
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional WLAN and cellular networks require separate attach/association and authentication, leading to IP address changes when a User Equipment (UE) moves between networks, disrupting ongoing user sessions due to the assignment of new IP addresses.
Innovation Solution
A Network Policy Function (NPF) correlates identifiers across networks to preserve and reuse IP addresses for User Equipment (UE) moving between WLAN and cellular networks, ensuring seamless communication by maintaining a single IP address across multiple access networks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate attach/association and authentication procedures are used for WLAN and cellular networks, then each network can be independently managed and secured, but IP address changes occur when UE moves between networks, disrupting ongoing user sessions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a Network Policy Function (NPF) as an intermediary that correlates identifiers from different networks (WLAN and cellular) and manages IP address allocation. The NPF receives identifiers from both networks, determines they belong to the same UE, and provides a consistent IP address across networks, thereby maintaining session continuity while enabling network mobility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent separates the identifier correlation function and IP address management function into a dedicated Network Policy Function (NPF) entity. This segmentation allows the core network to independently handle identifier correlation without affecting the authentication and attach procedures of individual access networks, resolving the contradiction between independent network management and seamless mobility.
2Reliability
If new IP address assignments are performed when UE moves between networks, then each network access is properly authenticated and configured, but user sessions are disrupted due to IP address changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary identifier correlation at the Network Policy Function before the UE actually moves between networks or during the handover process. By pre-establishing the identifier mapping and preparing the IP address assignment in advance, the system ensures that when the UE switches networks, the IP address is already configured and ready, preventing session disruption and making network switching seamless for the user.
3Adaptability or versatility
If identifier correlation is implemented across networks, then IP address consistency is maintained for seamless mobility, but additional network function complexity is introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The Network Policy Function is designed as a universal entity that handles multiple functions: identifier correlation from different networks, IP address allocation, and session management. By consolidating these functions into a single multi-functional component, the patent reduces overall network architecture complexity compared to having separate mechanisms for each function, while still enabling seamless multi-network mobility.
Data Source
AI summary
In one example, a Network Policy Function (NPF) obtains a first identifier for a User Equipment (UE) based on communications between the UE and a first access network of a system, and an Internet Protocol (IP) address used by the UE to communicate over the first access network. The NPF obtains a second identifier for the UE based on communications between the UE and a second access network of the system. The NPF determines that the UE used the IP address to communicate over the first access network of the system based on a correlation between the first identifier for the UE and the second identifier for the UE. The NPF provides the IP address to the UE, and the UE uses the IP address to communicate over the second access network.