Paging Delay Reduction via WLAN Location Analytics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Paging delays in wireless communication networks are significant due to the need to page multiple network elements without knowing the location of mobile devices, especially in small cells, leading to increased radio bandwidth consumption and signaling complexity.
Innovation Solution
A method that utilizes location analytics from Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs) to identify predictable paths of mobile devices, allowing cellular networks to selectively page only the network elements likely to be in the device's vicinity, reducing the number of paging requests through an interface between the Mobility Services Engine (MSE) and the Home NodeB Gateway (HNB-GW).
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the network pages a large number of network elements to locate the mobile device, then the probability of locating the device increases, but the paging delay and signaling complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by continuously tracking and recording the movement paths of mobile devices in advance. When paging is needed, the pre-collected path information is immediately queried to identify likely current locations, eliminating the need to search all network elements and thus reducing paging delay while maintaining high location accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of paging all network elements (excessive action), the system pages only a subset of network elements that are likely to contain the mobile device based on its historical path data. This partial action approach maintains sufficient reliability for device location while significantly reducing paging delay and signaling overhead.
2Reliability
If the network pages multiple network elements without knowing device location, then comprehensive coverage is achieved, but radio bandwidth consumption and signaling exchange increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by concentrating paging resources on specific local areas (network elements along the device's historical path) rather than uniformly distributing paging signals across the entire network. This targeted approach maintains adequate paging coverage for mobile devices while significantly reducing overall radio bandwidth consumption and signaling exchange.
3Productivity
If small cells are deployed to increase network capacity, then the number of served users increases, but the complexity of mobility management and paging increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary tracking and path recording for mobile devices in small cell networks. When paging is required, the pre-collected path information immediately identifies which small cells to page, transforming a complex search problem across many small cells into a simple lookup operation. This maintains high network capacity while significantly reducing mobility management complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes querying by a first communications network a database maintained by a second communications network for location data comprising a path typically taken by a mobile device; using the location data to identify network elements of the first communications network located proximate the path; and sending a page request for the mobile device only to the identified network elements. The method may further include mapping a first identifier for the mobile device to the second identifier for the mobile device; and using the second identifier to perform the querying. In certain embodiments, the mapping is initiated responsive to a call received for the mobile device.