Predictive Wireless Roaming Session Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless networks experience session interruptions when a wireless device roams from one wireless access point to another, as the current IP session must be terminated and a new one established, which can be resource intensive and consume valuable bandwidth.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a roaming database that predicts and manages device mobility by storing identifiers of wireless devices and their home wireless access gateways, allowing neighboring access points to maintain IP sessions without switching to a different wireless access gateway.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a wireless device roams from one wireless access point to another served by a different wireless access gateway, then the device can maintain connectivity to the network, but the current IP session must be terminated and a new session established, causing resource consumption and bandwidth usage
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by having the source wireless access gateway send session information to the target wireless access gateway before the wireless device actually roams. This includes sending the device identifier, IP address, and session parameters in advance, so that when roaming occurs, the target gateway is already prepared to maintain the session without termination, thereby avoiding resource consumption associated with session teardown and reestablishment
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where the source wireless access gateway acts as a mediator that transfers session context information to the target wireless access gateway. This intermediary action allows the target gateway to assume the session without requiring the device to re-establish connectivity, thus maintaining session continuity while reducing the resource overhead of traditional session termination and reestablishment procedures
2Reliability
If the new wireless access gateway tunnels back to the home wireless access gateway to preserve the current session, then IP session continuity is maintained, but valuable network bandwidth is consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential session information (device identifier, IP address, session parameters) from the home wireless access gateway and transfers it to the target wireless access gateway. This extraction eliminates the need for continuous tunneling back to the home gateway, as the target gateway receives sufficient information to independently maintain the session, thereby preserving IP session continuity while eliminating the bandwidth consumption associated with tunneling
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a copy of the necessary session context information and transfers it from the source wireless access gateway to the target wireless access gateway. This copying approach allows the target gateway to maintain the IP session locally without requiring ongoing communication with or tunneling to the home gateway, thus maintaining session continuity while avoiding the bandwidth overhead of tunneling protocols
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are disclosed that enable predictive device mobility session management in a wireless network. A wireless communications network is able to maintain IP session continuity as a wireless device roams among wireless access points of the communications network by ensuring that the wireless device maintains communications with its home wireless access gateway.