RAN Traffic Steering via UE Wi-Fi Measurement Reporting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems face challenges in achieving efficient interoperability between cellular radio access networks and multiple wireless local access networks, leading to limitations in wide-scale deployment of mobile radio access technology due to separate standardization of 3GPP and Wi-Fi technologies.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that enables user equipment to report differences in communication characteristics between Wi-Fi access points, allowing a radio access network to steer traffic effectively across multiple radio access technologies by configuring policies for measurement and reporting, thereby improving connectivity and system performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If 3GPP and Wi-Fi technologies are standardized in isolation, then each technology can be optimized independently, but interoperability between cellular radio access networks and Wi-Fi networks is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a measurement report mechanism as an intermediary between Wi-Fi access points and the cellular radio access network. User equipment measures Wi-Fi communication characteristics and reports them to the cellular network, enabling the cellular network to make informed traffic steering decisions without direct integration between the two standardized systems. This mediator approach resolves the interoperability issue while maintaining the independence of 3GPP and Wi-Fi standardizations.
2Measurement precision
If user equipment reports detailed communication characteristics for all Wi-Fi access points, then the radio access network can make optimal mobility decisions, but the signaling overhead and processing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by having user equipment measure and report only specific communication characteristics (such as signal strength, load, or backhaul rate) for Wi-Fi access points that are relevant to traffic steering decisions. Rather than reporting all possible parameters for all access points, the system selectively measures and reports only the necessary local characteristics, reducing signaling overhead while maintaining sufficient precision for optimal mobility decisions.
3Productivity
If the radio access network steers traffic across multiple radio access technologies, then bandwidth management and user experience are improved, but the complexity of managing multiple access technologies increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by enabling user equipment to autonomously measure Wi-Fi communication characteristics and generate measurement reports based on configured criteria. The cellular radio access network provides steering decisions based on these self-generated reports, reducing the need for complex centralized management of multiple access technologies. The user equipment serves itself by performing measurements and providing the necessary information for traffic steering, simplifying the overall system management while maintaining high bandwidth management efficiency.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system and method is provided for operating a user equipment ("UE") connected to a first wireless local access network ("WLAN") access point ("AP"). In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a first policy from a radio access network ("RAN") defining when to report a first difference between values for a first communication characteristic for communication with the first WLAN AP and a second WLAN AP, respectively, and searching for the second WLAN AP. The method also includes determining values for the first communication characteristic for communication with the first WLAN AP and the second WLAN AP, respectively, and reporting the first difference between values for the first communication characteristic for the first WLAN AP and the second WLAN AP to the RAN when the first difference crosses a first threshold in accordance with the first policy.