SDN Controller Mobility Management Across Radio Technologies
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cellular mobility management systems are inefficient in handling the increasing complexity of mobile device traffic and varying mobility states across different wireless technologies, leading to high costs and complexity, especially with the rise of tens of billions of mobile-to-mobile endpoints.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of Software-Defined Networking (SDN) with the standard-based Identifier/Locator Network Protocol (ILNP) decouples the control plane from the data forwarding plane, enabling seamless handoffs across various wireless technologies like LTE, Wi-Fi, and future 5G access technologies by broadcasting locator addresses and managing mobility through distributed SDN controllers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If GTP protocols are used for mobility management across RAN and gateways, then connectivity between mobile devices and network devices is maintained, but device complexity and network costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the mobility management functionality from the mobile device into the network infrastructure. The network device performs handoff decisions and manages multiple access technologies, while the mobile device simply follows network instructions to switch connections. This extraction eliminates complex mobility management algorithms from the device, reducing its complexity while maintaining seamless connectivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The network device acts as an intermediary between the mobile device and multiple access networks. It receives communication from the mobile device, determines the appropriate target network device across different radio technologies, and routes the communication accordingly. This intermediary approach simplifies the mobile device's role while ensuring reliable connectivity across heterogeneous networks.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple access technologies (LTE, Wi-Fi, 5G) are supported simultaneously, then network versatility and mobility options increase, but system complexity and management overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The network device is designed with multi-functionality to handle multiple radio access technologies (LTE, Wi-Fi, 5G, etc.) through a unified mobility management framework. Instead of requiring separate management systems for each technology, the single network device performs handoff decisions across all technologies, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The network device serves as a universal intermediary that abstracts the complexity of multiple access technologies from the mobile device. It translates between different radio technologies and provides a consistent interface for mobility management, enabling the system to support diverse networks without proportionally increasing complexity.
3Reliability
If special purpose tunnels are used for mobility management, then connectivity across different networks is maintained, but network costs and device power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the tunnel establishment and maintenance functions from the mobile device to the network device. The network device manages the communication paths between mobile devices and target network devices, eliminating the need for power-consuming tunnel management in the mobile device while maintaining reliable connectivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The network device performs self-service by automatically determining handoff conditions and executing handoffs based on network state information. This eliminates the need for the mobile device to continuously monitor and manage complex tunnel configurations, reducing its power consumption while maintaining connectivity reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A more efficient network can be achieved using software-defined networking to configure routing tables to route data traffic to and from proper cells. User equipment address data and network device internet protocol address data can be utilized to define locators specific to a user equipment device in relation to various network devices. For instance, broadcasted network address data representative of a mobile device identifier address can be received by a first network device from the mobile device, wherein the mobile device identifier address comprises network address data related to an internet protocol address of a second network device, the first network device can determine a third network device capable of a communication with the mobile device, and the communication with the mobile device can be routed by the first network device to the third network device.