Selective Mobile Access Gateway for Converged Wireless Wireline Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current networking architectures struggle to provide a unified solution that optimally supports both wireless and wireline networks, leading to inefficiencies in routing and management of communication sessions and data flows, especially as service providers move towards fixed-mobile convergence.
Innovation Solution
A converged architecture that combines 3GPP and ETSI TISPAN elements, incorporating a mobile access gateway function that is conditionally invoked for IP mobility services, along with enhanced policy and charging control, and network address translation, to support both wireless and wireline networks with consistent interfaces and operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single architecture is designed to support both wireless and wireline networks, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The architecture is segmented into distinct functional components: access network elements (ASN), core network elements (CN), and specific protocol adaptation layers. This segmentation allows the system to support multiple network types through modular additions rather than monolithic complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The gateway and core network elements are designed with multi-functionality to handle both wireless (3GPP) and wireline (ETSI TISPAN) protocols simultaneously. A single architecture instance can serve multiple access technologies through unified interface definitions and protocol handling capabilities.
2Reliability
If mobility services are always invoked, then reliability is improved, but use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mobility service invocation is made dynamic rather than static. The system evaluates whether mobility services are actually needed based on the access network type and user requirements, selectively activating or deactivating mobility management functions. This dynamic approach ensures reliability when needed while conserving energy when not required.
3Adaptability or versatility
If network elements are added to accommodate increased subscriber base, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The architecture employs a nested structure where specific network elements (like mobile access gateways for 3GPP or access network gateways for ETSI TISPAN) are nested within the broader access network and core network frameworks. This nesting allows incremental addition of capabilities without requiring complete system redesign.
4Productivity
If routing and management functions are enhanced for efficient session management, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Complex routing and session management functions are extracted into dedicated network elements such as the gateway and core network elements. This extraction centralizes complexity in specialized components while keeping the overall system architecture clean and manageable, improving productivity without uniformly increasing complexity across all elements.
Data Source
AI summary
A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes invoking a mobile access gateway function based on an end user requesting an Internet Protocol (IP) address in a wireless or a wireline network. The invocation is selective such that the mobile access gateway function is invoked if the end user requires IP mobility services. The method also includes communicating with a gateway in order to obtain the IP address. The mobile access gateway function is coupled to a network element that receives packets for a communications flow from the end user that can conduct the flow through the wireless network and through the wireline network.