Service Identifier Mapping for Wi-Fi to CBRS Handover
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Public Wi-Fi networks often become overloaded during events, leading to degraded service quality, and existing technologies do not effectively offload traffic to complementary private LTE networks like CBRS, limiting seamless service continuity for users.
Innovation Solution
A method is introduced where a network controller generates identifiers for services provided by Wi-Fi networks, allowing users to connect to equivalent services on CBRS networks, enabling seamless transition and unified service segmentation across both network types, using service tokens or APN mappings for consistent policies and data plane identifiers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If users rely solely on Wi-Fi networks for service access, then service availability on Wi-Fi is maintained, but service quality degrades when Wi-Fi becomes overloaded
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically enables users to switch between Wi-Fi and CBRS networks based on service quality conditions. The network controller monitors Wi-Fi network status and automatically provides alternative CBRS network identifiers when Wi-Fi quality degrades, allowing adaptive network selection rather than static reliance on a single network type.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the network parameter from single-network (Wi-Fi only) access to multi-network (Wi-Fi and CBRS) access by introducing network identifier mappings. When Wi-Fi service quality deteriorates, the system activates alternative network parameters through the mapping mechanism, enabling users to connect to equivalent services on CBRS networks.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate service management is used for Wi-Fi and CBRS networks, then each network can be optimized independently, but service consistency and seamless transition between networks cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a universal service identification mechanism that works across both Wi-Fi and CBRS networks. By establishing mappings between Wi-Fi service identifiers and CBRS access point names, the same service can be accessed through either network type using consistent identification and policy enforcement, enabling seamless transitions while maintaining service uniformity.
Solution Approach 2:
The network controller acts as an intermediary that bridges Wi-Fi and CBRS network management. It maintains mapping tables that correlate service identifiers across networks and enforces consistent policies, serving as a mediator that ensures service consistency while allowing independent network optimization.
3Ease of operation
If no service mapping mechanism is implemented, then network independence is maintained, but users cannot seamlessly switch between Wi-Fi and CBRS networks for the same service
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a copied service identification structure where CBRS access point names are mapped to correspond with Wi-Fi service identifiers. This copying mechanism allows the same service to be represented in both network domains, enabling users to switch networks seamlessly while the network controller manages the underlying complexity of the mapping relationships.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods are provided which indicate availability of the same service on a different access network. In these methods, the network controller generates an identifier for each of one or more services provided by a wireless local access network (WLAN). The identifier is associated with a particular service which is also provided by a private radio network. The network controller provides to an access point the identifier to be broadcast to one or more user devices of the WLAN to connect to the particular service via the private radio network. A mobility management entity receives a request from a user device to connect to the private network, where the request includes an identifier associated with a particular service provided to the user device in the WLAN and based on the identifier, the mobility management entity enables the particular service to be provided to the user device via the private radio network.