Session Management Entity for 4G-5G Mobility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in seamlessly maintaining session continuity when switching between different generations of wireless communication networks, such as 4G and 5G, due to the lack of efficient methods for interworking and managing mobility between multiple radio access technologies.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that enable user equipment (UE) to transmit UE network capability information to a management entity, allowing for the establishment of sessions across multiple networks, including 4G and 5G, through a session management entity that supports mobility between these networks, ensuring seamless communication by reconfiguring data transfer paths or sessions when switching between networks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a UE attaches to a first network (e.g., 4G) and establishes a session, then the session can be maintained during mobility to a second network (e.g., 5G), but the session management complexity increases due to need for dual network support and path reconfiguration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the session management into distinct components: a session management entity that handles session establishment and maintenance, and a separate path reconfiguration mechanism that handles data transfer path adjustments. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each function, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining session continuity during mobility between 4G and 5G networks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a session management entity as an intermediary between the UE and the core network. This intermediary coordinates session establishment, maintains session state during mobility, and triggers path reconfiguration when needed. By centralizing session management functions in this intermediary entity, the complexity is localized and managed systematically rather than being distributed across multiple network elements.
2Reliability
If the system reconfigures data transfer paths during network switching, then communication continuity is maintained, but the switching time and signaling overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-establishing session contexts and preparing path reconfiguration parameters before actual mobility occurs. The session management entity maintains session state information in advance, and when mobility is detected, the pre-prepared reconfiguration parameters enable rapid path switching. This preliminary preparation significantly reduces the actual switching time while maintaining communication continuity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent ensures continuity of useful action by maintaining the session context and data transfer paths active during the transition between 4G and 5G networks. Rather than tearing down and re-establishing sessions during mobility, the system continuously maintains the session state and seamlessly switches data transfer paths, eliminating interruptions and reducing overall switching time.
3Ease of operation
If the UE transmits UE network capability information including support for multiple networks, then the session establishment is facilitated, but the message size and processing overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential network capability information (support for 4G and 5G) from the complete UE capability set and transmits only this critical subset in the attach request message. By taking out only the necessary capability indicators needed for session establishment and mobility management, the message size is minimized while still enabling the session management entity to make appropriate routing and path reconfiguration decisions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by providing detailed network capability information only where needed - specifically in the attach request message to the session management entity. Rather than transmitting complete capability sets to all network elements, the patent locally provides the necessary capability data at the session management layer, reducing overall signaling overhead while maintaining ease of session establishment.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus performed in a wireless communication system are provided. An attach request message for a first network supported by a user equipment (UE), is transmitted to a management entity. The attach request message includes first UE network capability information indicating support of a second network supported by the UE. An attach accept message indicating completion of attach to the first network is received from the management entity. A packet data network (PDN) connectivity request for the first network is transmitted to the management entity. A first session for the first network is established through a session management entity supporting mobility between the first network and the second network. In case that the UE supports the second network, regardless of enabled or disabled status of UE network capability for the second network, the session establishment request includes information related to a second session for the second network.