SIPTO Connection Release in Collocated L-GW Base Stations
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Solution Overview
Problem
In the LTE system, especially under a small base station environment, the existing technologies do not effectively manage the release of Selected IP Traffic Offload (SIPTO) connections when users move between new and existing cells, leading to frequent handovers and signaling shocks in the core network, and do not consider the specific positions of Master eNB (MeNB) and Secondary eNB (SeNB) in implementing SIPTO connection release.
Innovation Solution
A method and base station architecture that facilitate SIPTO connection release by exchanging information between base stations using Xn or X2 interfaces, allowing the Master eNB or SeNB to trigger the Local Gateway (L-GW) to release the SIPTO connection upon handover, ensuring seamless service continuity and network performance improvement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high-frequency points (3.5GHz) are adopted to increase user throughput, then user throughput is improved, but signal attenuation becomes serious and coverage range decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the network into macro base stations for coverage and small cellular base stations for capacity enhancement. This segmentation allows high-frequency 3.5GHz points to be deployed in small cells without requiring wide coverage, as each small cell serves a localized area with high throughput requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different frequency points and base station types to different locations based on local requirements. High-frequency 3.5GHz points are deployed in areas requiring high throughput (small cells), while lower frequency points are used for broader coverage areas (macro cells).
2Area of stationary object
If small cellular base stations are introduced to improve hotspot coverage, then local coverage is improved, but frequent handovers occur and signaling shock increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a local gateway (L-GW) as an intermediary component in the small base station architecture. The L-GW maintains SIPTO connections locally and manages them during handovers, acting as a mediator that prevents direct signaling shock to the core network when users move between small cells.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes SIPTO@LN (Selected IP Traffic Offload at Local Network) connections in advance through the local gateway before handovers occur. This preliminary setup allows the connection to be maintained and transferred smoothly during handovers, preventing signaling shock to the core network.
3Adaptability or versatility
If collocated L-GW is deployed on base stations to support SIPTO services, then local IP access capability is improved, but mobility of SIPTO@LN service is not supported
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the SIPTO@LN service dynamic by enabling it to be maintained during handovers between small base stations. The local gateway dynamically manages the SIPTO connection, allowing it to adapt to user movement while maintaining local IP access capability throughout the handover process.
4Adaptability or versatility
If frequent handovers occur between new and existing cells, then coverage flexibility is improved, but user information transmission frequency increases and core network signaling shock worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the SIPTO connection management function from the core network and places it at the local gateway in the small base station. This extraction allows handovers to occur at the local level without requiring corresponding information transmission to the core network, reducing signaling transmission frequency despite frequent handovers.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method and a base station for processing an SIPTO (Selected IP Traffic Offload) connection, the method includes: when a terminal is handed over from a source SeNB (Secondary eNB) to a destination SeNB, receiving, by an MeNB (Master eNB), an interface message from the destination SeNB (11), herein the source SeNB supports a collocated L-GW (Local Gateway); and when a handover success acknowledgement message sent by the destination SeNB is received, triggering, by the MeNB, the source SeNB to notify the L-GW to release an SIPTO@LN (Selected IP Traffic Offload at Local Network) connection (12). Through the embodiments of the present invention, the release of the SIPTO@LN connection in a collocated L-GW scenario under a small base station environment can be effectively implemented.