Traffic Aggregation Manager for WWAN-WLAN Policy Consistency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in managing traffic aggregation across multiple radio access technologies (RATs), leading to inconsistencies in network discovery and selection policies, particularly when using both wireless wide area networks (WWANs) and wireless local area networks (WLANs).
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for a user equipment (UE) to communicate with multiple RATs, where the UE manages connections by prioritizing traffic aggregation based on configurations received from access points, determining the priority of connections, and adjusting policies to ensure consistent network discovery and selection, thereby optimizing connectivity and traffic routing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traffic aggregation is implemented to allow UE to communicate with WWAN over RAN and also using WLAN RAN, then throughput for the UE on WWAN is increased, but inconsistencies in WLAN policies (e.g., ANDSF policies) occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a traffic aggregation manager as an intermediary component that mediates between the traffic aggregation functionality and WLAN policy management. This manager receives policy information from the ANDSF, determines whether traffic aggregation is active, and selectively applies or overrides policies based on the aggregation state. The intermediary resolves the contradiction by controlling how policies are applied when multiple radio access technologies are used simultaneously, ensuring both throughput enhancement and policy consistency.
2Adaptability or versatility
If UE communicates with multiple RATs simultaneously for traffic aggregation, then network connectivity and throughput are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the management of multiple radio access technology connections into a unified traffic aggregation framework. Instead of managing WWAN and WLAN connections separately, the system combines them under a single traffic aggregation manager that coordinates both connections, handles policy application, and manages the interaction between different RATs. This merging approach maintains high network connectivity while reducing the operational complexity that would arise from managing multiple independent connection management systems.
Data Source
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AI summary
Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to communicating with one or more wireless networks using multiple radio access technologies, RATs. A device (415) can communicate with a first access point (405) using a first RAT over a first connection (445-a) to access a first wireless network, and communicate with a second access point (406) using a second RAT over a second connection (445-b), wherein the second connection is configured to implement traffic aggregation with the first connection based at least in part on a configuration received from the first access point. The device can also manage the second connection based at least in part the implementation of the traffic aggregation with the first connection.