Traffic Steering in Heterogeneous Networks Using Backoff Timers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for steering user equipment (UE) traffic between cellular and wireless local area networks (WLANs) often result in airtime pollution and UE blacklisting due to improper handling of signal strength comparisons, leading to unnecessary probe requests and denial of WLAN connections even when the WLAN signal improves.
Innovation Solution
A system that determines signal characteristics of both cellular and WLAN connections, prevents UE from attempting to connect to the WLAN when the cellular signal is stronger, and transmits vendor-specific information elements to the UE with time and connection criteria for re-establishing the WLAN connection when conditions are met, thereby preventing airtime pollution and blacklisting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the UE automatically connects to the WLAN when the WLAN signal quality threshold is satisfied, then the UE can utilize WLAN connectivity, but the UE connects to the WLAN even when the cellular network would provide a stronger signal, causing airtime pollution and connection issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the connection decision parameters by introducing a backoff timer mechanism. Instead of immediately connecting when the WLAN signal threshold is met, the UE now waits for a predetermined backoff period before attempting connection. This parameter change prevents premature connections when cellular signal is stronger, thereby reducing airtime pollution while still allowing WLAN utilization when appropriate.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by implementing a backoff timer that must elapse before the UE attempts to connect to the WLAN. This preliminary waiting period allows the system to assess whether the cellular signal remains stronger, preventing unnecessary WLAN connection attempts that would cause airtime pollution. The backoff timer acts as a preliminary filter before the actual connection decision is made.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the network controller denies the UE connection to the WLAN for a pre-determined amount of time when the cellular signal is stronger, then airtime pollution is reduced, but other devices experience airtime pollution because the UE continues to send probe requests, and the numerous denied association requests can lead to the UE blacklisting the WLAN
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by having the network controller monitor the UE's connection attempts and signal conditions. When the cellular signal is stronger, the controller denies WLAN association requests and informs the UE to wait for the backoff period. This feedback loop continues until either the backoff timer expires or the WLAN signal becomes stronger than the cellular signal, at which point the controller permits the connection. This feedback mechanism prevents both airtime pollution from continuous probe requests and blacklisting from excessive denials.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics by making the connection decision process adaptive rather than static. The backoff timer duration and connection permission are dynamically adjusted based on real-time signal conditions. If the WLAN signal improves during the backoff period, the controller can permit connection before the timer expires. This dynamic approach ensures reliability by allowing connections when WLAN becomes the better option while still preventing airtime pollution when cellular remains stronger.
3Ease of operation
If the UE sends multiple probe requests to the WLAN network while attempting to connect, then the UE tries to establish connectivity, but other devices experience airtime pollution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by requiring the UE to wait for the backoff timer to expire before sending any probe requests or association requests to the WLAN. This preliminary waiting period prevents the UE from immediately flooding the WLAN with connection attempts when the cellular signal is stronger, thereby eliminating airtime pollution from unnecessary probe requests while still allowing connection establishment when appropriate.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary anti-action by proactively preventing the UE from sending probe requests during the backoff period when cellular signal is stronger. Instead of allowing the harmful probe requests to be sent and then denying them, the system preemptively blocks the connection attempt process during the backoff timer duration. This preliminary anti-action eliminates airtime pollution at its source while preserving the ability to establish connections when WLAN conditions are favorable.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for traffic steering are disclosed. A first signal characteristic of a first connection between an electronic device and a first wireless communications network is determined. A second signal characteristic of a second connection between the electronic device and a second wireless communications network is also determined. Based on the first signal characteristic and the second signal characteristic, the electronic device is prevented from attempting to establish the second connection until one or more establishment criteria are met.