Traffic Steering Over Optimal Paths Using Multiple Access Technologies
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional communication systems face challenges in maintaining optimal network connectivity and user experience due to limitations in handover mechanisms, multipath transmission protocols, and IP packet aggregation, which fail to provide consistent throughput and delay-sensitive service quality across multiple access technologies.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a heuristic, non-greedy approach for individual service flows that selectively allocates resources based on operator policies and quality-of-service requirements, dynamically monitors performance, and switches paths to ensure proportional fair resource allocation and meet target performance metrics, using a network-controlled traffic steering framework that integrates multiple access technologies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If handover mechanisms are used to maintain network connectivity across multiple access technologies, then connectivity is maintained, but throughput consistency and service quality deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic path selection and traffic steering that continuously adapts to changing network conditions. The system dynamically switches between single-path and multi-path configurations based on real-time performance metrics, ensuring both connectivity reliability and optimal throughput consistency through continuous adaptation rather than static handover mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters by adjusting traffic distribution across multiple paths based on measured performance characteristics. By monitoring throughput, delay, and other QoS parameters in real-time, the system dynamically modifies routing decisions to maintain consistent service quality while preserving connectivity across technology boundaries.
2Reliability
If multipath transmission protocols are implemented to support multiple access technologies, then connectivity is maintained, but delay-sensitive service quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments traffic flows into different priority categories, separating delay-sensitive traffic from other traffic types. By dividing the traffic stream and routing different segments through appropriate paths based on their QoS requirements, the system maintains connectivity while minimizing packet delay for time-critical applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies different quality characteristics to different traffic segments and paths. Delay-sensitive traffic receives preferential treatment with dedicated low-latency paths, while other traffic can utilize available capacity. This local quality differentiation ensures connectivity for all traffic while protecting delay-sensitive services from degradation.
3Productivity
If IP packet aggregation is used to combine multiple access technologies, then resource utilization improves, but service quality consistency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic traffic steering that continuously monitors service quality metrics and adjusts path selection accordingly. Rather than static aggregation, the system dynamically distributes traffic to maintain consistent service quality while maximizing resource utilization. The controller adapts to changing conditions in real-time, ensuring quality consistency is preserved even as utilization varies.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs feedback mechanisms that continuously measure service quality on aggregated paths and use this information to adjust traffic distribution. By monitoring QoS parameters and feeding this information back to the traffic steering controller, the system maintains service quality consistency while achieving high resource utilization through intelligent aggregation.
4Reliability
If conventional handover mechanisms are implemented, then connectivity is maintained during technology transitions, but user experience and service quality deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary measurements and evaluations of available access technologies before traffic needs to be steered. By pre-characterizing network paths and maintaining information about available technologies, the system can perform seamless transitions that preserve user experience. The preliminary setup eliminates the need for disruptive handover procedures during actual connectivity transitions.
Data Source
AI summary
One or more processors in a communication system allocate a selected connectivity path from a plurality of connectivity paths supported by a plurality of access technologies. The selected connectivity path is allocated to a service flow between a communication device and a core network. One or more available access channels are assigned to the service flow for the selected connectivity path. Network conditions and performance of the service flow are monitored on the one or more available access channels. The selected connectivity path is modified based on the network conditions and the performance of the service flow seamlessly to the existing applications or service flows. In some cases, criteria for modifying the selected connectivity path are modified for a predetermined time interval in response to modifying the selected connectivity path, e.g., by modifying threshold values that are used to determine whether to modify the selected connectivity path based on a comparison of the threshold values to the network conditions or the performance of the service flow.