User Equipment Traffic Steering with Network Separation Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless communication systems, traffic steering between 3GPP and non-3GPP access networks can lead to service interruptions due to inaccurate traffic management, where the access network may not know the terminal's traffic status, causing unnecessary separation from the network.
Innovation Solution
A traffic steering method where user equipment (UE) receives traffic steering information and moves traffic only when specific conditions are met, ensuring it remains connected to the first network, and includes an indicator for rejecting traffic movement if separation occurs, using measurement control information to generate and transmit measurement results.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the access network commands the terminal to move all traffic to another access network, then traffic overload in the first network is relieved, but the terminal may be separated from the first network causing service interruption
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal selectively moves only specific traffic flows that satisfy predetermined conditions to the second access network, rather than moving all traffic. This partial action approach relieves traffic overload in the first network while maintaining necessary connections for service continuity.
Solution Approach 2:
The terminal evaluates whether moving traffic would cause separation from the first network by checking if any traffic would remain in the first network. This feedback mechanism prevents service interruption by avoiding complete traffic migration when it would disconnect the terminal.
2Productivity
If the terminal moves traffic to the second network based on traffic steering information, then network efficiency is improved, but the terminal may be unnecessarily separated from the first network
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal performs preliminary evaluation before moving traffic by determining whether the traffic steering information satisfies predetermined conditions. This preliminary check ensures that traffic movement will not cause unnecessary separation from the first network.
Solution Approach 2:
The terminal autonomously determines whether to move traffic based on evaluating the traffic steering information against predetermined conditions, without requiring explicit commands for each traffic flow. This self-service approach prevents unnecessary separation while improving network efficiency.
3Extent of automation
If the terminal moves all indicated traffic to the second network, then traffic steering policy is fully executed, but the access network loses accurate knowledge of terminal traffic status
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal provides feedback to the access network about which traffic flows are moved and which remain in the first network. This feedback mechanism maintains accurate traffic status information in the access network while still executing traffic steering policies.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a traffic steering method performed by a user equipment (UE) and the user equipment using the method. The method receives traffic steering information from a first network and moves traffic from the first network to the second network on the basis of the traffic steering information, only when the traffic steering information satisfies a specific condition, wherein the specific condition is not separated from the first network, even if traffic indicated by the traffic steering information is moved to the second network.