Wi-Fi Access Controller Automatic 3GPP Cell Association
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Solution Overview
Problem
Network operators face challenges in determining and maintaining the overlap between the coverage areas of 3GPP RAN cells and Wi-Fi RAN Access Points due to the separate management systems and paradigms of these technologies, making it difficult to establish automatic associations between them.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that utilize a Wi-Fi Access Controller to generate and send a Location Service Request to a 3GPP LCS Server, receiving a response to identify overlapping cells, and storing associations between Wi-Fi APs and 3GPP cells, with the option to cancel associations if not reaffirmed within a specified time period.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual configuration of coverage information is used, then accuracy of coverage relationship data can be maintained, but the effort and time required becomes huge due to rapid addition and changes of 3GPP cells and Wi-Fi Access Points
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automatic self-configuration of coverage relationships through the following mechanism: The Wi-Fi Access Controller receives 3GPP identifiers from user terminals attached to Wi-Fi, generates Location Service Requests to the 3GPP LCS Server, receives location responses identifying 3GPP cells, and automatically generates and stores associations between Wi-Fi Access Points and 3GPP cells. This automated process eliminates manual configuration while maintaining accurate coverage relationship data.
Solution Approach 2:
The Wi-Fi Access Controller acts as an intermediary between the Wi-Fi RAN and 3GPP RAN by: receiving 3GPP identifiers from user terminals in the Wi-Fi network, translating these into Location Service Requests compatible with 3GPP LCS Server protocols, receiving location information in response, and generating coverage association data that bridges the two separate network domains. This intermediary function enables automatic coverage relationship determination across heterogeneous networks.
2Productivity
If automatic determination mechanisms are implemented, then the effort required to configure coverage information is reduced, but the complexity of integrating separate management systems increases
Solution Approach 1:
The Wi-Fi Access Controller is enhanced with multi-functionality to: (1) manage Wi-Fi Access Points and user terminals, (2) receive and process 3GPP identifiers, (3) generate and send Location Service Requests to 3GPP LCS Server, (4) process location responses, and (5) generate and store coverage associations. This consolidation of multiple functions into a single entity reduces overall system complexity compared to having separate systems for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The Wi-Fi Access Controller serves as an intermediary that bridges the Wi-Fi RAN and 3GPP RAN management domains by implementing a standardized interface for location service requests and responses. This intermediary approach allows automatic coverage determination without requiring deep integration or modification of the underlying separate management systems, thus limiting the increase in complexity.
3Reliability
If associations between Wi-Fi Access Points and 3GPP cells are maintained indefinitely, then coverage relationship data availability is improved, but outdated or incorrect associations persist
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic validation of coverage associations by: recording an indication of the time at which each association is generated, and automatically canceling the association if a further association between the same Wi-Fi Access Point and 3GPP cell is not generated within a specified time period. This periodic refresh mechanism ensures that only current, valid coverage associations are maintained in the database.
Data Source
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AI summary
According to a first aspect there is provided a method of enabling automatic determination of when an area covered by an Access Point (AP) of a Wi-Fi Radio Access Network (RAN) overlaps with a cell of a 3GPP RAN. The method comprises, at an entity of the Wi-Fi RAN, obtaining a 3GPP identifier related to a user terminal that is attached to the Wi-Fi RAN and an identifier for an AP of the Wi-Fi RAN to which the terminal is attached. The entity then generates and sends a Location Service Request including the 3GPP identifier to a Location Services (LCS) Server associated with the 3GPP RAN, receiving a Location Service Response from the LCS Server that includes information identifying a cell of the 3GPP RAN in which the user terminal is located, and causes storage of an association between the identified Wi-Fi AP and the identified 3GPP cell.