WLAN Access Acceleration via 3GPP Network Assistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
User equipment (UE) experiences long access times to WLAN networks when scanning for available connections, leading to poor user experience due to the need to scan the WLAN frequency band, which takes significantly longer than accessing a 3GPP network.
Innovation Solution
The UE receives WLAN access auxiliary information from the 3GPP access network, allowing it to measure signal quality and make an access judgment, thereby accelerating the access process by reducing the need for extensive scanning and improving user experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the UE scans the WLAN frequency band to detect available WLAN, then the UE can find and access WLAN networks, but the access time becomes excessively long (seconds instead of milliseconds)
Solution Approach 1:
The 3GPP access network performs preliminary scanning and identification of available WLAN networks before the UE needs to access them. The network maintains a pre-configured list of available WLANs and their parameters (SSIDs, BSSIDs, frequencies, channels) obtained through prior scanning operations. When a UE needs to access WLAN, it receives this pre-prepared information from the network, eliminating the need for the UE to perform time-consuming frequency band scanning.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the UE performs full WLAN frequency band scanning, then the UE can detect all available WLANs, but the scanning process takes seconds causing poor user experience
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the time-consuming WLAN scanning function from the UE and relocates it to the 3GPP access network. The network performs the scanning operations centrally and extracts only the essential access information (SSIDs, BSSIDs, frequencies, channels) needed by UEs. This extraction approach maintains comprehensive WLAN detection capability while eliminating the time penalty from individual UE scanning operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The 3GPP access network acts as an intermediary between the WLAN infrastructure and the UEs. Instead of UEs directly scanning and interacting with WLAN networks, the access network mediates by performing the scanning on behalf of UEs and providing filtered, processed WLAN information. This intermediary role allows UEs to access WLAN networks without performing their own time-consuming scans.
3Ease of operation
If the UE accesses 3GPP network first and then scans for WLAN, then the UE can establish initial connection, but the subsequent WLAN access still takes long time
Solution Approach 1:
The access network performs preliminary WLAN information preparation and makes it available to UEs during or immediately after 3GPP network connection establishment. By having WLAN access information ready in advance through the intermediary network, the system eliminates the sequential delay where UEs would otherwise need to complete 3GPP connection first, then perform separate WLAN scanning.
Data Source
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AI summary
The embodiment of the present invention discloses a network access method and apparatus. The method comprises: a UE receiving WLAN access auxiliary information sent by a 3GPP access network; according to the information, the UE measuring WLAN radio signal quality and performing an access judgment to obtain a judgment result; and the UE accessing to the WLAN according to the judgment result; wherein, said UE performing said measurement and access judgment according to said WLAN access auxiliary information comprises: said UE measuring said WLAN's signal quality according to said WLAN access auxiliary information; said UE performing an access judgment according to said WLAN's signal quality and acquired WLAN access condition to obtain said judgment result; said WLAN access auxiliary information comprises at least one of the following: said WLAN's Basic Service Set Identifier, said WLAN's service set identifier, and WLAN's load information.