WLAN Termination Node BSSID Filtering for eNB Signaling
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Solution Overview
Problem
In LTE-WLAN aggregation scenarios, base stations (eNBs) face inefficiencies in processing and storing large lists of BSSIDs from WLAN termination nodes, leading to unnecessary signaling and resource burdens, especially when only a subset of APs overlap with their coverage areas.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a BSSID filtering mechanism within the WLAN termination nodes to only transmit relevant BSSIDs associated with the eNB's coverage area, using eNB-BSSID association tables, geographical positioning, or Tracking Area Codes to filter and reduce the number of BSSIDs exchanged during interface setup and configuration updates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If the WLAN termination node transmits the complete list of all connected APs to the eNB, then the eNB can have full information about available WLAN resources, but the signaling overhead and processing burden on the eNB increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the relevant subset of BSSIDs from the complete WLAN AP list that are actually needed by the eNB for LTE-WLAN aggregation. The WLAN termination node filters the full list and transmits only those BSSIDs corresponding to APs within the eNB's coverage area or associated with the eNB's tracking area, thereby reducing signaling overhead while preserving the essential information needed for operation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the eNB stores and processes large lists of BSSIDs from multiple WLAN termination nodes, then comprehensive WLAN aggregation capability is achieved, but memory and computational resources are consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies extraction by having each WLAN termination node transmit only the specific BSSIDs relevant to its associated eNB, rather than transmitting complete lists of all connected APs. This reduces the quantity of data that the eNB must store and process, directly addressing the memory resource consumption issue while maintaining the ability to perform WLAN aggregation with the necessary APs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by making the BSSID list transmission adaptive to each specific eNB-WLAN termination node relationship. Each WLAN termination node transmits a customized subset of BSSIDs tailored to the specific eNB's coverage area and associated tracking areas, rather than using a uniform approach for all eNBs. This optimizes resource usage by ensuring each eNB receives only the locally relevant information.
3Reliability
If configuration updates are sent for all APs when the WLAN termination node list changes, then the eNB is always synchronized with current WLAN topology, but unnecessary signaling occurs for APs outside coverage areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies extraction in the context of configuration updates by having the WLAN termination node identify and transmit only those BSSID changes that are relevant to the eNB's coverage area. When the WLAN topology changes, instead of notifying the eNB about all AP changes, the system extracts and communicates only the changes affecting APs within the eNB's service area, thereby maintaining synchronization accuracy while reducing signaling overhead and energy consumption.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method is provided to operate a termination node connected to a plurality of wireless access points. Said method includes providing (1501) a list of wireless access point identifications, and each of the wireless access point identifications corresponds to a respective one of the plurality of wireless access points connected to the termination node. An interface setup request is received (1505) at the termination node from a communication node of a wireless communication network, and responsive to receiving the interface setup request from the communication node of the wireless communication network, a subset of the wireless access point identifications from the list is transmitted (1511) to the communication node. A related method of operating a communication node is also discussed, as are a related termination node and a communication node.