Network-Instructed WLAN to Cellular Handover
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Solution Overview
Problem
The integration of Wi-Fi networks with cellular networks poses challenges due to their standardized isolation, leading to difficulties in intelligent connection management and handover mechanisms between Wi-Fi and cellular Radio Access Technologies (RATs) like 3GPP, which affects bandwidth management and quality of service.
Innovation Solution
A network-instructed handover method where a WLAN access node determines the need for a wireless device to switch from a Wi-Fi network to a 3GPP or 3GPP2 cellular network, transmitting a handover instruction that includes specific details such as the target RAT, cell, and assistance information to facilitate a seamless transition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If Wi-Fi networks are integrated with cellular networks to handle increasing wireless bandwidth demands, then network capacity and bandwidth are improved, but connection management complexity and handover difficulty increase due to standardized isolation between different RATs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a network controller as an intermediary entity that manages handovers between Wi-Fi and cellular networks. The controller receives handover requests, determines the target network, and instructs the access node to send handover commands to the wireless device. This intermediary architecture resolves the standardized isolation between different RATs by providing a unified management layer that can make intelligent decisions about network selection and handover timing.
Solution Approach 2:
The handover process is segmented into distinct phases: handover request reception, network determination, handover command generation, and execution. By dividing the complex handover process into manageable segments handled by different network entities (wireless device, access node, network controller), the system reduces connection management complexity while maintaining high bandwidth capacity across multiple RATs.
2Reliability
If intelligent handover mechanisms are implemented between Wi-Fi and cellular networks, then quality of service and network performance are improved, but system complexity and implementation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the network controller continuously monitors network conditions, device status, and handover performance. Based on this feedback, the controller dynamically adjusts handover parameters and makes real-time decisions about network selection. This feedback loop ensures high quality of service while the automated nature of the feedback-driven decisions reduces implementation complexity compared to static, pre-configured handover schemes.
Solution Approach 2:
The wireless device is empowered with self-service capabilities to execute handovers based on instructions from the network controller. The device autonomously monitors its own connection status, processes handover commands, and performs the actual network switching without requiring complex centralized control for every individual action. This distribution of intelligence reduces overall system implementation complexity while maintaining high reliability through coordinated self-service operations.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are disclosed for providing a network-instructed handover of a wireless device from a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) to a Radio Access Network (RAN) of another Radio Access Technology (RAT), e.g., a 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) or 3rd Generation Partnership Project 2 (3GPP2) RAT. In one embodiment, a WLAN access node determines that a handover of a wireless device from the WLAN to another RAN of a different RAT is to be performed and transmits a handover instruction to the wireless device that instructs the wireless device to perform a handover from the WLAN to a RAN of a different RAT. In this manner, the WLAN access node is able to steer the wireless device from the WLAN to a RAN of a different RAT.