WLAN to Cellular Handover for Voice Calls
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems face delays and inefficiencies during handover of voice calls from WiFi to cellular networks, particularly when 5G standalone networks do not support Voice over New Radio (VoNR), leading to unclear support indications and increased handover delays.
Innovation Solution
Implementing techniques in user equipment (UE) to disable 5G capability when VoNR is not supported, allowing for direct handover to LTE networks, and using explicit indications from 5G networks to manage radio access technology (RAT) selection based on stored performance metrics and network capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the UE attempts to handover to 5G standalone network without clear VoNR support indication, then the handover process becomes uncertain and may fail, but disabling 5G capability entirely reduces network adaptability and available options
Solution Approach 1:
The UE performs preliminary actions by storing performance metrics and network capability information before handover is needed. The network provides explicit VoNR support indications in advance, allowing the UE to prepare appropriate handover strategies without uncertainty when voice calls need to be handed over from WiFi
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the network explicitly indicates VoNR support status to the UE. The UE uses this feedback information to make informed decisions about handover target selection, ensuring reliable handover while adapting to actual network capabilities
2Loss of time
If the UE follows traditional handover procedures without explicit VoNR support indication, then the handover delay increases due to uncertainty and potential fallback procedures, but implementing direct handover to LTE bypasses 5G network capabilities and may optimize prematurely
Solution Approach 1:
The network performs preliminary actions by providing explicit VoNR support indications before handover is initiated. This allows the UE to determine the optimal handover target (5G or LTE) in advance, avoiding delays caused by uncertain handover procedures or post-handover fallback operations
Solution Approach 2:
The handover procedure becomes dynamic and adaptive based on received network indications. The UE can adjust its handover strategy in real-time based on explicit VoNR support status, selecting the most appropriate target network without following rigid traditional procedures
3Productivity
If the UE maintains 5G capability enabled during WiFi voice calls, then network options remain available, but unnecessary 5G network interactions increase signaling overhead and may cause additional handover delays
Solution Approach 1:
The UE performs preliminary assessment of 5G VoNR support status before initiating handover procedures. By checking network indications in advance, the UE avoids unnecessary 5G network interactions and signaling overhead, directly selecting LTE as handover target when VoNR is not supported
Solution Approach 2:
The UE extracts and uses only the necessary information (VoNR support indication) from 5G network signaling. When VoNR is not supported, the UE effectively excludes 5G from handover considerations, removing unnecessary complexity and reducing handover delay without permanently disabling 5G capability
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are disclosed relating to handover of WLAN voice calls to one or more cellular networks. In some embodiments, a device is configured to perform voice communications over one or more wireless local area networks, communicate with a first network using a first cellular radio access technology (RAT), and communicate with a second network using a second cellular RAT. The device may store, based on communications via the first network, information indicating that the first network does not support voice communications for the apparatus. The device may handover a voice call from a wireless local network directly to the second cellular RAT, based on the stored information and without handover of the voice call to the first cellular RAT, based on call conditions on the wireless local area network.