WLAN Traffic Load Provisioning for Cellular Offloading
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Solution Overview
Problem
The rapid growth of mobile data traffic poses challenges for 3GPP wireless cellular networks, as existing methods for scaling network capacity, such as deploying additional base stations, are limited in effectiveness due to flat mobile data pricing, necessitating an efficient mechanism for offloading data traffic from overloaded eNBs to WLAN APs.
Innovation Solution
A system is implemented to provision WLAN traffic load measurements to 3GPP wireless cellular networks, allowing eNBs to select less loaded WLAN APs for offloading by reporting traffic load data from APs through the network hierarchy, utilizing a network manager, domain managers, and element managers to facilitate efficient data offloading.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If additional base stations are deployed to scale network capacity, then network coverage and capacity are improved, but network complexity and deployment cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a measurement intermediary system consisting of measurement agents deployed in WLAN access points and a measurement function entity in the cellular network. These intermediaries collect, process, and report WLAN traffic load measurements to the cellular network, enabling intelligent offloading decisions without direct integration between WLAN and cellular networks, thus resolving the complexity issue while maintaining productivity benefits
2Productivity
If traffic offloading to WLAN is implemented, then mobile data traffic handling capacity is improved, but measurement and control capability deteriorates due to lack of direct communication link
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where measurement agents in WLAN access points continuously monitor traffic load conditions and report measurements through the network manager to the measurement function entity. The measurement function entity uses this feedback information to make informed offloading decisions, ensuring that traffic is redirected based on real-time WLAN capacity conditions, thus maintaining measurement and control capability while improving traffic handling capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The measurement function entity acts as an intermediary that bridges the cellular network and WLAN infrastructure. It collects measurements from WLAN side through network manager and domain manager, processes this information, and provides offloading decisions to cellular base stations, thereby restoring measurement capability without requiring direct communication links between the two networks
3Productivity
If WLAN offloading mechanism is deployed, then mobile network load is reduced, but system reliability deteriorates due to lack of traffic load visibility
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements continuous feedback loops where WLAN traffic load measurements are collected by measurement agents, reported through network management layers, and used by the measurement function entity to make reliable offloading decisions. This feedback mechanism ensures that offloading only occurs when WLAN capacity is actually available, preventing traffic loss and maintaining system reliability while improving mobile network efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs preliminary measurement and assessment actions where the measurement function entity proactively evaluates WLAN load conditions before making offloading decisions. By performing these preliminary checks and maintaining visibility into WLAN capacity status, the system ensures that offloading decisions are made only when appropriate, thereby maintaining reliability while achieving the efficiency benefits of load reduction
Data Source
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AI summary
A wireless local area network (WLAN) element manager (EM), comprising: a polling module to poll a WLAN access point (AP), said polling to request traffic load data from said WLAN AP; a timer module to trigger said polling module to poll at periodic intervals; a logging module to receive and log said requested traffic load data; and an integration reference point (IRP) agent comprising a reporting module to generate a traffic load report for transmission to a network manager (NM), said traffic load report based on said logged traffic load data.