WLAN-LTE Interface Selection for Mobile Devices
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile devices typically prefer Wi-Fi over cellular connections for data communication, ignoring the quality of available connections and network loading, leading to inefficient data routing.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that determine the identifiers of mobile devices connected to both wireless and cellular networks, assessing the quality of both Wi-Fi and LTE connections, and redirecting data sessions based on network utilization and link quality to optimize data routing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If mobile devices always prefer Wi-Fi over cellular connections, then power consumption is reduced and device simplicity is maintained, but data routing efficiency and network resource utilization deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic network interface selection where the mobile device continuously monitors network conditions (signal strength, network load, data throughput) and switches between Wi-Fi and cellular connections based on real-time assessments. This dynamic approach allows the system to adapt to changing conditions rather than statically preferring Wi-Fi, thereby maintaining energy efficiency while improving data routing efficiency when cellular networks provide superior performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring network performance metrics including signal strength, network load, and data throughput on both Wi-Fi and cellular interfaces. Based on this feedback, the device intelligently selects the optimal network interface, ensuring that power consumption is managed efficiently while data routing efficiency is maximized through informed decision-making.
2Ease of operation
If mobile devices use simple Wi-Fi preference logic, then device complexity and operational simplicity are maintained, but adaptability to different network conditions and overall system performance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile device autonomously performs network condition assessment and interface selection without requiring user intervention. The system automatically monitors signal strength, network load, and data throughput, then independently decides which network interface to use. This self-service capability maintains ease of operation while significantly improving adaptability to varying network conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the static Wi-Fi preference logic into a dynamic decision-making system that adapts to real-time network conditions. The device continuously evaluates multiple parameters (signal strength, network load, throughput) and adjusts its network interface selection accordingly, thereby maintaining operational simplicity through automated processes while achieving high adaptability to different network environments.
3Productivity
If mobile devices monitor and dynamically select between Wi-Fi and cellular networks, then data routing efficiency and network resource utilization are improved, but device complexity and computational requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent leverages existing multi-functional capabilities of modern mobile devices, which already possess both Wi-Fi and cellular radios along with integrated processors and memory. The network interface selection system utilizes these existing components to perform monitoring and decision-making functions, thereby improving data routing efficiency without proportionally increasing device complexity. The system repurposes existing hardware and software resources for the additional function of intelligent network selection.
Data Source
AI summary
A wireless router having a WiFi wireless network and including a small cell for routing LTE cellular data to a mobile network core is configured to monitor connected mobile devices and determine whether each mobile device should be connect to the hub using WiFi or LTE in accordance with the current utilization of the WiFi network and the current utilization of the LTE small cell. Since the small cell data traffic is encrypted in a data tunnel to the mobile network core, the network identity information of the device's WiFi interface and the device's LTE interface is determined by consulting an address mapping store in the cellular mobile network core.