WLAN Network Slicing via AMF Proxy for Cellular Handover

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional techniques for interoperability between cellular and WLAN networks face challenges with handover timing, dropped data traffic, unreliable access points, and varying service quality, which hinder seamless mobility and service continuity.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of network slicing, managed by an Access and Mobility Function (AMF) server, enables handoffs between cellular and WLAN networks by treating WLAN connections as network slices, allowing for reliable TCP/IP context information exchange and coordinated control plane data management, thereby ensuring consistent quality of service and reducing data loss.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional handover techniques are used between cellular and WLAN networks, then device mobility is supported, but handover timing is imprecise and data traffic is dropped

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehandover reliabilityVSAvoidhandover timing precision

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the handover process into distinct phases: measurement reporting phase, decision-making phase, and execution phase. The AMF server separates control plane management from user plane data transfer, allowing independent optimization of each function. This segmentation enables precise timing control without compromising overall handover reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements preliminary actions by having the AMF server request measurement reports from the UE before the actual handover decision is made. The server prepares handover commands in advance and pre-establishes the target WLAN connection parameters. This preliminary preparation eliminates timing uncertainties during the critical handover execution moment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If conventional WLAN access is used, then network coverage is extended, but service quality varies and access points are unreliable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork coverageVSAvoidservice quality consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the AMF server universal by giving it authority over both cellular and WLAN network slices. The same AMF server that manages cellular connections also manages WLAN connections, ensuring consistent service quality policies, authentication mechanisms, and resource allocation across both network types. This multi-functionality eliminates the reliability variations caused by separate WLAN access point management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The AMF server acts as an intermediary between the UE and WLAN access points. Instead of the UE directly interacting with potentially unreliable WLAN access points, all control plane communications go through the AMF server, which validates and manages the connections. This intermediary layer filters out unreliable access points and ensures consistent service quality regardless of the underlying WLAN infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If TCP/IP context information is not exchanged during handover, then handover speed is faster, but data traffic is lost and retransmissions occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehandover speedVSAvoiddata traffic loss

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts TCP/IP context information exchange from the main handover execution path. The AMF server handles context information transfer in a separate control plane procedure, allowing the user plane data transfer to proceed independently and rapidly. This extraction enables fast handover execution without waiting for complete context synchronization, eliminating data loss while maintaining high speed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Adaptability or versatility

If WLAN connections are not managed as network slices, then network simplicity is maintained, but integration between cellular and WLAN networks is poor

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork integrationVSAvoidnetwork management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by using the existing AMF server architecture for both cellular and WLAN network slice management. The same data structures, signaling procedures, and control mechanisms used for cellular slices are reused for WLAN slices. This approach achieves deep network integration without adding separate management systems, maintaining relative simplicity while enabling sophisticated cross-network functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS11737003B2Network slicing for WLAN

Publication Date: 2023.08.22 GOOGLE LLC

AI summary

This document describes network slicing for WLAN in cellular networks. The techniques described enable the use of WLAN network slices (216c) with cellular networks (202) and mobility management of user equipment (102) between cellular networks (202) and WLAN networks (206). An Access and Mobility Function-Aggregation Proxy (AMF-AP) (218) connects one or more WLAN networks (206) to the cellular core network (110) of a network operator via the Access and Mobility Function (AMF) (212) in the core network (110). The AMF-AP (218) acts as a proxy and a firewall to protect the AMF (212) and other entities in the cellular core network (110) from malicious actors.