WLAN Access Point SSID Suppression for UE Steering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Dual mode User Equipments (UEs) tend to 'blacklist' Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs) when de-authenticated, leading to sub-optimal network resource utilization and revenue loss, as they exclude blacklisted networks even if available, without operator control over access selection.
Innovation Solution
The access point in the WLAN suppresses the transmission of the Service Set Identifier (SSID) and de-authenticates UEs, making it appear as though they have moved out of range, thus preventing blacklisting, and allowing seamless steering to cellular networks without user intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional de-authentication techniques are used to steer UEs from WLAN to cellular network, then UEs can be moved away from WLAN, but the UEs will 'blacklist' the WLAN and exclude it from future connections
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by suppressing SSID transmission before de-authentication occurs. This prevents the UE from detecting the WLAN's presence and subsequently blacklisting it, while still allowing the de-authentication to steer the UE to cellular network
Solution Approach 2:
The SSID transmission is extracted and suppressed separately from the de-authentication process. By removing the SSID visibility while maintaining de-authentication functionality, the system achieves steering without blacklisting
2Adaptability or versatility
If UEs are allowed to freely select WLAN for data services, then user preference for WLAN is satisfied, but network operators lose control over resource utilization and revenue
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback control by monitoring UE connection status and dynamically adjusting SSID suppression. When WLAN offloading is desired, SSID is suppressed to steer UEs to cellular; when WLAN should be used, SSID is restored, creating a closed-loop control system
Solution Approach 2:
The SSID suppression is made dynamic rather than static. The access point can switch between suppressing and transmitting SSID based on network conditions, allowing flexible control over UE selection behavior to optimize resource utilization
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus are disclosed for steering a UE (103) from a WLAN (105) to a cellular network (106) with an overlapping coverage area. The UE (103) is connected to the WLAN (105) through an access point (AP) (102). The AP (102) suppresses the broadcast of a network identifier of the WLAN (105) and de-authenticates the UE (103) from the WLAN (105). After de-authenticating the UE (103), the AP (102) ignores probe requests from the UE (103). The UE (103) will conclude that the WLAN (105) is no longer available and will connect to the cellular network. From the perspective of the UE (103), the suppression of the network makes it appear to the UE (103) that it has moved out of range of the AP (102) so the UE (103) will not “blacklist” the WLAN (105). The suppression of the network ID will not impact UEs not targeted, which will continue to communicate via WLAN (105) even when the network ID is suppressed.