WLAN Termination Control for LTE Integration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for LTE-WLAN integration and interworking lack standardized procedures for offloading and resource management, particularly in implementing LTE-WLAN aggregation and interworking enhancements.

Innovation Solution

The development of specific methods and procedures by an eNodeB for WLAN termination addition and modification, including the transmission of WT Reconfiguration Complete messages, to facilitate efficient LTE-WLAN integration and interworking, enabling seamless resource allocation and management across networks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If LTE-WLAN aggregation and interworking enhancements are implemented without standardized procedures, then network integration capability is improved, but operational complexity and management difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork integration capabilityVSAvoidoperational complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the LTE-WLAN integration process into distinct standardized procedures: WT addition procedure, WT modification procedure, and WT release procedure. Each procedure handles specific aspects of WLAN termination management, breaking down the complex integration task into manageable, standardized steps that reduce operational complexity while maintaining integration capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces specific parameters and message types (e.g., WT Reconfiguration Complete message, addition modification release indicators) that standardize the control and management of WLAN termination. These parameter changes enable automated, policy-driven resource allocation and simplify the management of aggregated networks by providing structured control mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of manufacture

If manual resource management methods are used in LTE-WLAN integration, then implementation simplicity is maintained, but network efficiency and automation level decrease

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimplementation simplicityVSAvoidnetwork efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables the network to self-manage WLAN termination resources through automated procedures. The eNodeB automatically performs WT addition, modification, and release based on network conditions and policies, without requiring manual intervention. This self-service approach maintains implementation simplicity while significantly improving network efficiency through automated resource allocation and management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the eNodeB receives acknowledgments (e.g., WT Addition Request Acknowledge message) and sends reconfiguration complete messages to confirm resource allocation. This structured feedback loop ensures reliable automated resource management, improving network efficiency while maintaining simplicity through standardized confirmation protocols.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If unified control procedures are implemented for WLAN termination management, then network management efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork management efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates universal procedures for WLAN termination management that can be applied across different scenarios (addition, modification, release). These standardized procedures provide a unified control framework that improves network management efficiency by enabling consistent, policy-driven resource allocation across the entire LTE-WLAN aggregated network, while the modular nature of the procedures keeps system complexity manageable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3275276B1Methods for performing offloading procedures for WLAN-LTE integration and interworking in wireless communication system
Publication Date: 2020.12.09 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3275276B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3275276B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3275276B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A method and apparatus for performing a wireless local area network (WLAN) termination (WT) addition/modification procedure in a wireless communication system is provided. For the WT addition procedure, an eNodeB (eNB) transmits a WT Addition Request message to a WT via a Xw interface, and receives a WT Addition Request Acknowledge message from the WT via the Xw interface. For eNB initiated WT modification procedure, the eNB transmits a WT Modification Request message to a WT via a Xw interface, and receives a WT Modification Request Acknowledge message from the WT via the Xw interface. For the WT initiated WT modification procedure, the eNB receives a WT Modification Required message from a WT via a Xw interface, and transmits a WT Modification Confirm message to the WT via the Xw interface. The WT is a logical node that terminates the Xw interface.