WLAN Termination UE Identification in Cellular-WLAN Interworking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication networks lack a mechanism for the eNodeB to find a UE connected to a WLAN and for the WLAN AP to determine which WLAN Termination is connected to the eNodeB serving the UE, hindering efficient data transmission between the 3GPP network and the UE via WLAN.
Innovation Solution
The UE is provided with information to find the WLAN Termination's transport network layer address and identifier, enabling it to establish a connection, and the WLAN Termination and eNodeB exchange UE identity information, allowing the UE to be identified in both the 3GPP network and WLAN, with the WLAN Termination potentially integrated into the eNodeB or other WLAN nodes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the UE connects to WLAN using standard Wi-Fi protocols, then the UE can access the Internet and offload traffic from cellular networks, but there is no mechanism for the eNodeB to find the UE on the WLAN side or for the AP to identify which WLAN Termination is connected to the serving eNodeB
Solution Approach 1:
The eNodeB performs preliminary actions by providing the UE with WLAN configuration information including the TNL address of the WLAN Termination and the UE's WLAN identifier before the UE connects to WLAN. This allows the UE to be pre-configured with the necessary information to establish identification links with the WLAN Termination, enabling subsequent identification without disrupting the traffic offloading functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The WLAN Termination acts as an intermediary between the eNodeB and the UE on the WLAN side. It receives the UE's WLAN identifier from the UE, stores it, and enables the eNodeB to retrieve this identifier through the TNL address, thus mediating the identification process across the cellular-WLAN interface without requiring direct eNodeB-WLAN connectivity.
2Ease of operation
If the UE uses its own IP address on WLAN, then the UE can communicate directly on the WLAN network, but Network Address Translation (NAT) may be in place which complicates the identification and routing of data packets
Solution Approach 1:
The WLAN Termination serves as an intermediary that handles the NAT complexity. It maintains the mapping between the UE's WLAN identifier and the TNL address, and manages the address translation processes, thereby allowing the UE to communicate directly on WLAN while the translation complexity is isolated to the WLAN Termination rather than affecting the entire system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the UE's identifier (such as MAC address or other unique identifier) as a copy or representation of the UE's network presence on WLAN. This identifier is transmitted to and stored by the WLAN Termination, allowing the eNodeB to identify and route data to the UE without needing to understand or process the actual IP address translations performed by NAT.
3Adaptability or versatility
If minimal changes to existing IEEE specifications are made, then the solution maintains compatibility with current WLAN standards, but the identification mechanism must be implemented without disrupting existing Wi-Fi operations
Solution Approach 1:
The identification mechanism is segmented into distinct functional components: the eNodeB provides configuration information, the UE processes and transmits its identifier, and the WLAN Termination stores and manages the identifier mapping. This segmentation allows each component to be implemented independently with minimal changes to existing standards, while collectively providing the full identification functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The WLAN Termination is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as the standard Wi-Fi access point for general WLAN operations and as the identification management node for cellular-WLAN interworking. It handles both regular data traffic and the specialized task of storing and managing UE identifiers, thereby providing universal functionality without requiring separate dedicated hardware or significant standard changes.
Data Source
AI summary
Mechanisms are provided to enable the identification of a UE in both the cellular network (e.g., a 3GPP network) and the WLAN. In some aspects, the UE is provided with information enabling it to find the transport network layer, TNL, address (e.g., an IP address) of the WT and an identifier of the UE. Using the TNL of the WT, the UE can establish a connection towards the WT (either connectionless or connection oriented) and provide the UE identity. The WT and eNodeB exchange information about the UE ID, and the UE is identified in both the 3GPP network and the WLAN. The WT is a logical node and may be integrated in the eNodeB, in a WLAN node (e.g. access controller, access point), standalone or somewhere else. Once identified, user data can be sent to the UE via the WT.