WLAN Carrier Tunnel for E-UTRAN Data Offloading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mobile communication systems, such as LTE, face limitations in providing high-speed and high-capacity data services due to limited frequency resources, and existing technologies struggle to efficiently transmit user plane data using non-licensed frequency bands, particularly in scenarios where user equipment (UE) mobility is involved.
Innovation Solution
The method involves configuring a tunnel structure using a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) carrier within the Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN) to transmit and receive user plane data, allowing for separate or linked transmission of data units through E-UTRAN and WLAN carriers, and includes procedures for controlling mobility and handovers to ensure seamless data transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If E-UTRAN uses licensed frequency resources for data transmission, then transmission reliability is improved, but frequency resource availability and data capacity are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines E-UTRAN and WLAN systems into a unified dual-carrier architecture where licensed E-UTRAN resources provide reliable control plane communication and unlicensed WLAN resources provide high-capacity user plane data transmission. The eNB integrates both carrier types and coordinates their usage to achieve both reliability and high data capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The eNB is designed to perform multiple functions by supporting both E-UTRAN and WLAN carriers simultaneously. It can handle control plane signaling through E-UTRAN while managing user plane data through both E-UTRAN and WLAN carriers, making the system versatile in handling different types of traffic with different requirements.
2Quantity of substance
If E-UTRAN increases frequency resources for high-speed data service, then data capacity is improved, but service cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The WLAN carrier acts as an intermediary for user plane data transmission between the eNB and UE. Instead of directly allocating expensive licensed E-UTRAN resources for all data traffic, the system uses WLAN as an intermediate pathway that provides high-capacity, low-cost transmission for bulk data while E-UTRAN handles only essential control signaling.
3Productivity
If the system uses WLAN carrier for user plane data transmission, then data capacity and speed are improved, but mobility control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication functions by separating control plane (handled exclusively by E-UTRAN) from user plane (handled by both E-UTRAN and WLAN). This segmentation allows mobility management to be simplified and centralized in the E-UTRAN control plane, while the WLAN user plane can operate independently without adding significant complexity to mobility control.
Solution Approach 2:
The E-UTRAN control plane serves as an intermediary that manages WLAN carrier operations. The eNB uses E-UTRAN signaling to control WLAN carrier activation, deactivation, and handover, thereby managing WLAN's mobility aspects without requiring WLAN itself to handle complex mobility protocols.
4Quantity of substance
If the system transmits user plane data through both E-UTRAN and WLAN carriers, then data capacity is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing data transmission into control plane (E-UTRAN only) and user plane (E-UTRAN and WLAN). This clear functional segmentation simplifies the overall system architecture despite using dual carriers, as each plane has well-defined responsibilities and protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The eNB is designed with multi-functionality to simultaneously manage E-UTRAN and WLAN carriers. It can dynamically allocate user plane data across both carriers based on traffic requirements, network conditions, and UE capabilities, thereby achieving high data capacity while managing system complexity through unified resource management.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a method and apparatus for processing data by a terminal. The method ma include: receiving higher layer signaling including indication information requesting for configuring a terminal tunnel protocol entity for processing data transmitted/received through a WLAN carrier, configuring the terminal tunnel protocol entity on the basis of the indication information; and receiving bearer-specific user data and transmitting the bear-specific user data to a terminal user plane entity corresponding thereto.