WLAN-to-WWAN Handover via Local Cellular Anchor Node
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current handover methods between WLAN and WWAN for mobile communication devices suffer from significant latency and packet loss, particularly during abrupt WLAN-to-cellular transitions, disrupting real-time communications like voice calls.
Innovation Solution
A network support node with both Ethernet and cellular air interfaces is used to quickly redirect communication operations from WLAN to WWAN, utilizing the local cellular base station to maintain connection reliability and minimize handover delays.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If enterprise anchoring is used for VHO, then the handover can be managed within the enterprise network, but the VHO execution delay increases due to propagation through multiple networks
Solution Approach 1:
A local cellular base station acts as an intermediary anchor point for VHO operations. The base station establishes a direct local connection with the mobile device, serving as a mediator that eliminates the need for call leg propagation through the cellular core network and PSTN. This local anchoring reduces VHO execution delay while maintaining enterprise network management control.
2Speed
If CNA is used for VHO, then handover speed is improved, but the complexity is pushed into the cellular network
Solution Approach 1:
The local cellular base station serves as an intermediary that implements VHO anchoring locally rather than requiring complex cellular core network involvement. This approach maintains fast handover speed by keeping the anchor point local, while reducing cellular network complexity by eliminating the need for complex call leg management in the core network.
3Loss of time
If a network support node with cellular interface is deployed, then VHO latency is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The network support node with cellular interface serves itself by automatically establishing local cellular connections and anchoring VHO operations without requiring complex external network infrastructure. This self-service capability reduces VHO latency while minimizing the need for additional complex network equipment, as the base station utilizes its existing cellular radio interface for VHO anchoring.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus for use in switching communication operations between a wireless local area network (WLAN) (e.g. an IEEE 802.11-based network) and a wireless wide area network (WWAN) (e.g. a cellular telecommunications network) for a mobile communication device are disclosed. A network support node which is utilized to facilitate such transitioning has a first communication interface (e.g. an Ethernet interface) for connection with a communication network which includes the WLAN and a second communication interface (e.g. a cellular radio air interface) for communicating with a base station of the WWAN over a wireless communication link. The mobile device initially operates in the WLAN in a communication session with another communication device. During the session, the network support node receives an indication that the mobile device is transitioning from the WLAN to the WWAN. In response to receiving the indication, the network support node causes a message to be sent which instructs a router of the communication network to communicate voice data of the session to it. In response to the message, the network support node receives voice data of the session from the router through its first communication interface. The network support node communicates the voice data with the mobile device via the WWAN through its second communication interface over the wireless communication link with the base station. These communications are performed at least while communication operations for the mobile device are being switched from the WLAN to the WWAN. Advantageously, disruption of communications during the WLAN-to-WWAN transition is reduced or eliminated.