QoS provisioning for LTE-WLAN aggregation
First Claim
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1. A method comprising:
- configuring LTE-WLAN aggregation (LWA) by a base station for a user equipment (UE) in a wireless network, wherein the UE is connected with both the base station and an LWA-enabled access point (AP);
establishing a data radio bearer (DRB) with the UE, wherein the DRB corresponds to an evolved packet system (EPS) bearer associated with a QoS Class Identifier (QCI);
determining access category (AC) information based on the QCI; and
forwarding a data packet carrying the AC information and a protocol data unit (PDU) from the base station to the UE via the LWA-enabled AP over an LWA Wi-Fi link, wherein the PDU is to be transmitted to the UE using an AC value determined based on the AC information, and wherein the base station appends a special LWA header comprising the AC information to the data packet.
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Abstract
LTE-WLAN aggregation (LWA) at the radio access network level promises significant gain in system capacity and user quality of experience (QoE). In order to support QoS over LWA, there is a need to develop mechanisms to ensure that the access category (AC) classification chosen by a wireless device (AP in the case of downlink, and UE in case of uplink) is consistent with the QoS requirements of the EPS bearer/DRB and/or subscriber profile to which the traffic belongs. The cellular LTE network can provision QoS for both downlink and uplink data flows that are transferred using LWA access.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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configuring LTE-WLAN aggregation (LWA) by a base station for a user equipment (UE) in a wireless network, wherein the UE is connected with both the base station and an LWA-enabled access point (AP); establishing a data radio bearer (DRB) with the UE, wherein the DRB corresponds to an evolved packet system (EPS) bearer associated with a QoS Class Identifier (QCI); determining access category (AC) information based on the QCI; and forwarding a data packet carrying the AC information and a protocol data unit (PDU) from the base station to the UE via the LWA-enabled AP over an LWA Wi-Fi link, wherein the PDU is to be transmitted to the UE using an AC value determined based on the AC information, and wherein the base station appends a special LWA header comprising the AC information to the data packet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A base station, comprising:
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an LTE-WLAN aggregation (LWA) configurator that provides LWA configuration for a user equipment (UE) in a wireless network, wherein the UE is connected with both the base station and an LWA-enabled access point (AP); a radio bearer handler that establishes a data radio bearer (DRB) with the UE, wherein the DRB corresponds to an evolved packet system (EPS) bearer associated with a QoS Class Identifier (QCI); an access category (AC) configurator that determines AC information based on the QCI; and a transmitter that transmits a data packet carrying the AC information and a protocol data unit (PDU) to the to the UE via the LWA-enabled AP over an LWA Wi-Fi link, wherein the PDU is to be transmitted to the UE using an AC value determined based on the AC information, and wherein the base station appends a special LWA header comprising the AC information to the data packet. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method comprising:
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establishing a connection by an access point (AP) with a user equipment (UE) in a wireless network, wherein the UE is connected with both a base station and the AP for LTE-WLAN aggregation (LWA); receiving a data packet from the base station over an LWA Wi-Fi link, wherein the data packet comprises a protocol data unit (PDU) and access category (AC) information, and wherein the data packet has a special LWA header comprising the AC information; mapping the AC information to an AC value based on AC mapping information; and performing a channel contention procedure using the AC value and transmitting the PDU to the UE upon winning the channel contention. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification