Methods and apparatus for integration of wireless wide area networks with wireless local area networks

• US 10,375,604 B2
• Filed: 11/04/2014
• Issued: 08/06/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Vikberg, Jari, Johansson, Niklas, Lindheimer, Christofer, Stattin, Magnus, Teyeb, Oumer
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Jay P
• Application Number:
  US15/524,292
• Publication Number:
  US 20170318501A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,736 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/10 Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0268 using specific QoS parameters for wireless networks, e.g. QoS class identifier [QCI] or guaranteed bit rate [GBR] negotiating SLA or negotiating QoS H04W28/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/082 among bearers or channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/24 Negotiating SLA [Service Level Agreement]; Negotiating QoS [Quality of Service]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/12 Wireless traffic scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/542 using measured or perceived quality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/15 Setup of multiple wireless link connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/16 Involving different core network technologies, e.g. a packet-switched [PS] bearer in combination with a circuit-switched [CS] bearer
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/10 adapted for operation in multiple networks, e.g. multi-mode access points

Abstract

Embodiments presented in this disclosure relate to methods and apparatuses (such as Access Points (AP'"'"'s), evolved NodeB'"'"'s (eNB'"'"'s), etc.) for use in aggregation, or integration, between a Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN) and a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN). In one embodiment, an eNB decides that an aggregation between the WWAN and the WLAN is to be performed for at least one bearer of one or more bearers associated with a specific UE. Next, the eNB identifies which one(s) of the at least one bearer of the specific UE that is/are to be aggregated between the WWAN and the WLAN. Also, the eNB schedules each one of the at least one bearer identified to be aggregated between the WWAN and the WLAN.

Claims

1. A method for use in aggregation between a Wireless Wide Area Network, WWAN, and a Wireless Local Area Network, WLAN, the method being performed by a network element of the WWAN, the method comprising:

deciding that an aggregation between the WWAN and the WLAN is to be performed for at least one bearer associated with a specific user equipment, UE;

identifying which ones of the at least one bearer associated with the specific UE that are to be aggregated between the WWAN and the WLAN; and

packet-level scheduling of each one of the at least one bearer identified to be aggregated between the WWAN and the WLAN by deciding for each data packet in each one of the at least one bearer identified to be aggregated between the WWAN and the WLAN whether the data packet is to be transmitted over the WWAN or WLAN.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the deciding for each data packet in each one of the at least one bearer identified to be aggregated between the WWAN and the WLAN whether the data packet is to be transmitted over the WWAN or the WLAN is based on information related to load of WWAN radio cells and WLAN radio cells.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the deciding for each data packet in each one of the at least one bearer identified to be aggregated between the WWAN and the WLAN whether the data packet is to be transmitted over the WWAN or the WLAN is based on information related to radio measurements of WWAN radio cells and WLAN radio cells.

4. The method according to claim 1, comprising, prior to deciding that an aggregation between the WWAN and the WLAN is to be performed:

determining a set of WWAN Quality of Service, QoS, attributes for each bearer associated with the specific UE.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising, for each bearer being identified to be aggregated between the WWAN and the WLAN:

mapping the set of WWAN QoS attributes for each bearer in the WWAN with corresponding WLAN QoS attributes in the WLAN.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising:

transmitting, to a network element of the WLAN, information related to the mapping.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the information related to the mapping comprises at least one from the group consisting of:

a Logical Channel Identifier, LCID, for each bearer identified to be aggregated between the WWAN and the WLAN;

an identity, ID, of the specific UE to which each bearer identified to be aggregated between the WWAN and the WLAN belongs; and

the WLAN QoS attributes for each bearer identified to be aggregated between the WWAN and the WLAN.

8. The method according to claim 4, further comprising:

transmitting, to a network element of the WLAN, information related to the set of WWAN QoS attributes for each bearer identified to be aggregated between the WWAN and the WLAN.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the information related to the determined set of WWAN QoS attributes further comprises at least one from the group consisting of:

a Logical Channel Identifier, LCID, for each one of the least one bearer identified to be aggregated between the WWAN and the WLAN; and

an ID of the specific UE to which each bearer identified to be aggregated between the WWAN and the WLAN belongs.

10. The method according to claim 7, further comprising:

transmitting, to the network element of the WLAN, a data packet along with the LCID and the ID of the specific UE.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the network element of the WWAN is an evolved NodeB, eNB, and the network element of the WLAN is an Access Point, AP.

12. A method for use in aggregation between a Wireless Wide Area Network, WWAN, and a Wireless Local Area Network, WLAN, the method being performed by a network element of the WLAN, the method comprising:

receiving, from a network element of the WWAN, information related to a mapping, the mapping being a mapping of a set of WWAN QoS attributes for each bearer in the WWAN with corresponding WLAN QoS attributes in the WLAN, the information related to the mapping comprising an ID of a specific user equipment, UE, to which each bearer identified to be aggregated between the WWAN and the WLAN belongs.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the information related to the mapping comprises:

a Logical Channel Identifier, LCID, for each bearer identified to be aggregated between the WWAN and the WLAN;

and

the WLAN QoS attributes for each bearer identified to be aggregated between the WWAN and the WLAN.

14. The method according to claim 12, comprising:

storing the information related to the mapping in a memory module of the network element of the WLAN;

retrieving the information related to the mapping from the memory module; and

utilizing the retrieved information related to the mapping during communications with the specific UE.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising, prior to retrieving the information related to the mapping from the memory module:

receiving, from the network element of the WWAN, a data packet along with a Logical Channel Identifier, LCID, and the ID of the specific UE.

16. The method according to claim 12, wherein the network element of the WLAN is an Access Point, AP, and wherein the network element of the WWAN is an evolved NodeB, eNB.

17. A method for use in aggregation between a Wireless Wide Area Network, WWAN, and a Wireless Local Area Network, WLAN, the method being performed by a network element of the WLAN, the method comprising:

receiving, from a network element of the WWAN, information related to a determined set of WWAN QoS attributes for each bearer identified to be aggregated between the WWAN and the WLAN, the information comprising an ID of a specific user equipment, UE, to which each bearer identified to be aggregated between the WWAN and the WLAN belongs.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the information related to the determined set of WWAN QoS attributes further comprises:

a Logical Channel Identifier, LCID, for each one of the least one bearer identified to be aggregated between the WWAN and the WLAN.

19. The method according to claim 17, further comprising, for each bearer being identified to be aggregated between the WWAN and the WLAN:

mapping the WWAN QoS attributes for each bearer with corresponding WLAN QoS attributes in the WLAN.

20. The method according to claim 19, further comprising:

storing the information related to the mapping in a memory module of the network element of the WLAN;

retrieving the information related to the mapping from the memory module; and

utilizing the retrieved information related to the mapping during communications with a specific user equipment, UE.

21. The method according to claim 20, further comprising, prior to retrieving the information related to the mapping from the memory module:

receiving, from the network element of the WWAN, a data packet along with the LCID and the ID of the specific UE.

22. The method according to claim 17, wherein the network element of the WLAN is an access point, AP, and wherein the network element of the WWAN is an evolved NodeB, eNB.

23. A network element of a Wireless Wide Area Network, WWAN, for use in aggregation between the WWAN and a Wireless Local Area Network, WLAN, the network element of the WWAN comprising:

means configured to decide that an aggregation between the WWAN and the WLAN is to be performed for at least one bearer associated with a specific user equipment, UE;

means configured to identify which of the at least one bearer associated with the specific UE are to be aggregated between the WWAN and the WLAN; and

means configured to packet-level schedule each bearer identified to be aggregated between the WWAN and the WLAN by deciding for each data packet in each one of the at least one bearer identified to be aggregated between the WWAN and the WLAN whether the data packet is to be transmitted over the WWAN or WLAN.

25. The network element of the WWAN according to claim 23, wherein the network element of the WWAN is an evolved NodeB, eNB.

24. A network element of a Wireless Wide Area Network, WWAN, for use in aggregation between the WWAN and a Wireless Local Area Network, WLAN, the network element of the WWAN comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing computer program code, which, when run in the processor causes the network element of the WWAN to;

decide that an aggregation between the WWAN and the WLAN is to be performed for at least one bearer associated with a specific user equipment, UE;

identify which ones of the at least one bearer associated with the specific UE that are to be aggregated between the WWAN and the WLAN; and

packet-level schedule of each bearer identified to be aggregated between the WWAN and the WLAN by deciding for each data packet in each one of the at least one bearer identified to be aggregated between the WWAN and the WLAN whether the data packet is to be transmitted over the WWAN or WLAN.

26. A network element of a Wireless Local Area Network, WLAN, for use in aggregation between a Wireless Wide Area Network, WWAN, and the WLAN, the network element of the WLAN comprising:

means configured to receive, from a network element of the WWAN, information related to a mapping, wherein the mapping is a mapping of a set of WWAN QoS attributes for each bearer in the WWAN with corresponding WLAN QoS attributes in the WLAN, the information related to the mapping comprising an ID of a specific UE to which each bearer identified to be aggregated between the WWAN and the WLAN belongs.

30. The network element of the WLAN according to claim 26, wherein the network element of the WLAN is an AP.

27. A network element of a Wireless Local Area Network, WLAN, for use in aggregation between a Wireless Wide Area Network, WWAN, and the WLAN, the network element of the WLAN comprising:

a receiver;

a processor; and

a memory storing computer program code, which, when run in the processor causes the network element of the WLAN to;

receive, from a network element of the WWAN via the receiver, information related to a mapping, the mapping being a mapping of a set of WWAN QoS attributes for each bearer in the WWAN with corresponding WLAN QoS attributes in the WLAN, the information related to the mapping comprising an ID of a specific UE to which each bearer identified to be aggregated between the WWAN and the WLAN belongs.

28. A network element of a Wireless Local Area Network, WLAN, for use in aggregation between a Wireless Wide Area Network, WWAN, and the WLAN, the network element of the WLAN comprising:

means configured to receive, from a network element of the WWAN, information related to a determined set of WWAN QoS attributes for each bearer of at least one bearer identified to be aggregated between the WWAN and the WLAN, the information comprising an ID of a specific UE to which each bearer identified to be aggregated between the WWAN and the WLAN belongs.

29. A network element of a Wireless Local Area Network, WLAN, for use in aggregation between a Wireless Wide Area Network, WWAN, and the WLAN, the network element of the WLAN comprising:

a receiver;

a processor; and

a memory storing computer program code, which, when run in the processor causes the network element of the WLAN to;

receive, from a network element of the WWAN via the receiver, information related to a determined set of WWAN QoS attributes for each bearer of at least one bearer identified to be aggregated between the WWAN and the WLAN, the information comprising an ID of a specific UE to which each bearer identified to be aggregated between the WWAN and the WLAN belongs.