Aggregated handover in integrated small cell and WiFi networks
Mechanisms for efficient inter-system or inter-RAT handover for the case when large numbers of devices need to perform a handover within a short time interval or even simultaneously are described. These mechanisms can include an aggregated Handover Procedure. An Aggregated Handover procedure can be enabled by a UE and can be indicated to the network entities by “Aggregated Handover Indication”. The detection of target (H)eNB or WLAN can be triggered by user, GPS location, boarding time, or a travel or eTicket application etc. The UEs requesting Aggregated Handover within a time interval, i.e. Handover Window, can be processed with aggregated messages by the core network entities.
1. An apparatus comprising a processor and a memory, the apparatus further including computer-executable instructions stored in the memory of the apparatus which, when executed by the processor of the apparatus, cause the apparatus to:
receive a plurality of indications from a plurality of User Equipments (UEs) associated with a desired handover for the plurality of UEs between a WiFi connection and a cellular connection, wherein the indications include handover window period values for the UEs; and
initiate an aggregated handover for more than one of the plurality of UEs within one or more handover window periods of the more than one of the plurality of UEs.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus uses the handover window specified by each UE to decide a priority of grouping the UEs for aggregated handover.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus is a Mobility Management Entity (MME) or a Network Function and the aggregate handover is a WiFi connection to cellular connection handover.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the aggregate handover is a cellular connection to WiFi connection handover.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the aggregate handover is a seamless handover that uses an interface between a WiFi Access Network and a cellular base station for the aggregate handover.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the aggregated handover includes a plurality of messages that combine information for the more than one of the plurality of UEs.
7. A user equipment (UE) comprising a processor and a memory, the UE further including computer-executable instructions stored in the memory of the UE which, when executed by the processor of the UE, cause the UE to:
send an indication of a desired handover between a WiFi connection and a cellular connection for the UE, wherein the indication includes a handover window period value for the UE; and
undergo an aggregated handover along with another UE within a handover window period.
8. The UE of claim 7 wherein the indication is sent to a Mobility Management Entity (MME) or a Network Function and the aggregated handover is a WiFi connection to cellular connection handover.
9. The UE of claim 7 , wherein the aggregate handover is a seamless handover that uses an interface between a WiFi Access Network and a cellular base station for the aggregate handover.
10. The UE of claim 7 , wherein the aggregated handover includes a plurality of messages that combine information for the UE and the another UE.
11. A method for use by a apparatus, wherein the apparatus comprises a processor and memory, and wherein the apparatus further includes computer-executable instructions stored in the memory which, when executed by the processor, perform functions of a method comprising:
receiving a plurality of indications from a plurality of User Equipments (UEs) associated with a desired handover for the plurality of UEs between a WiFi connection and a cellular connection, wherein the indications include handover window period values for the UEs; and
initiating an aggregated handover for more than one of the plurality of UEs within one or more handover window periods of the more than one of the plurality of UEs.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein the apparatus is a Mobility Management Entity (MME) or a Network Function and the aggregate handover is a WiFi connection to cellular connection handover.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the aggregate handover is a cellular connection to WiFi connection handover.
14. The method of claim 11 wherein the aggregate handover is a seamless handover that uses an interface between a WiFi Access Network and a cellular base station for the aggregate handover.
15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the aggregated handover includes a plurality of messages that combine information for the more than one of the plurality of UEs.
16. A method for use by User Equipment (UE), wherein the UE comprises a processor and memory, and wherein the UE further includes computer-executable instructions stored in the memory which, when executed by the processor, perform functions of a method comprising:
sending an indication of a desired handover between a WiFi connection and a cellular connection for the UE, wherein the indication includes a handover window period value for the UE; and
undergoing an aggregated handover along with another UE within a handover window period.
17. The method of claim 16 wherein the indication is sent to a Mobility Management Entity (MME) or a Network Function and the aggregated handover is a WiFi connection to cellular connection handover.
18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the aggregate handover is a seamless handover that uses an interface between a WiFi Access Network and a cellular base station for the aggregate handover.
19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the aggregated handover includes a plurality of messages that combine information for the UE and the another UE.
20. An apparatus comprising a processor and a memory, the apparatus further including computer-executable instructions stored in the memory of the apparatus which, when executed by the processor of the apparatus, cause the apparatus to:
receive a plurality of indications from a WiFi access point or a cellular access point who are connected to a plurality of User Equipments (UEs) requesting an aggregated handover for the plurality of UEs along with a handover window period, wherein the indications include handover window period values for the UEs; and
initiate an aggregated handover for the plurality of UEs within the handover window period.
21. The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the WiFi access point or the cellular access point sends the indications upon an upcoming shut down.