Method and apparatus for enhancing mobility for 3GPP LTE-WLAN aggregation in wireless communication system
As one aspect of mobility enhancement of 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) long-term evolution (LTE)-wireless local area network (WLAN) aggregation, inter-eNodeB (eNB) handover without WLAN termination (WT) change is considered. A source eNB transmits a handover request message including a WT identifier (ID) and WT XwAP ID to a target eNB. The target eNB transmits a WT addition request message including the WT XwAP ID to a WT, and receives a WT addition request acknowledge message from the WT. The target eNB transmits a handover request acknowledge message indicating that a WT is kept to the source eNB. The source eNB transmits a WT release request message indicating that the WT is kept to the WT. The WT is a logical node that terminates a Xw interface on a WLAN.
1. A method for a source base station in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:
establishing an Xw interface with a wireless local area network (WLAN) termination (WT),
wherein the WT is a logical node that terminates the Xw interface, and
wherein the Xw interface is also established between a target base station and the WT; and
performing an inter-base station handover without WT change in which a wireless device currently connected to both the source base station and the WT is to be handed over from the source base station to the target base station while keeping connection with the WT, the inter- base station handover comprising:
transmitting, to the target base station, a handover request message including a WT identifier (ID) and WT XwAP ID;
receiving, from the target base station, a handover request acknowledge message informing that the WT is kept; and
transmitting, to the WT, a WT release request message informing that the WT is kept,
wherein the WT ID identifies the WT,
wherein the WT XwAP ID is allocated by the WT and uniquely identifies the wireless device over the Xw interface,
wherein the handover request message further includes a mobility set of the WT,
wherein the mobility set is a set of one or more WLAN access points (APs) identified by one or more of a BSS identifier (BSSID), a home equivalent SSID (HESSID) or an SSID.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the handover request message further includes information on E-UTRAN radio access bearers (E-RABs) for the WT.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the handover request acknowledge message further includes a revised mobility set for the wireless device based on selection of the target base station.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the WT release request message further includes at least one of an eNodeB (eNB) Xw AP ID, a WLAN Xw AP ID, or a cause to release.
5. A method for a target base station in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:
establishing an Xw interface with a wireless local area network (WLAN) termination (WT), wherein the WT is a logical node that terminates the Xw interface, and wherein the Xw interface is also established between a source base station and the WT;
and
performing an inter-base station handover without WT change in which a wireless device currently connected to both the source base station and the WT is to be handed over from the source base station to the target base station while keeping connection with the WT, the inter-base station handover comprising:
receiving, from the source base station, a handover request message including a WT identifier (ID) and WT XwAP ID;
transmitting, to the WT, a WT addition request message including the WT XwAP ID;
receiving, from the WT, a WT addition request acknowledge message; and
transmitting, to the source base station, a handover request acknowledge message informing that the WT is kept,
wherein the WT ID identifies the WT,
wherein the WT XwAP ID is allocated by the WT and uniquely identifies the wireless device over the Xw interface,
wherein the handover request message further includes a mobility set of the WT,
wherein the mobility set is a set of one or more WLAN access points (APs) identified by one or more of a BSS identifier (BSSID), a home equivalent SSID (HESSID) or an SSID.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the WT addition request message further includes at least one of an eNodeB (eNB) Xw AP ID, an E-UTRAN radio access bearer (E-RAB) ID, an E-RAB quality of service (QoS), an eNB GPRS tunneling protocol (GTP) tunnel endpoint, a data forwarding indication, a security key, a selected WLAN identifier or revised mobility set, or a WLAN media access control (MAC) address.