Status Quo and Development of Multi-network collaboration

With the development of the mobile Internet and the popularization of smart terminals, data service traffic has experienced explosive growth. To meet users' bandwidth requirements for wireless networks, telecom operators usually use multiple access methods to achieve convenient access and smoother user experience. The deployment of multiple access methods may result in multiple network standards due to the characteristics of the network standard and different coverage. In complex multi-access scenarios, how to coordinate various network resources, provide a good service experience, and ensure business development has become a major problem facing operators in network maintenance.

Current Situation of Multi-network collaboration

To address the problems faced by operators, the industry mainly solves these problems by distributing data services to high-load 2G networks. Data service traffic distribution can reduce the network load of 2g, increase the network traffic of 3G and WLAN, and improve user perception of data services.

2G to 3G business traffic is mainly achieved through 2G/3G network interoperability, adjustment and optimization of parameters such as switching and reselection, and new 3G network functions and applications. The WLAN Network's data service traffic for 2G/3G is mainly achieved through imperceptible authentication, precise point selection, and wireless-to-WLAN conversion.

While distributing 2G networks, we also need to continuously optimize 2G networks, starting with improving wireless utilization, coverage, and in-depth room optimization, this ensures a 2G business experience. 3G and WLAN networks need to be optimized and constructed in terms of coverage, parameters, and other aspects to Ensure the use effect after shunting.

The above measures have diverted 2 GB of data services, increased 3G and WLAN services, and played a role in collaborative network development. However, there are also some limitations, mainly reflected in the following two aspects:

Most end users do not know much about the network. In the eyes of users, only the operators are involved. Most of the above solutions are for separate networks, and there is no unified consideration for multiple networks and collaborative maintenance optimization, only through a single network to improve the performance of multiple networks passively.

Multi-network collaboration ideas and Research

In view of the coordinated development of multiple networks, ZTE has studied multiple network connections, user perception, service delivery, and collaborative construction and maintenance of multiple networks, this article puts forward some opinions and opinions of ZTE on multi-network collaboration.

Network Positioning

ZTE believes that network collaboration aims to rationally allocate network standards and resources for services based on user perception and network load. To achieve the above objectives, we must first have a clear positioning of different networks, and implement corresponding network transformation and technical adjustment based on the positioning to achieve coordinated network development. Based on the characteristics and development status of different networks, ZTE's positioning for different networks is as follows.

Over a long period of time, the 2G network is still the bearer platform for basic services such as voice and text message services. It also covers medium-and low-speed data services, stores user resources, and provides continuous business revenue;

3G networks generally provide data services with voice and high-speed data coverage for urban areas. The data and voice services of 2G networks are diverted to the resource transit pool that leads the data business process, it is the key to actively increasing network benefits and reducing future costs;

WLAN is an important supplement to cellular networks. It mainly covers static and high-speed data services in indoor hotspots and serves as a channel and auxiliary means for network transformation from voice services to large-volume data services;

LTE Networks are the subject of data services in the future. mobile data services that carry major traffic in urban areas should follow the trend in Multi-network collaboration to quickly and efficiently complete basic coverage and gradually improve coverage.

Service-Based Network Traffic Distribution

After determining the Network Positioning of different standards, you can allocate services to different networks based on the Usage characteristics of different services and different requirements for network resources, for example, the large-traffic download service is allocated to the WLAN Network, while the Web browsing service is allocated to the 3G network.

To allocate different networks to terminals for different services, you must first identify the specific services used by users, and then intervene in the network, in this way, the terminal can be switched between different systems. Finally, the terminal must support switching between different networks. ZTE's Multiple Access and one session Binding solution will effectively solve the above problems.

User-aware multi-network collaboration

The ultimate goal of Multi-network collaboration is to ensure the good user experience of end users. If you are aware of the usage, you do not need to pay attention to the network you are using. Otherwise, you need to analyze the causes of poor perception, intervene in the network used by the user based on the value and resource situation of the service, so that the user can be well aware of the use.

The CEMC platform of ZTE monitors the use perception of network-wide users based on the monitoring and collection of network signaling data and the user perception algorithm of ZTE, and manages network access through MAB, implement User-aware multi-network collaboration.

User-aware multi-network collaboration can dynamically adjust the service quality based on the service value to maximize the traffic value. It can also detect the user service level in real time for users of different service levels, differentiated user experience is guaranteed.

Multi-network unified access aggregation Solution

Multi-network collaboration based on business and user perception needs to be supported by the multi-network unified access aggregation solution. Multi-network unified access convergence will be the key and development direction of Multi-network collaboration. Based on years of experience in product R & D and engineering implementation and maintenance, ZTE conducts in-depth research on the MAB architecture 1.

When the terminal accesses different networks, ISGW allocates the same IP address to the terminal and maintains the same IP address session. At this time, the UE binds the bandwidth of multiple networks and aggregates the bandwidth into a higher bandwidth. ISGW then sends pre-defined routing policies to UE Through customized user-plane messages, so that different types of services such as IM, Video, and P2P are carried on different wireless access networks.

In addition to service-based traffic distribution, the MAB solution can also distribute traffic based on the network load. The basic process is that ISGW perceives the business flow and reports it to PCRF, PCRF formulates routing policies based on network load and sends them to ISGW. Then, ISGW requires UE to distribute services to low-load networks.

Seamless switching between networks, especially between mobile networks and WLAN networks, is the focus of Multi-network collaboration. When the terminal leaves the WLAN Network, the terminal first connects to the 2G/3G network and updates the routing policy, then disconnects from the WLAN, and then allocates the business flow according to the new routing policy. A terminal enters a WLAN Network. First, it connects to the WLAN Network, updates the routing policy, and then allocates the business flow according to the routing policy.

Through unified access aggregation, combined with business identification and user perception evaluation, different network resources are allocated to users to achieve the goal of Multi-network collaboration. Based on its own R & D capabilities and rich network experience, ZTE, it provides operators with a complete set of integrated service solutions, including user perception and Evaluation System Establishment, network resource evaluation, determination of service traffic indicator system, and formulation of service traffic control policies, to ensure that operators provide high-quality network services, promote the continuous development of operators' business.