La tecnologia/The technology

We introduce a novel SDN based and parallelized handover signaling methodology. The methodology utilizes the fact that current day networks perform multiple handshakes to prepare/reject for an impending handover/handover cancel phase. Thus, in our method we use the SDN paradigm to ensure that the unnecessary handshakes are removed and the Mobility Management entity (MME for 4G and SMF for 5G), interacting with SDN controller, is responsible for sharing the control information with the other core network entities. Such a reduction is obtained through parallelization (facilitated by the SDN) and reordering Information Elements (IEs).

Avantatges innovadores/Innovative advantages

• Reduced number of repetitive IEs during handover signaling, thus reducing the amount of total control overhead for handover signaling.
• Reduction in latency for handover preparation and rejection phases from 8.33% - 50.82% (dependent on the handover scenario).
• Reduction in Transmission (occupation time on the network due to control overhead) and Processing cost (number of control messages processed) by 6.67% - 50% (dependent on the handover scenario).
• Novel handover failure aware handover preparation mechanism has been developed, thus introducing further efficiency into the preparation and rejection phase signaling.
• Functional for all the inter-RAT and intra-RAT HO scenarios as specified by 3GPP.

Fase actual de desenvolupament/Current stage of development

The technology has been explored and verified through analysis based on operator data from Japan and Greece. Currently, a PCT has been filed with the EPO and, 2 conference and 1 journal papers have been published showing the aforementioned advantages quantitatively.

Aplicacions i mercat objectiu/Applications and target market