WiFi + 4G Convergence Gateway Software Platform
ART/165CP
20131202 - 20151130
14026
Mr Jiadong Ou
The project is divided into phases with progressive features. In each phase, the deliverables should include: i) feature/system specifications, ii) software design specifications/high level design, iii) software implementation, iv) test plan and reports. Phase 1 Architecture Design and Subsystem Design & Implementation > System Architecture Design. > WiFi Controller Function (WCF): to support WiFi standard (CAPWAP) based controller functions, and support WiFi access only. > 4G Small cell Signaling Relay Function (SRF): to support 4G (LTE) based signaling relay function. > Converged Packet Data Gateway (CPDG): to support 4G (LTE) based packet data access, and support local breakout only. Phase 2 WiFi + 4G small cell support > WCF & CPDG: to support unified WiFi + 4G small cell session and state management > CPDG: dynamic offloading feature support Phase 3 Advanced Features & Integration > WCF & CPDG: to support mobility features, and accounting features > System Integration & Verifications
Mr Alex Ka-Ho MUI
Dr Che-I Justin Chuang
Mr Jui Kuang, Ray HO
Ms Mei Fan, Rebecca CHOI
Ms Angel CHEUNG
Dr Xin Yi LIU
Mr Koon Man, Angus SAM
Dr Billy Siu-Ping Chan
Mr Sheng-Long Xiao
Mr Xiao-Dong Wang
Mr Jesse Yi Ai
Dr Ying Dong
Mr James Shijun Fan
Mr Ted Yao-Cheng Liang
Mr Qing-Hua Liao
Mr Allen Jian-Chao Lu
Dr Yolanda Yau Yau Tsang
Mr Shi Le Ou
Miss Alley Hua Xia
Mr Lin Xu
Miss Alexandra Po-Chun Yue
Mr Ansel Shao Hua Zhang
Mr Wai Lok Wong
Mr Benjamin Tze Kit Lee
Miss Hua Shen
Mr Zi Gan Andy Zhou
Mr Dong Zhe Su
Mr Simon Yee Wong
Mr Calvin Lee
Mr Richard Liang Liu
Mr Jing-Wei Liu
Mr Jian-Jun Zhang
Mr Zhi-Cheng Luo
Altai Technologies Ltd. (licensing income) [Sponsor]
Altai Technologies Limited [Sponsor]
Fujian Sunnada Communication Co. Limited (licensing income) [Sponsor]
Fujian Sunnada Communication Co. Ltd. [Sponsor]
ShenZhen ZHT [Sponsor]
Mobile operators are facing challenges in addressing the exponential growth of network capacity demands. Because macrocell based LTE deployments are centralized, the control and data traffic are concentrated into the mobile core networks and cannot be scaled cost effectively. Carrier WiFi and 4G small cell technologies are therefore introduced to offload the traffic of mobile backhaul and core networks. Carrier WiFi are being actively deployed in recent years to offload mobile data traffic. However, there are limitations: i) mobile network are separated from carrier WiFi network, ii) a different WiFi account needs to be setup and managed for each subscriber, iii) the traffic loading to 3G/4G mobile core networks cannot be reduced if the WiFi configuration of the device is not setup or disabled, and iv) the cell site (location, power & last mile access) cannot be shared between WiFi and mobile networks. Offloading strategy is a major focus in the wireless industry nowadays such as 3GPP's non-3GPP access, local IP access (LIPA), 802.11u, hotspot 2.0 and China Mobile’s Nanocell project. The mainstream approach is basically the convergence of 4G small cell and WiFi networks. Take China Mobile's nanocell as an example, it demands the small cell base stations to be multi-mode (WiFi + 2/3/4G) to minimize the requirements and costs of the cell site. The existing carrier WiFi base stations sites can be leveraged by replacing WiFi base stations with 4G+WiFi small cell base stations. The WiFi + 4G small cell convergence gateway architecture developed from this project has the following benefits. Firstly, Dynamic Offloading can dynamically select whether to transmit data via WiFi or 4G, and whether to forward to mobile core networks or directly offload to the Internet, based on the application characteristics (e.g. VoLTE using mobile core + 4G; web browsing using WiFi + direct offload). Secondly, it allows mobility with session continuity for users roaming between WiFi & 4G. Thirdly, it provides signaling concentration that can reduce loading of signaling plane (Mobility Management Entity) in the mobile core networks. The demand of WiFi+4G convergence gateway software in the industry is strong. At this point, two private companies have already committed to contribute a total amount of over 16%) of the project cost to this project. A few other private companies have also shown their strong interest in the project technologies and associated collaborations are under discussion.