LTE-WLAN Integrated Virtualization Network Architecture

Abstract

Heterogeneous network is an inevitable trend for the fifth generation wireless communications (5G). The existing scheme for the interworking of the Long Term Evolution (LTE) system and Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) system is achieved by Packet Data Network Gateway (PGW) at the core network. However, it is not efficient enough since 5G may bring in signaling storm for some increasing popular scenarios, such us instant messaging, device-to-device communications. In this paper, we propose a new LTE-WLAN integrated architecture. This architecture is designed based on Software Defined Mobile Network (SDMN) and network virtualization. A new entity called Macrocell Integrated Controller (Ma-IC) is introduced in the new architecture. It can shield the differences of the two systems for core network to simplify the management procedure and minimize the change of the core network to be adaptive to this proposed architecture. In addition, some control functions originally in core network are immigrated into Ma-IC, which can help save some backhaul signaling overhead. Another main function of Ma-IC is to coordinate the LTE system and WLAN system to provide user equipment (UE) more available resources. Besides, a new mechanism of handover for UE is designed based on this proposed architecture, and the simulation shows that handover signaling can be reduced by 29.8% compared with existing mechanism defined in 3GPP standards.