Traffic Offloading and Load Balancing to Enable Cloud Computing Connectivity

Abstract

In this paper we consider the connectivity of an end-user with the Cloud. We examine a method to perform traffic offloading and load balancing in a network comprised of both WiFi access points and Cellular cells to better enable this connectivity. We explain the introduction of a converged gateway (CGW) to manage both the traffic offloading from licensed to unlicensed spectrum and to perform the load balancing between the Cellular and WiFi spectrum. Furthermore, we detail the procedures that are performed by the gateway to enable these two features and conclude by providing examples of how the CGW enables the interactions between the end-user and a Cloud.