Information processing device and communication system

Abstract

An information processing device (UPF) according to one embodiment of the present invention constitutes a node located in an interface segment between a user terminal (UE) and a data network (DN) within a core network, wherein: via an N6 segment that is an interface segment between the information processing device and the DN, at least (1) instance of processing is performed to transmit a protocol data unit (PDU) with a reversibly compressed payload to the DN by uplink communication or (2) processing to receive a PDU with a reversibly compressed payload from the DN by downlink communication; and such reversible compression is not performed on a PDU at a stage to be transmitted by the UE and a PDU at a stage to be received by the PDU.

Description

Information processing device and communication system

[0001] One aspect of the present invention relates to an information processing device and a communication system.

[0002] Techniques such as UL compression that compress data in interface sections between nodes included in a core network are known. Patent Document 1 discloses a method for transmitting Ethernet frames on a core network, which involves compressing the Ethernet frame headers.

[0003] Special table number 2022-517665

[0004] Conventional core network technologies do not support lossless compression in some interface sections, leaving room for improvement. Furthermore, functions such as UL compression must be supported by terminals (UEs) connecting to the core network.

[0005] One aspect of the present disclosure aims to contribute to reducing communication volume by lossless compression of data in a specified interface section without requiring the implementation of new functions in the terminal.

[0006] In order to solve the above problem, an information processing device according to one aspect of the present invention is an information processing device that constitutes a node located in an interface section between a UE (user terminal) and a DN (data network) in a core network, and performs at least one of the following processes via the N6 section, which is the interface section between the device itself and the DN: (1) a process of transmitting a PDU (protocol data unit) whose payload has been reversibly compressed to the DN in uplink communication; and (2) a process of receiving a PDU whose payload has been reversibly compressed from the DN in downlink communication, wherein the PDU at the stage of transmission by the UE and the PDU at the stage of reception have not been subjected to the reversible compression.

[0007] In order to solve the above problem, a communication system according to one aspect of the present invention is a communication system having a core network, and is provided with an information processing device constituting a node located in an interface section between a UE (user terminal) and a DN (data network), and the information processing device performs at least one of the following processes via an N6 section, which is the interface section between the information processing device itself and the DN: (1) a process of transmitting a PDU (protocol data unit) whose payload has been losslessly compressed to the DN in uplink communication; and (2) a process of receiving a PDU whose payload has been losslessly compressed from the DN in downlink communication, and the PDU at the stage of transmission by the UE and the PDU at the stage of reception have not been subjected to the lossless compression.

[0008] The control block of the information processing device according to each aspect of the present invention may be realized by a computer. In this case, the control program of the control block that causes the computer to operate as each part (software element) of the control block to realize the control block, and the computer-readable recording medium on which it is recorded, also fall within the scope of the present invention.

[0009] The control program may use various machine learning techniques in the process of causing a computer to operate as each part of the control block or in other processes. In this case, the program using the machine learning technique may run on the base station or on another device (for example, an edge computer or a cloud server).

[0010] According to one aspect of the present invention, the implementation of new functions in the terminal is not required, and lossless compression of data in a predetermined interface section contributes to a reduction in communication volume.

[0011] FIG. 1 is an example of a diagram showing a configuration including a core network of a communication system. FIG. 2 is an example of a diagram showing the configuration of each node between a UE and a DN. FIG. 3 is an example of a conceptual diagram showing the flow of data in communication from a DN to a UE. FIG. 4 is an example of a flowchart showing the processing flow of an information processing method executed by a communication system. FIG. 5 is an example of a diagram showing a configuration including a core network of a communication system.

[0012] <Configuration example of communication system> Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration including a core network of a 5G communication system. The architecture of the core network is formulated by 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project).

[0013] Typically, a core network is connected to a large number of (R)ANs ((Radio) Access Networks, gNBs, base station devices), and each RAN is wirelessly connected to a large number of UEs (User Equipment, terminal devices). Note that the term "core network" used in this disclosure may also include UEs and RANs.

[0014] The core network includes various nodes such as a User Plane Function (UPF), an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), a Session Management Function (SMF), a Policy Control Function (PCF), an Application Function (AF), an Authentication Server Function (AUSF), and a User Data Management (UDM). Each of these various nodes is also referred to as a Network Function (NF). In addition, for example, the UPF may be configured to include a controller (RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC)) that controls the RAN.

[0015] The node configuration shown in Fig. 1 itself is a configuration that complies with existing core networks, but the processing performed in the interface section between the RAN and the DN (Data Network) differs from that of existing core networks. This processing will be described later with reference to Fig. 2 etc.

[0016] In addition, interfaces used to connect each node to another are standardized, and for example, an interface connecting a UE and an AMF is defined as N1, and an interface connecting a RAN and an AMF is defined as N2. In the present disclosure, a section connected by an N1 interface is also referred to as an N1 section, and sections connected by other interfaces may also be referred to in the same manner.

[0017] For example, the N3 section refers to an interface section between the RAN and the UPF, and the N6 section refers to an interface section between the UPF and the DN. The UPF is an example of an information processing device in the present disclosure.

[0018] 1 indicates that the UPF may be realized by a first UPF and a second UPF connected to each other, as illustrated in FIG. 2. The same applies to the N14 section of the AMF. Also, "NR-Uu" refers to the interface section between the UE and the RAN.

[0019] In addition, an application server (App Svr) that functions as a server for the UE is connected to the DN. Here, the application server can be considered as a device that the DN has. From another perspective, in the following description, descriptions that refer to the DN as the processing subject or processing target can be rephrased as descriptions that refer to the application server as the processing subject or processing target.

[0020] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of each node between the UE and the DN in FIG.

[0021] 2 illustrates a protocol stack used for communication between nodes. For example, the protocol stack used in a UE includes, from top to bottom, the following layers: Application, TCP / UDP (Transmission Control Protocol / User Datagram Protocol), IP (Internet Protocol), SDAP (Service Data Application Protocol), PDCP (Packet Data Convergence Protocol), RLC (Radio Link Control), MAC (Medium Access Control), and PHY (PHYsical Layer). Furthermore, "PDU data (Packet Data Unit data)" in FIG. 2 refers to uncompressed data with a header corresponding to each layer.

[0022] In the following description, unless otherwise specified, "compression" refers to lossless compression. However, configurations using lossy compression are also included in the present disclosure. Furthermore, encryption may be performed in conjunction with data compression, and decryption may be performed in conjunction with data decompression. Furthermore, data compression may refer to compressing at least the payload of a PDU (Packet Data Unit) contained in the data, and compressed data may refer to a PDU in which at least the payload contained in the data has been compressed. Furthermore, data decompression is similarly described.

[0023] Packets and frames are examples of the PDU. Data compression is performed by, for example, GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) processing.

[0024] The protocol stack used in the RAN and UPF includes, from top to bottom, the following layers: GTP-U (GPRS Tunneling Protocol for User Plane), UDP, IP, L2 (Layer 2), and L1 (Layer 1). "Compressed data" in Fig. 2 refers to data in which at least the original payload portion has been losslessly compressed to reduce the data volume, and "Decompression" refers to decompressed data.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 2, in a core network according to one aspect, data is losslessly compressed in sections N3, N9, and N6.

[0026] In the process shown in Figure 2, the RAN performs lossless compression on the payload portion of the PDU containing data received from the UE, and then transmits the data to the first UPF via section N3, which then transmits the compressed data to the second UPF via section N9, and the second UPF then transmits the compressed data to the DN via section N6.

[0027] Figure 3 is an example conceptual diagram showing the flow of data in communication from a DN to a UE. In Figure 3, a Protocol Data Unit Session (PDU session) includes one or more Quality of Service (QoS) flows and is used for logical connection between a UE and a UPF. In the example of Figure 3, the PDU session includes three QoS flows. Furthermore, the PDU Session Anchor in Figure 2 means that, in the aspect of Figure 2, a second UPF is located at the end of the PDU session.

[0028] The Traffic Flow Template (TFT) has a filtering function for routing PDUs (packets) received from each IP flow to an appropriate SDF. Here, an IP flow refers to a PDU or its flow from one IP address to another. The IP flow includes attribute information indicating, for example, an allowable delay for communication of data including the transmitted PDU. Each device, such as a UPF, can determine the type of data by referring to the IP flow. Here, the data type refers to whether the data is classified as video streaming data, LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), or the like. The attribute information may also include information indicating the type of data.

[0029] The attribute information of the IP flow can be specified and understood by the AF and the application server shown in Fig. 1. In addition, the attribute information of the IP flow is shared from the PCF to the UE, RAN, UPF, etc. via each interface section as a PCC rule (Policy and Charging Control rule) determined by the PCF with reference to an input from the AF or an input from the application server via the NEF (Network Exposure Function).

[0030] An SDF (Service Data Flow) is a flow of PDUs filtered based on the header. In one aspect, the UPF performs the aforementioned filtering using the TFT, as well as compressing data corresponding to each SDF and providing it to a QoS flow. From another perspective, the UPF manages the association between IP flows and QoS flows. Furthermore, in a single QoS flow, data corresponding to multiple SDFs may be transmitted at overlapping times. Note that a single QoS flow may transmit a mixture of compressed and uncompressed data. In a broader sense, the UPF transmits or receives PDUs whose payloads are losslessly compressed via an interface section that establishes a PDU session including one or more QoS flows. Here, at least some QoS flows may transmit a mixture of PDUs with different compression rates. This allows, for example, more compression rates to be used than the number of QoS flows included in the PDU session. The aforementioned uncompressed data may also be interpreted as data with a compression rate of zero.

[0031] Furthermore, as described above, the UPF may be realized by a first UPF and a second UPF, and communication may be performed between the N6 section and the N3 section via the N9 section.

[0032] The GBR (Guaranteed Bit Rate) of a QoS flow means that the QoS flow is bandwidth guaranteed, while Non-GBR means that the QoS flow is not bandwidth guaranteed. The QFI (QoS Flow Identifier) ​​value is a QoS identifier and indicates the priority of the communication. Typically, the smaller the QFI value, the higher the priority of the communication. For example, a QoS flow with a QFI of 3 will be given priority in data transmission over a QoS flow with a QFI of 4.

[0033] From another perspective, data transmitted by a QoS flow with a low communication priority, i.e., a high QFI value, does not require immediate transmission when a QoS flow with a low QFI value exists, and has a relatively high tolerance for delays. Therefore, it is desirable for the UPF to be configured to compress data at a higher compression rate for data with a higher tolerance for delays. Furthermore, N3 Tunnel means that communication in the N3 section is tunneled, i.e., data transmitted in the N3 section is encapsulated and concealed.

[0034] The RAN also decompresses the data received from the QoS flow and transmits the data to the UE via a DRB (Data Radio Bearer), which is a logical communication path between the RAN and the UE. The UE receives the data transmitted from the RAN via the DBR. The SDAP (Service Data Adaptation Protocol) in Figure 3 is a protocol that performs mapping between the QoS flow and the DBR.

[0035] Also, while Figure 3 illustrates a downlink communication mode in which the UPF compresses data and the RAN decompresses it, the present disclosure also includes a mode in which the DN compresses data and the RAN or UPF decompresses it.

[0036] In one aspect of uplink communication from a UE to a DN, the RAN performs processing such as data compression, which the UPF performed in downlink communication, and the UPF or the DN performs processing such as data decompression, which the RAN performed in downlink communication. Alternatively, in another aspect of uplink communication, the UPF performs processing such as data compression, and the DN performs processing such as data decompression.

[0037] As can be seen from the above explanation, at least one of the PDUs transmitted on the N6 section and the PDUs transmitted on the N3 section is transmitted with its payload compressed. Also, the PDUs transmitted on the N9 section may be transmitted with their payload compressed.

[0038] For example, in one aspect, the UPF may perform the following processes in uplink communication: transmitting a PDU whose payload has been losslessly compressed to a DN via an N6 section; and in downlink communication, losslessly compressing the payload of a PDU received from a DN via an N6 section and transmitting the PDU to a RAN via an N3 section.

[0039] Furthermore, the PDUs transmitted by the UE and the PDUs received by the UE are not compressed in the same manner as in the N6, N3, or N9 sections. This means that the UE does not need to implement the functions of compressing data and decompressing the compressed data. As a result, from the UE's perspective, communication with the DN, in which data is compressed in the interface section, can be performed without being aware of the compression and decompression processes.

[0040] Furthermore, when data transmitted on the N6 section is not compressed, in other words, when the PDUs transmitted by the DN and the PDUs received by the DN are not compressed, the DN does not need to implement the functions of compressing data and decompressing the compressed data. As a result, from the DN side, communication with the UE, in which data is compressed in the interface section along the way, can be performed without being aware of the compression and decompression processes.

[0041] In each of the N6, N3, and N9 sections, compressed data may be transmitted in one of the downlink and uplink communications, and uncompressed data may be transmitted in the other. Furthermore, the data compression rates may be different between the downlink and uplink communications via the respective sections.

[0042] For example, in the N6 section, transmitting compressed data in at least one of downlink communication and uplink communication corresponds to the UPF performing at least one of the following processes via the N6 section: (1) transmitting a PDU (protocol data unit) whose payload has been reversibly compressed to the DN in uplink communication; and (2) receiving a PDU whose payload has been reversibly compressed from the DN in downlink communication.

[0043] <Example of Processing in a Communication System> Figure 4 is an example of a flowchart showing the processing flow of an information processing method executed by the above-mentioned communication system. Hereinafter, with reference to Figure 4 etc., an example will be described in which a PDU containing data is compressed in the N6 section when uplink communication from a UE to a DN and downlink communication from the DN to a UE are performed. The flowchart shown in Figure 4 starts, for example, when a request to transmit specific information is made from a UE to a DN.

[0044] In S1 (step S1), the UE establishes a PDU session including multiple QoS flows with the UPF, as shown in FIG. 3 .

[0045] At S2, the UE transmits data including a PDU to the UPF via the RAN, the final destination of the data is the DN, and the data includes a request for the UE to transmit specific information.

[0046] In S3, the UPF losslessly compresses the received data at a compression rate determined according to the attribute information of the IP flow of the data. The UPF then transmits the compressed data to the DN via a QoS flow corresponding to the compression rate. It is desirable that a QoS with a low communication priority be used when the data compression rate is high, and a QoS with a high communication priority be used when the data compression rate is low.

[0047] In S4, the DN decompresses the received data and decodes the request contained in the data. For example, if the DN determines that the traffic is losslessly compressed using a compression ratio or algorithm previously defined via the NEF and PCF by referring to the IP flow identifier in the received data, it decompresses the data, assuming that the payload of the data is losslessly compressed. The identifier is defined by the destination IP address, source IP address, destination port number, source port number, protocol (TCP, UDP, etc.), or a combination of these.

[0048] In S5, the DN compresses the data requested by the UE at a compression rate according to the data type of the data, and transmits the compressed data to the UPF via a QoS flow corresponding to the compression rate. For example, the DN transmits data that has been subjected to lossless compression defined in advance for the NEF and PCF to the UPF.

[0049] At S6, the UPF decompresses the received data and transmits it to the UE via the RAN. The UE receives the data transmitted from the UPF. For example, the UPF assigns the IP flow of the decompressed data to the corresponding QoS flow according to the IP flow definition previously performed by the DN via the NEF and PCF, and transmits it to the UE.

[0050] In the process of this example described above, the UPF performs both (1) a process of transmitting a PDU whose payload has been losslessly compressed to a DN in uplink communication and (2) a process of receiving a PDU whose payload has been losslessly compressed from a DN in downlink communication via the N6 section. Furthermore, the lossless compression of data in the N6 section contributes to reducing communication traffic without requiring the UE to implement new functions.

[0051] The payload of a PDU may be losslessly compressed at a compression rate corresponding to the delay allowed for communication of data including the PDU. The allowable delay may be determined by attribute information included in the IP flow of the PDU, as exemplified in S3, or by the type of data including the PDU, as exemplified in S5. Alternatively, the allowable delay may be determined by a condition including a combination of attribute information included in the IP flow and the type of data. The QoS flow used for transmitting data may be selected according to the compression rate of the data, or according to the destination IP address or port of the data, etc.

[0052] As described above, another aspect may be a configuration in which the RAN compresses and decompresses data, in which the RAN losslessly compresses data received from the UE and transmits the data to the DN in steps corresponding to S2 and S3, and decompresses the compressed data received via the UPF and transmits the data to the UE in steps corresponding to S5 and S6.

[0053] <Modification> The UPF may be configured to be realized as a device integrated with the RAN. Fig. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration including a core network of a 5G communication system according to this modification.

[0054] In the configuration of this modified example, the UPF integrated with the RAN performs, for example, a process of losslessly compressing a PDU in uplink communication and transmitting it to a DN via the N6 section, and a process of decompressing a PDU whose payload has been losslessly compressed in downlink communication and transmitting it to a UE.

[0055] As shown in the N9 section in FIG. 5, the UPF integrated with the RAN may be realized by two devices.

[0056] [Example of implementation by software] The functions of the UPF (information processing device) and application server, etc. (hereinafter referred to as "devices") can be realized by a program that causes a computer to function as the device, and a program that causes a computer to function as each control block of the device.

[0057] In this case, the device includes a computer having at least one control device (e.g., a processor) and at least one storage device (e.g., a memory) as hardware for executing the program. The functions described in each of the above embodiments are realized by executing the program using the control device and storage device.

[0058] The program may be stored non-transitory on one or more computer-readable storage media. The storage media may or may not be included in the device. In the latter case, the program may be supplied to the device via any wired or wireless transmission medium.

[0059] Furthermore, some or all of the functions of the control blocks can be realized by logic circuits. For example, integrated circuits in which logic circuits functioning as the control blocks are formed are also included in the scope of the present invention. In addition, the functions of the control blocks can also be realized by, for example, a quantum computer.

[0060] Furthermore, each process described in each of the above embodiments may be executed by AI (Artificial Intelligence). In this case, the AI ​​may run on the control device or on another device (for example, an edge computer or a cloud server).

[0061] [Summary] The information processing device according to aspect 1 of the present invention is configured such that the PDUs transmitted by the UE and the PDUs received by the UE are not subjected to lossless compression.

[0062] An information processing device according to aspect 2 of the present invention may be configured in the above-mentioned aspect 1 such that the payload of the PDU is losslessly compressed at a compression rate corresponding to the delay allowed for communication of data including the PDU.

[0063] The information processing device according to aspect 3 of the present invention may be configured in the above aspect 2 such that the allowable delay is defined by attribute information included in the IP flow of the PDU.

[0064] The information processing device according to aspect 4 of the present invention may be configured in the above aspect 2 or 3 such that the allowable delay is defined depending on the type of data including the PDU.

[0065] An information processing device according to aspect 5 of the present invention may be configured in any of aspects 1 to 4 above, where the information processing device is a UPF located in an interface section between a RAN (base station device) and the DN, and performs the following processes in uplink communication: transmitting a PDU whose payload has been reversibly compressed to the DN via the N6 section; and in downlink communication, reversibly compressing the payload of a PDU received from the DN via the N6 section, and transmitting the PDU to the RAN via the N3 section, which is the interface section between the device itself and the RAN.

[0066] An information processing device according to aspect 6 of the present invention may be configured in any of aspects 1 to 4 above, such that the information processing device is a UPF integrated with a RAN (base station device), and performs a process of losslessly compressing a PDU in uplink communication and transmitting it to the DN via the N6 section, and a process of decompressing a PDU whose payload has been losslessly compressed in downlink communication and transmitting it to the UE.

[0067] An information processing device according to aspect 7 of the present invention may be configured in any of aspects 1 to 6 above to transmit or receive PDUs whose payloads are losslessly compressed via an interface section in which a PDU session including one or more QoS flows is established, and in at least one of the QoS flows, PDUs with different compression rates are transmitted in a mixed manner.

[0068] A communication system according to aspect 8 of the present invention is a communication system having a core network, and includes an information processing device constituting a node located in an interface section between a UE (user terminal) and a DN (data network), wherein the information processing device performs at least one of the following processes via an N6 section, which is an interface section between the information processing device itself and the DN: (1) a process of transmitting a PDU (protocol data unit) whose payload has been losslessly compressed to the DN in uplink communication; and (2) a process of receiving a PDU whose payload has been losslessly compressed from the DN in downlink communication, and the PDU at the stage of transmission by the UE and the PDU at the stage of reception are configured not to have been losslessly compressed.

Claims

1. An information processing device constituting a node located in the interface section between a UE (user terminal) and a DN (data network) in a core network, which performs at least one of the following processes via the N6 section, which is the interface section between the device itself and the DN: (1) a process of transmitting a PDU (protocol data unit) whose payload has been losslessly compressed to the DN in uplink communication, and (2) a process of receiving a PDU whose payload has been losslessly compressed from the DN in downlink communication, wherein the PDU at the stage of transmission by the UE and the PDU at the stage of reception are not subjected to the lossless compression.

2. The information processing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the payload of the PDU is losslessly compressed at a compression rate according to the delay allowed for communication of the data including the PDU.

3. The information processing device according to claim 2, wherein the allowable delay is defined by attribute information included in the IP flow of the PDU.

4. The information processing device according to claim 2, wherein the allowable delay is determined depending on the type of data including the PDU.

5. The information processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the information processing device is a UPF located in the interface section between a RAN (base station device) and the DN, and performs the process of transmitting a PDU whose payload has been losslessly compressed to the DN via the N6 section in uplink communication, and the process of losslessly compressing the payload of a PDU received from the DN via the N6 section in downlink communication, and transmitting the PDU to the RAN via the N3 section, which is the interface section between the device itself and the RAN.

6. The information processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the information processing device is a UPF integrated with a RAN (base station device), and performs the process of losslessly compressing a PDU in uplink communication and transmitting it to the DN via the N6 section, and the process of decompressing a PDU whose payload has been losslessly compressed in downlink communication and transmitting it to the UE.

7. An information processing device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that PDUs with losslessly compressed payloads are transmitted or received via an interface section in which a PDU session including one or more QoS flows is established, and in at least one of the QoS flows, PDUs with different compression rates are transmitted in a mixed manner.

8. A communications system having a core network, comprising an information processing device constituting a node located in an interface section between a UE (user terminal) and a DN (data network), wherein the information processing device performs at least one of the following processes via the N6 section, which is the interface section between the device itself and the DN: (1) in uplink communication, a process of transmitting a PDU (protocol data unit) whose payload has been losslessly compressed to the DN; and (2) in downlink communication, a process of receiving a PDU whose payload has been losslessly compressed from the DN, wherein the PDU at the stage of transmission by the UE and the PDU at the stage of reception are not subjected to the lossless compression.

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