5G Network Hop Delay Benchmarking for QoS Flow Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for estimating network delay in 3GPP new radio (NR) networks, such as Alternative 1 and Alternative 2, require tight synchronization across nodes and cannot provide per-hop delay estimates independently of traffic or QoS flows, leading to inefficiencies and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A method that performs benchmarking of network hop delays independently of traffic and QoS flows, using echo requests to estimate delays and updating tables for precise per-hop delay calculations, allowing for proactive allocation of resources and reduced latency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If tight synchronization across nodes is implemented for delay estimation, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces benchmark packets as an intermediary mechanism to measure network hop delays without requiring tight synchronization. These special packets are sent through the network path and their transmission time is measured, allowing delay estimation to be obtained through an intermediate measurement process rather than direct synchronized timing between nodes.
2Reliability
If per-hop delay estimates are obtained independently of traffic, then reliability is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs benchmarking procedures in advance to populate delay estimation tables with pre-measured network hop delays. These tables are created beforehand using benchmark packets and are then reused for actual QoS flow delay calculations, eliminating the need to perform time-consuming benchmarking operations in real-time during traffic handling.
3Measurement precision
If benchmarking procedures are performed for each QoS flow, then measurement precision is improved, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates universal delay estimation tables that store benchmarked delay values applicable to multiple QoS flows and network paths. Instead of performing separate benchmarking for each QoS flow, the system performs benchmarking once per network path and reuses the results across multiple flows, making the benchmarking process multi-functional and efficient.
4Measurement precision
If detailed benchmarking data is collected and stored, then measurement precision is improved, but use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements selective benchmarking where delay measurements are performed and stored only for specific network paths and transport resources that are actually used by QoS flows. The system determines which peer nodes and transport resources are relevant based on active PDU sessions and QoS flows, and performs benchmarking only for those local contexts rather than universally across all possible paths.
Data Source
AI summary
According to certain embodiments, a method and apparatus may include performing, by a first network entity, at least one benchmarking procedure of at least one network hop delay per at least one transmit resource towards at least one peer network node identified by at least one internet protocol destination address. The method and apparatus may further include deriving, by the first network entity, a second table, by, for each peer node associated with an internet protocol destination address, determining at least one existing configured mapping of at least one network instance into a transport resource Ti per internet protocol destination address. The method and apparatus may further include updating, by the first network entity, the first table and the second table for each internet protocol destination address and transmitting the updated second table to the second network entity.