Access Network Control Plane Separation for Extensibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
In existing communication network architectures, the integration of control and bearer functions within the same device limits network extensibility and increases maintenance costs, as hardware constraints and the need for simultaneous upgrades hinder efficient service management and user handoff across different access technologies.
Innovation Solution
The separation of control and bearer functions in an access network system, where the control plane is independent of the data plane, allowing for the use of a stand-alone controller that can be upgraded without affecting the bearer device, and enabling convergence of control planes across different technologies for unified management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If control and bearer functions are integrated in the same device, then device functionality is complete, but device cost increases tremendously and maintenance complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the integrated access network device into two separate functional entities: a control plane device that handles control functions (authentication, authorization, accounting, IP address allocation) and a bearer plane device that handles data forwarding. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by allowing each device to be optimized for its specific function, reducing overall complexity while maintaining complete functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The control functions are extracted from the bearer device and placed in a separate control plane device. This extraction eliminates the complexity of having all control functions embedded in every bearer device, while the bearer device retains the essential data forwarding capability it needs to operate.
2Stability of the object's composition
If control functions are included in the bearer device, then control is integrated, but hardware limitations affect control performance and upgrading requires replacing the entire device
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the control plane from the bearer plane into separate devices, the control functions become independent and can be upgraded, replaced, or modified without affecting the bearer device. This resolves the upgradability issue while maintaining stable control integration through standardized interfaces between the control plane device and bearer plane devices.
Solution Approach 2:
Extracting control functions into a separate control plane device allows the control functionality to be upgraded independently of the bearer device hardware. The control plane device can be replaced or updated without replacing the entire bearer device, improving ease of manufacture and deployment.
3Reliability
If different bearing techniques use different control architectures, then each technique can be optimized, but network convergence becomes impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The control plane device is designed with universal functionality to support multiple bearing techniques (DSL, cable, wireless, optical) through a common control architecture. This allows the control plane to be optimized for each technique while maintaining network convergence, as the control plane device can manage diverse access technologies through standardized protocols and interfaces.
Data Source
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AI summary
An access network system with separated control and bearer includes an access network control plane and an access network data plane for achieving separation of control and bearer. The access network control plane receives the control information separated from the access network data plane, exchanges the control information with a core network, and control data transfer of the access network data plane. The access network data plane separates control information from data when dealing with flow from a user network, transfers the control information to the access network control plane, and forwards the data from the user network/core network according to the control information of the access network control plane. A method for implementing communications by an access network system with separated control and bearer is provided. Because the access network of the present invention implements separation of control and bearer, the network control method does not need to alter when the bearing technique changes, thereby improving network extensibility and reducing the network maintenance cost.