AF-Influenced P2P Traffic Routing in 5G Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current communication networks face inefficiencies in peer-to-peer traffic routing due to independent management of user plane paths, leading to suboptimal routing and increased latency in 5G networks.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for Application Function (AF) influenced traffic routing in 5G networks, where a control function correlates PDU sessions and optimizes user plane paths by selecting or reselecting them based on correlations between sessions, enabling direct communication between user planes and bypassing traditional application servers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If independent PDU session management is used for peer-to-peer communication, then session establishment flexibility is improved, but routing efficiency deteriorates due to suboptimal user plane paths
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the management of multiple PDU sessions by introducing a correlation mechanism that links sessions belonging to the same peer-to-peer communication. The control function correlates PDU sessions based on identifiers such as source/destination IP addresses, ports, and application identifiers, enabling coordinated user plane path selection across correlated sessions to optimize routing efficiency while preserving session establishment flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary control function that acts as a mediator between the application function and the user plane functions. This control function receives correlation information from the application function, determines the correlations between PDU sessions, and instructs user plane functions to select optimal paths based on these correlations, thereby resolving the contradiction between flexible session management and efficient routing.
2Ease of operation
If traditional application server routing is used for peer-to-peer traffic, then traffic management control is improved, but communication latency increases due to indirect routing paths
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the routing optimization function from the traditional application server path by enabling direct user plane path selection between correlated PDU sessions. The control function identifies peer-to-peer traffic patterns and establishes direct user plane connections between source and destination, bypassing the need for traffic to traverse through the application server, thereby reducing latency while maintaining management control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic user plane path selection that adapts based on traffic characteristics and network conditions. The control function can dynamically switch between direct peer-to-peer paths and indirect application server paths depending on the specific traffic flow requirements, enabling low latency for pure data traffic while maintaining management control for signaling and controlled traffic types.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple independent user plane paths are established for PDU sessions, then session independence is improved, but network resource utilization deteriorates due to redundant paths
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges user plane path selection for correlated PDU sessions by enabling the sharing of common network resources such as transport networks, user plane functions, and transmission paths. The control function identifies opportunities to use common user plane functions for multiple correlated sessions, thereby reducing redundant resource allocation and improving overall network resource utilization while preserving session independence through logical correlation rather than physical consolidation.
Data Source
AI summary
Application Function (AF) influenced routing for peer-to-peer (P2P) communications is provided. Core network elements correlate PDU sessions and optimize the UP path for peer-to-peer traffic. UP selection, reselection, configuration or reconfiguration can be performed in support of P2P traffic routing. P2P traffic between a pair of UEs is routed or rerouted through a bridge. The bridge may be established between the first UP and the second UP, and/or between associated RAN nodes. One or more application functions can be included along the bridge path. A policy control function (PCF) directs underlying resources to route P2P traffic via the bridge, for example in response to a trigger from the AF. A session management function (SMF) directs underlying resources to configure or reconfigure user plane data paths to route P2P traffic via the bridge. First and second SMFs of the first and second UPs can cooperate to establish the desired traffic routing. One or more UPFs can be configured to support P2P traffic detection.