AGF Multicast Local Breakout for UPF Failover in 5G Convergence
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current techniques for handling unreachable and/or inoperable User Plane Functions (UPFs) in 5G wireless wireline convergence result in significant subscriber traffic disruption, resource consumption, and inefficient multicast data delivery, particularly when multiple subscribers request the same multicast stream.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a network device, such as an Access Gateway Function (AGF), that enables multicast local breakout, creating dual paths for subscriber devices, allowing direct data reception from the data network when the UPF is unavailable, and replicating multicast data locally to conserve resources and reduce latency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional UPF-based multicast delivery is used, then centralized control and management is maintained, but service disruption occurs when UPF is unreachable and network resources are consumed unnecessarily
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the multicast delivery path into two independent routes: a primary path through the UPF for normal operation and a secondary direct path through the AGF for failover. This segmentation allows the system to switch between paths based on UPF availability, resolving the contradiction between maintaining centralized control and ensuring service continuity during UPF failures.
Solution Approach 2:
The AGF acts as an intermediary that receives multicast data directly from the data network when the UPF is unreachable. This intermediary capability allows the system to maintain service continuity by routing traffic through the AGF instead of the unavailable UPF, while the AGF can later forward traffic to the UPF when it becomes available again.
2Productivity
If multiple subscribers request the same multicast stream through separate UPF connections, then individual service quality is maintained, but network resources are consumed inefficiently
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the multicast data reception paths for multiple subscribers at the AGF level. Instead of each subscriber having a separate UPF connection, the AGF receives a single multicast stream from the data network and replicates it for multiple subscribers. This merging approach significantly reduces network resource consumption while maintaining individual service quality for each subscriber.
Solution Approach 2:
The AGF creates copies of the multicast data stream for each subscriber who requested the service. This copying mechanism allows multiple subscribers to receive the same multicast content simultaneously without requiring separate physical connections to the data network, thereby improving resource efficiency while maintaining service quality.
3Speed
If UPF is always required for multicast delivery, then centralized control is maintained, but end-to-end latency increases and service disruption occurs during UPF failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-configuring the AGF with the capability to receive and replicate multicast data directly from the data network. This preparation allows the system to immediately switch to the direct path when the UPF becomes unreachable, minimizing service disruption time and maintaining fast data delivery without requiring UPF involvement during failover scenarios.
Data Source
AI summary
A network device may enable multicast local breakout for a first subscriber device and a second subscriber device, and may receive, from the first subscriber device, a first request to receive multicast data from a data network. The network device may receive, from the second subscriber device, a second request to receive the multicast data, and may determine whether a connection with a user plane function is available. The network device may receive the multicast data directly from the data network based on determining that the connection with the user plane function is unavailable and based on enabling the multicast local breakout. The network device may generate a copy of the multicast data based on determining that the connection with the user plane function is unavailable, and may provide the multicast data to the first subscriber device and the copy of the multicast data to the second subscriber device.