AMF Entity PDU Session Handling for 5G Handover

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems face challenges in ensuring data continuity and reducing handover delays during handovers in 5G networks, leading to potential data loss and service interruptions.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a method where the Access Control and Mobility Management Function (AMF) entity and the source radio access network (RAN) node manage data forwarding by transmitting PDU session information directly to a target base station, bypassing the need for interaction with the Session Management Function (SMF), thereby supporting different data forwarding methods and reducing handover delays.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the AMF entity interacts with the SMF to obtain PDU session information during handover, then the handover procedure follows the standard protocol, but the handover delay increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotocol complianceVSAvoidhandover delay
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The AMF entity stores PDU session information in advance during the initial PDU session establishment or modification phases. When handover is triggered, the AMF directly retrieves the stored information without needing to interact with the SMF, thereby reducing handover delay while maintaining protocol compliance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the PDU session information retrieval step from the SMF interaction process and replaces it with a direct lookup in the AMF's stored information. This extraction eliminates the unnecessary SMF interaction during handover, reducing latency while preserving the integrity of the standard handover procedure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If data forwarding is not implemented during handover, then the network architecture remains simple, but data loss occurs and service continuity is interrupted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice continuityVSAvoiddata forwarding mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The AMF entity acts as an intermediary that stores and forwards PDU session information during handover. By introducing this intermediary mechanism with stored information, the system ensures data continuity and service continuity without requiring complex real-time interactions between multiple network functions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

PDU session information is prepared and stored in advance in the AMF entity before handover occurs. This preliminary action ensures that when handover is triggered, the necessary data forwarding information is already available, preventing data loss and ensuring service continuity without adding complex runtime mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3610675B1Apparatus and method for supporting handover in a wireless communication system
Publication Date: 2022.12.07 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3610675B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3610675B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3610675B1 patent drawingFigure 5~7

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a pre-5th-Generation (5G) or 5G communication system to be provided for supporting higher data rates Beyond 4th-Generation (4G) communication system such as Long Term Evolution (LTE). The present invention provides a method for supporting handover, comprising the steps of: informing, by a source base station, a core network whether a direct data forwarding path is available; deciding, by the core network, whether to use direct data forwarding or indirect data forwarding; informing, by the core network, a target base station of information about the direct data forwarding or indirect data forwarding; allocating, by the target base station, data forwarding tunnel information, the target base station allocating the data forwarding tunnel information according to the received information about the direct data forwarding or indirect data forwarding; transmitting, by the target base station, the allocated data forwarding tunnel information to the core network; and informing, by the core network, the source base station of the data forwarding tunnel information. With the present invention, different data forwarding methods are supported to prevent data loss and ensure service continuity.