5G Anchor UPF Dynamic Management for Local Offloading

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Solution Overview

Problem

In 5G cellular networks, the addition or removal of an anchor User Plane Function (UPF) for local offloading is inefficient, especially when a user equipment (UE) moves out of the service area, leading to increased backhaul traffic overhead and reduced performance in traffic offloading.

Innovation Solution

A method is introduced that involves signaling between network entities to add or remove the anchor UPF from a PDU session based on the UE's location, using a session management function (SMF) to allocate and manage intermediate UPFs for data forwarding, ensuring session continuity and optimizing traffic routing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If an anchor UPF is added for local offloading when UE is in service area, then traffic offloading performance is improved, but backhaul traffic overhead increases when UE moves out of service area

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetraffic offloading performanceVSAvoidbackhaul traffic overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic management of anchor UPF by the SMF based on UE mobility state. When UE moves out of service area, the SMF dynamically removes the anchor UPF from the PDU session, adapting the network configuration to current conditions. This dynamic adjustment prevents unnecessary backhaul traffic overhead while maintaining local offloading performance when UE is within service area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the network configuration parameter (anchor UPF presence in PDU session) based on UE location parameters. The SMF monitors UE service area status and modifies the PDU session structure accordingly - adding anchor UPF when UE enters service area for local offloading, and removing it when UE leaves to reduce backhaul overhead.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Loss of energy

If anchor UPF is dynamically added and removed based on UE location, then backhaul overhead is reduced, but session continuity may be affected

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebackhaul traffic overheadVSAvoidsession continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The SMF performs preliminary actions by proactively removing the anchor UPF from the PDU session when UE moves out of service area, before any potential session disruption can occur. This preventive measure ensures that the network configuration is optimized in advance, preventing both backhaul overhead and potential session continuity issues.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the SMF continuously monitors UE service area status and adjusts the anchor UPF configuration accordingly. This closed-loop control ensures that the anchor UPF is present only when needed for local offloading, maintaining session continuity while optimizing backhaul traffic efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS11632703B2Method of processing anchor user plane function (UPF) for local offloading in 5G cellular network

Publication Date: 2023.04.18 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

Disclosed are a communication scheme and a system thereof for converging an IoT technology and a 5G communication system for supporting a high data transmission rate beyond that of a 4G system. The present disclosure can be applied to intelligent services (for example, services related to a smart home, smart building, smart city, smart car, connected car, health care, digital education, retail business, security, and safety) based on the 5G communication technology and the IoT-related technology. The present disclosure relates to a method of a session management function (SMF) entity in a communication system.