Base Station ICN Aggregation and Caching for Mobile Backhaul Efficiency

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current ICN implementations in mobile networks fail to realize the potential of data caching and interest packet aggregation at mobile network base stations, leading to inefficient transmission of duplicate packets and increased network load.

Innovation Solution

Implementing an aggregate PDU session at the mobile network base station to manage ICN traffic, enabling interest aggregation and data caching without disrupting existing mobile network infrastructure, by configuring the base station to handle ICN packets and establish aggregate PDU sessions between the base station and the core network.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If ICN packets are transmitted through traditional per-UE PDU sessions to UPF, then end-to-end connectivity is maintained, but network efficiency deteriorates due to lack of interest aggregation and data caching at base station

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork efficiencyVSAvoidbase station functionality

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The base station acts as an intermediary between UEs and the UPF, introducing ICN-specific functionality (PIT, FIB, caching) at the radio access network level. This intermediary role enables interest aggregation and local data caching, improving network efficiency without requiring changes to the core UPF infrastructure or UE devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments ICN packet handling from traditional IP packet handling by introducing separate data structures (PIT, FIB) and processing logic at the base station. ICN packets are identified by their protocol type and routed through dedicated ICN processing paths, allowing simultaneous support for both traditional IP and ICN protocols without interference.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If aggregate PDU session is established at base station for ICN traffic, then interest aggregation and data caching are enabled, but compatibility with existing IP-based infrastructure may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveICN protocol supportVSAvoidsession management

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The base station is enhanced with multi-functionality to simultaneously support traditional IP-based PDU sessions and ICN-specific aggregate PDU sessions. The same base station infrastructure handles both IP packets and ICN packets, maintaining compatibility with existing 3GPP infrastructure while adding ICN protocol support through additional processing capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces ICN-specific parameters and data structures (PIT entries, FIB tables, interest packet names) that differ from traditional IP routing parameters. By changing the parameter space for ICN packet handling, the system can optimize for ICN-specific operations like interest aggregation and named data caching without affecting existing IP-based session management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If multiple interest packets for same data are transmitted to UPF, then each UE request is individually processed, but unnecessary packet transmission increases network load

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverequest fulfillmentVSAvoidpacket transmission energy

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The base station merges multiple interest packets for the same named data into a single aggregated interest packet forwarded to the UPF. The PIT tracks multiple UE requests for the same content and combines them, ensuring reliable fulfillment for all requesting UEs while reducing redundant transmissions and energy consumption on the backhaul link.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The base station performs preliminary interest aggregation and data caching operations before packets reach the UPF. By checking the PIT and FIB at the base station level, the system can satisfy requests from cache or aggregate interests in advance, preventing unnecessary upstream transmissions and reducing overall network energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Speed

If data is cached at every ICN node, then data retrieval speed improves, but memory requirements and device complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata retrieval speedVSAvoidcache memory

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements caching with local quality by placing cache functionality specifically at the base station level rather than uniformly at all network nodes. The base station's cache serves the local wireless access network, providing fast data retrieval for mobile UEs where latency is most critical, while avoiding the need for cache memory in core network UPF devices or end UE devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS12634800B2Base station assisted information centric network

Publication Date: 2026.05.19 INTEL CORP

AI summary

System and techniques for base station assisted Information Centric Network (ICN) are described herein. A mobile network base station receives an ICN packet from a user equipment (UE). The mobile network base station identifies an aggregate packet data unit (PDU) session with a user plane function (UPF) ICN gateway (ICN-GW) hosted in a mobile network core network (CN) for the ICN packet. Then, the mobile network base station transmits the ICN packet via the aggregate PDU session.