Bidirectional Filter Provisioning in 5G SMF to UPF Signaling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In 5G communication systems, the existing methods for providing filters to the user plane function (UPF) to detect application traffic are inefficient due to limited message length between the session management function (SMF) and UPF, leading to potential abnormal network situations if insufficient filters are provided, especially with increased diversity and number of applications.
Innovation Solution
The method involves the SMF obtaining and transmitting bidirectional filters to the UPF, allowing the UPF to derive filters for both directions from a single-direction filter, reducing redundant information transmission and enabling efficient detection of application traffic by supporting the BIDIR function, which notifies the SMF of its capability to derive filters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the SMF provides separate filters for each direction (uplink and downlink) to the UPF, then the detection of application traffic in both directions is ensured, but the message length between SMF and UPF increases and signaling load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines separate unidirectional filters (uplink and downlink) into a single bidirectional filter that covers both directions. The SMF generates one bidirectional filter instead of two separate unidirectional filters, reducing the number of filters that need to be transmitted and stored in the UPF while maintaining detection capability for both uplink and downlink traffic.
Solution Approach 2:
The bidirectional filter is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously - it can detect both uplink and downlink traffic for an application. The filter structure includes parameters that allow it to match packets in both directions, making a single filter object universal for bidirectional traffic detection rather than requiring separate specialized filters for each direction.
2Reliability
If the SMF provides separate filters for each direction, then comprehensive traffic detection is achieved, but the device complexity and signaling load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the management of separate unidirectional filters into a single bidirectional filter object. This reduces the complexity of filter provisioning, storage, and management in both the SMF and UPF, as there is one filter to manage instead of two separate filters that need to be kept synchronized.
3Productivity
If the message length between SMF and UPF is limited, then signaling efficiency is maintained, but insufficient filters may be provided leading to abnormal network situations
Solution Approach 1:
By combining multiple unidirectional filters into a single bidirectional filter, the patent reduces the total number of filters that need to be transmitted in signaling messages. This allows more complete filter provisioning within the existing message length constraints, preventing abnormal network situations caused by insufficient filters.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides methods and apparatuses for provisioning a bidirectional filter. In some embodiments, a method of a first network entity performing a session management function (SMF) in a communication system includes obtaining a first filter for a first direction and a second filter for a second direction that are associated with an application, identifying whether the first filter is a bidirectional filter based on a result of comparing the first filter and the second filter, identifying whether a second network entity performing a user plane function (UPF) supports a function of obtaining the second filter, based on the first filter being identified as the bidirectional filter, and transmitting, to the second network entity, a first message including the first filter and information indicating that the first filter is the bidirectional filter, based on identifying that the second network entity supports the function of obtaining the second filter.