BNG as DHCP Server for 5G CPE Overhead Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current configurations in 5G networks face inefficiencies in managing DHCP packets for legacy DHCP-based customer premises equipment (CPE), leading to increased overhead, resource wastage, and scalability issues due to multiple encapsulations and decapsulations of DHCP control packets.
Innovation Solution
A broadband network gateway (BNG) is implemented to support DHCP-based CPEs in 5G wireline and wireless convergence by acting as a DHCP server, reducing the need for intermediate DHCP relays and minimizing traffic across the network, thereby conserving resources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple encapsulations and decapsulations of DHCP control packets are performed through intermediate DHCP relays, then DHCP-based CPEs can be supported in 5G networks, but network overhead increases and resources are wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the DHCP server functionality from the core network elements (SMF, UPF) and relocates it to the BNG. This eliminates the need for DHCP packets to traverse through multiple network elements requiring encapsulation and decapsulation, thereby reducing network overhead and resource consumption while maintaining support for DHCP-based CPEs
Solution Approach 2:
The BNG acts as an intermediary device between the CPE and the 5G core network. By positioning the DHCP server at the BNG, it serves as the direct communication endpoint for DHCP packets, eliminating the need for intermediate relaying through SMF and UPF, thus reducing the number of encapsulation and decapsulation operations
2Adaptability or versatility
If DHCP packets are transmitted through multiple network elements (SMF, UPF) with encapsulation and decapsulation, then DHCP-based CPEs can be supported, but scalability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the DHCP server functionality from the complex 5G core network elements (SMF, UPF) and places it at the BNG. This simplifies the network architecture by removing DHCP-related processing from multiple network elements, reducing overall network complexity while maintaining scalability for DHCP-based CPEs
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the DHCP service function from the core network control plane and user plane functions. By dedicating the DHCP server to the BNG, it separates DHCP packet handling from other core network functions, simplifying each component's responsibility and improving overall network scalability
3Adaptability or versatility
If intermediate DHCP relays are used to support legacy CPEs, then compatibility is maintained, but resource wastage occurs due to multiple packet transmissions
Solution Approach 1:
The BNG provides DHCP server functionality locally, enabling it to directly serve DHCP-based CPEs without requiring external relays. This self-service capability allows the BNG to handle DHCP packets autonomously, eliminating redundant transmissions through intermediate elements and reducing resource wastage while maintaining legacy CPE compatibility
Data Source
AI summary
In some implementations, a broadband network gateway (BNG) may receive, from a customer premises equipment, a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) discover request, wherein the BNG is connected to the customer premises equipment and a fixed mobile interworking function (FMIF). The BNG may communicate with, based on the DHCP discover request, the FMIF. The BNG may provide to the customer premises equipment, and based on communicating with the FMIF, a DHCP offer that offers utilization of the BNG as a DHCP server. The BNG may receive from the customer premises equipment, and based on providing the DHCP offer, a DHCP request to request utilization of the BNG as the DHCP server. The BNG may provide to the customer premises equipment, and based on the DHCP request, a DHCP acknowledgment that acknowledges utilization of the BNG as the DHCP server.