Branching Point and Uplink Classifier for 5G ATSSS Session Continuity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mobile and wireless telecommunication systems, particularly 5G networks, face challenges in seamless traffic steering and session continuity across multiple access paths due to the lack of branching points and uplink classifiers in the traffic path, which affects the efficiency and reliability of multi-access packet data unit sessions.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method and apparatus that sets up a user plane function with multi-access traffic steering functionality, allowing for the establishment of new multi-access packet data unit sessions with the same data network name and slice, and sending multi-access rules, internet protocol addresses, and multipath transmission control protocol proxy information to user equipment, enabling the use of branching points and uplink classifiers within the data path for enhanced traffic management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If branching points and uplink classifiers are not integrated into the traffic path, then the network architecture remains simple, but traffic steering and session continuity across multiple access paths are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces branching points and uplink classifiers as intermediary network elements that mediate between the user equipment and the core network. These intermediaries enable traffic steering and session continuity by classifying and directing uplink traffic from different access paths (3GPP and non-3GPP) through appropriate routes, thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining simple architecture and ensuring reliable multi-access session continuity.
2Productivity
If multi-access traffic steering functionality is implemented, then traffic distribution across multiple access paths is optimized, but the complexity of session management increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the traffic management functionality by introducing separate branching points and uplink classifiers that operate independently at different locations in the network. This segmentation allows traffic steering decisions to be made locally at each branching point based on pre-configured rules, rather than requiring centralized complex session management, thus improving traffic distribution efficiency while managing complexity through functional decomposition.
3Reliability
If seamless traffic steering across multiple access paths is enabled, then service continuity is improved, but the need for additional network elements increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs branching points and uplink classifiers as multi-functional network elements that perform multiple roles: traffic classification, access path selection, session anchoring, and mobility management. By making these elements universal and multi-functional, the patent reduces the total number of separate network elements needed while still achieving seamless traffic steering and service continuity across multiple access paths.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for access traffic steering, switching, and splitting (ATSSS) with branching point (BP) or uplink classifier (ULCL) on the path. The method may include, setting up, in response to a request, a first user plane function with multi-access traffic steering functionality. The method may also include requesting a user equipment to establish a new multi-access packet data unit session to a same data network name and slice as an old multi-access packet data unit session, or request the user equipment to release the old multi-access packet data unit session with a second user plane function and to initiate a multi-access packet data unit session re-establishment. The method may further include sending, to the user equipment, multi-access rules for the new multi-access packet data unit session, a new internet protocol address, and new multipath transmission control protocol proxy information.