5G Bridge UPF Node Critical Status Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

In 5G communication networks, the addition of a low-capability UE or DS-TT restricts the capabilities of a 5GS bridge, leading to inefficient use of advanced features and potential disruption of ongoing critical communications due to the reporting of capabilities per bridge rather than per port, resulting in the need to fall back to minimum common capabilities.

Innovation Solution

Setting a UPF node of a 5G system bridge to a critical status and constraining new UEs to connect only to UPF nodes with matching or higher capabilities, thereby preventing the creation of new ports and ensuring high-capability UEs are not restricted by low-capability devices, and redirecting UEs to alternative UPF nodes or VNFs if necessary.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If capabilities are reported per bridge rather than per port, then the system maintains simplified capability reporting, but the addition of a low-capability device restricts the capabilities of the entire bridge

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecapability reporting structureVSAvoidbridge capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the bridge capability reporting into per-port capabilities rather than a single aggregate bridge capability. Each port reports its own capabilities independently, allowing high-capability ports to maintain their advanced features even when low-capability devices are connected to other ports. This resolves the contradiction by eliminating the all-or-nothing capability restriction while maintaining simplified reporting at the port level.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If a low-capability UE is added to the bridge, then network inclusivity is improved, but high-capability UEs are restricted to minimum common capabilities

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice compatibilityVSAvoidadvanced feature utilization

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by allowing different ports to have different capability levels. High-capability UEs connected to high-capability ports can utilize advanced features while low-capability UEs connected to other ports operate with their limited capabilities. This resolves the contradiction by enabling device compatibility across the bridge while preserving advanced feature utilization for capable devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If the bridge falls back to minimum common capabilities, then compatibility across all devices is improved, but efficient use of advanced features is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice compatibilityVSAvoidfeature utilization efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting capability reporting to the port level, the system eliminates the need for bridges to fall back to minimum common capabilities. Each port independently reports and utilizes its own capability level, allowing the bridge to maintain optimal capability utilization across all ports simultaneously. This resolves the contradiction by achieving both universal compatibility and efficient advanced feature use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS20250106678A1Network node and method performed therein

Publication Date: 2025.03.27 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)

AI summary

A method performed by a network node for handling communication in a communication network. The network node sets a UPF node of a 5G system bridge to a status of critical, when a condition is fulfilled. With the proviso that the status of the UPF node is set to critical, network node further constrains a UE to connect to the UPF node.