Core Network Traffic Handling via CCA Mapping

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Solution Overview

Problem

The increasing encrypted data traffic in core network domains makes it difficult to determine data traffic characteristics, which are essential for optimizing traffic handling and ensuring Quality of Experience (QoE) and Quality of Service (QoS).

Innovation Solution

An apparatus is configured to receive data traffic from outside the core network domain, analyze it using deep packet inspection, and obtain congestion control algorithm (CCA) information from a mapping configured by the data traffic sender. This information is used to perform traffic handling actions that optimize data traffic handling based on the CCA type.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If data traffic is encrypted to enhance security, then security is improved, but the ability to determine data traffic characteristics deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesecurityVSAvoiddata traffic characteristics
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The data traffic sender performs preliminary action by configuring a mapping between data traffic identifiers and CCA information, and providing this mapping to the core network domain before traffic handling. This allows the network to obtain CCA information without needing to decrypt the actual traffic content, thus maintaining security while enabling characteristic determination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The mapping configuration acts as an intermediary mechanism that bridges the gap between encrypted traffic and network control functions. Instead of directly analyzing encrypted traffic, the network uses the pre-configured mapping to obtain CCA information, which mediates between security requirements and traffic characterization needs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If deep packet inspection is used to analyze encrypted traffic, then data traffic characteristics can be obtained, but processing complexity and computational resources increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata traffic characteristicsVSAvoidprocessing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts only the necessary CCA information from the data traffic through the pre-configured mapping, rather than performing comprehensive deep packet inspection on the entire encrypted traffic stream. This extraction approach obtains the required characteristics while avoiding the computational burden of analyzing all traffic details.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of directly inspecting the actual encrypted traffic, the system uses a copy or representation of traffic characteristics through the mapping configuration. The mapping provides a simplified representation that contains the essential CCA information without requiring complex analysis of the original traffic.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Productivity

If traffic handling actions are optimized based on CCA information, then QoE and QoS are improved, but the system requires additional configuration and control mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetraffic handling efficiencyVSAvoidconfiguration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The mapping configuration serves multiple functions: it identifies data traffic, provides CCA information, and enables optimized handling actions. This universal mechanism consolidates what would otherwise require separate configuration systems, reducing overall complexity while enabling sophisticated traffic optimization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The data traffic sender performs self-service by automatically configuring and providing the mapping to the core network domain. This eliminates the need for manual network configuration and reduces the burden on network operators, allowing the system to achieve optimized handling with minimal external intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4011044B1Technique for controlling and performing data traffic handling in a core network domain
Publication Date: 2025.02.19 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
  • EP4011044B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4011044B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP4011044B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

A technique for handling data traffic in a core network domain of a communication network is described. An apparatus comprised by the technique is configured to be located in the core network domain and to receive data traffic sent under control of a transport layer protocol that is configured to apply a congestion control algorithm, CCA. The apparatus is further configured to analyze the data traffic to obtain a data traffic analyzation result, to obtain, based on the analyzation result, CCA information about the CCA that can be or is applied by the transport layer protocol, and to perform a traffic handling action for the data traffic taking into account the obtained CCA information.