Collocated N3IWF and UPF Selection via FQDN Topology Matching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current 5G networks lack a mechanism to collocate N3IWF with UPFs, leading to increased latency and reduced performance due to multiple hops in the data path, especially when user equipment connects over non-3GPP access networks.
Innovation Solution
The method involves selecting collocated N3IWF and UPFs based on fully qualified domain name (FQDN) topology matching, reducing the number of hops and improving performance by enabling the Session Management Function to choose collocated User Plane Functions that are either standalone or collocated with N3IWF.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If N3IWF and UPFs are not collocated, then network architecture flexibility is maintained, but data path latency increases due to multiple hops
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges N3IWF and UPF functions by allowing the UPF to be collocated with N3IWF, eliminating the need for separate node instances and reducing data path hops. This combining of functions directly reduces latency while the selection mechanism manages the added complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The Session Management Function performs preliminary action by selecting and establishing collocated N3IWF-UPF pairs before data transmission begins. The FQDN topology matching is performed in advance to identify optimal collocated nodes, ensuring low-latency paths are established before actual data flow.
2Reliability
If collocated N3IWF and UPFs are selected based on FQDN topology matching, then network performance is improved, but selection mechanism complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces FQDN (Fully Qualified Domain Name) as an intermediary element that enables topology-based selection. The FQDN acts as a mediator between the Session Management Function and the network nodes, providing a standardized way to express topology relationships and enable automatic collocated node selection without complex manual configuration.
3Productivity
If multiple UPFs are deployed in the network, then network capacity and flexibility are improved, but data path hops increase when UE connects over non-3GPP AN
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by selecting UPFs with specific local characteristics (collocation with N3IWF, FQDN topology match) rather than uniformly treating all UPFs equally. The selection criteria favor UPFs that provide local optimization for non-3GPP access, allowing the network to leverage deployed capacity while minimizing latency through intelligent selection.
Data Source
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AI summary
A disclosed method is performed at a first node providing mobile services to a user equipment (UE) over an access network (AN). The first node receives a setup request from UE to be connected to a network over an AN. The first node then sends a fully qualified domain name (FQDN) of the first node over a first interface terminated by the first node to an access and mobility management function (AMF). The first node further triggers the AMF to transmit a session establishment request to a session management function (SMF) including the FQDN of the first node, where in response, the SMF selects second node(s) in the network collocated with the first node based at least in part on a topology match of FQDNs. The first node then provides EE access to the network over the AN through the collocated first node and the node(s).