Combined User Plane Routing Without Intermediate Interface Paths
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technical specifications for 4G and 5G mobile network operations do not specify how to optimize user plane traffic stream handling when Control Plane and User Plane entities are combined in a single node, leading to unnecessary use of expensive interface resources.
Innovation Solution
A combined User Plane node is configured to optimize user plane traffic stream handling by eliminating unnecessary intermediate circuits and utilizing Terminal Endpoint Identifiers associated with non-existent intermediate paths in Packet Forwarding Control Protocol responses, while maintaining compliance with Control Plane rules.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If traditional user plane traffic stream handling is used with separate Control Plane and User Plane entities, then compliance with existing technical specifications is maintained, but expensive interface resources are unnecessarily consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines Control Plane entities (SGW-C, PGW-C, TDF-C) and User Plane entities (SGW-U, PGW-U, TDF-U) into a single integrated node. This merging eliminates the need for separate Sxa, Sxb, and Sxc interfaces between control and user plane entities, directly reducing interface resource consumption while maintaining all necessary control and data plane functions within the unified node structure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates unnecessary intermediate circuits and interfaces from the traditional architecture. By identifying that certain intermediate Sxa, Sxb, and Sxc interfaces become redundant when control and user plane entities are co-located in the same node, the invention removes these extraneous connections, reducing complexity and resource consumption
2Quantity of substance
If intermediate circuits are eliminated in combined User Plane node, then cost savings are achieved, but compliance with Control Plane rules must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism within the combined node that allows Control Plane entities to communicate with User Plane entities through internal routing without requiring external intermediate circuits. The control plane software components act as mediators, establishing direct logical connections that bypass the need for physical intermediate interfaces while maintaining protocol compliance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the combined node by configuring it to recognize and process traffic directly between control and user plane entities without requiring traditional intermediate circuit parameters. This parameter change enables the node to operate in a simplified mode that reduces interface count while maintaining functional equivalence through software-based routing and addressing
Data Source
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AI summary
A combined User Plane (UP) node optimizes the UP data stream handling for 4G/5G network operation as follows. The combined UP node, which includes an access data plane node, an intermediate data plane node, an anchor data plane node, and a session handling process module. If the IP addresses or the namespaces of the access data plane node, the intermediate data plane node, and the anchor data plane node are different, then the downlink and uplink packet stream handling utilizes an intermediate interface path within the combined UP node. If the IP addresses or the namespaces of the access data plane node, the intermediate data plane node, and the anchor data plane node are same, then the downlink and uplink packet stream handling does not utilize an intermediate interface path within the combined UP node, but TEID of the unutilized intermediate interface path is used in PFCP response message.