Common User Plane Data Endpoint for 5G IoT Network Switching

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-establishing a common user plane data endpoint before the UE actually needs to switch networks. This endpoint is configured in advance with necessary routing information and data buffers, so when network switching is triggered, data can be immediately redirected without waiting for full re-establishment procedures, thereby reducing access delay while maintaining data continuity.

The common user plane data endpoint serves as an intermediary element between the UE and the core network. It acts as a temporary data relay point that receives data from one network and forwards it to another network, enabling smooth transitions during UE mobility without requiring direct complex coordination between multiple network nodes, thus reducing signaling overhead.

The patent merges the functions of multiple network nodes into a single common user plane data endpoint. Instead of having separate data handling mechanisms for each network attachment, all data routing decisions and data buffers are consolidated at this shared endpoint, which manages data traffic for both network attachments uniformly, thereby reducing signaling overhead while supporting dual attachment for data continuity.

The common user plane data endpoint is designed with universal functionality to handle data traffic from multiple network attachments simultaneously. It can identify which network the UE is currently attached to and route data accordingly, providing a single multi-functional component that replaces what would otherwise require multiple specialized components, thus reducing overall system complexity and signaling overhead.