Connection Management for Edge Service Shunting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional mobile network architectures face challenges in flexibility and efficiency due to excessive configuration requirements on terminal devices and increased network processing complexity for edge service shunting, leading to suboptimal performance in low-delay and high-bandwidth scenarios.

Innovation Solution

A connection management method that dynamically adjusts the type of path between terminal devices and forwarding planes based on their location, allowing for direct or routed connections through an Access Network, minimizing configuration changes on the terminal device side and optimizing network processing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a multi-session solution is used for edge service shunting, then edge service shunting can be implemented, but the terminal device must maintain excessive configuration information to manage multiple session connections

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveedge service shunting capabilityVSAvoidterminal device configuration information
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the session management function from the terminal device and relocates it to the network side. The network manages PDU sessions and establishes direct connections between the access network and user plane function, eliminating the need for the terminal device to maintain complex configuration information while preserving edge service shunting capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a network-side intermediary mechanism that handles the connection management between the terminal device and the user plane function. The access network establishes direct connections through the network, acting as an intermediary that simplifies the terminal device's configuration requirements while enabling edge service shunting.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If a single-session solution is used for edge service shunting, then configuration processing on the terminal device is simplified, but network processing complexity and delay for accessing core-side PDN increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveterminal device configuration processingVSAvoidnetwork processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic connection management mechanism where the network can flexibly establish direct connections between the access network and user plane function based on real-time needs. This dynamic approach allows the network to optimize processing paths while maintaining simple terminal device configuration, balancing between operational ease and network processing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Device complexity

If user-plane function is deployed in a centralized manner in core layer, then network architecture is simplified, but transmission delay and backhaul network pressure increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork architectureVSAvoidtransmission delay
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the user-plane function deployment by establishing direct connections between the access network and the user plane function, creating localized service areas. This segmentation allows the user plane function to be deployed closer to users without requiring complete architectural simplification, thereby reducing transmission delay and backhaul pressure while maintaining manageable network complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3525548B1Connection management method and apparatus, and computer storage medium
Publication Date: 2021.12.08 CHINA MOBILE COMM GRP CO LTD
  • EP3525548B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3525548B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3525548B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed are a connection management method and apparatus, and a computer storage medium. The method comprises: detecting relevant information about a terminal device; and based on the relevant information about the terminal device, determining whether to adjust the type of a connection path between the terminal device and a first forwarding plane, wherein the type of the connection path between the terminal device and the first forwarding plane at least comprises: a first-type path being a connection path directly established, by means of an access network, between the terminal device and the first forwarding plane, and a second-type path being a connection path established, by means of the access network via a second forwarding plane, between the terminal device and the first forwarding plane.