Control Forwarding Decoupling Protocol Negotiation

Solution Overview

Problem

The existing mobile network architecture faces challenges in efficiently processing high volumes of signaling interfaces due to the complexity and cost of dedicated hardware platforms in gateway devices, which hampers the promotion and deployment of mobile packet data networks.

Innovation Solution

A protocol processing method is introduced where control is decoupled from forwarding, allowing a control plane device to perform control plane signaling and a forwarding plane device to forward user plane data, enabling negotiation of packet service processing protocols like PPP and L2TP, with the forwarding plane device performing negotiations based on parameters received from the control plane device.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If dedicated hardware platforms with extensive processing capabilities are used in gateway devices to handle high volumes of signaling interfaces, then signaling processing performance is improved, but device complexity and cost increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignaling processing performanceVSAvoidhardware platform complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The gateway device is segmented into control plane and forwarding plane functions. The control plane handles signaling processing while the forwarding plane handles data forwarding. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each plane, enabling high signaling processing performance through software-based control plane implementation without requiring complex dedicated hardware for both functions simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The gateway device is designed with multi-functionality to handle both control plane signaling and forwarding plane data traffic using a unified platform. The control plane device can process multiple signaling protocols (PPP, L2TP, etc.) and the forwarding plane device can forward various types of data traffic, eliminating the need for separate dedicated hardware for each function and reducing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Productivity

If dedicated hardware platforms with extensive processing capabilities are used in gateway devices to handle high volumes of signaling interfaces, then signaling processing performance is improved, but deployment cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignaling processing performanceVSAvoiddeployment cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The complex signaling processing functions are extracted from the forwarding plane and placed in a separate control plane device. This extraction allows the use of more cost-effective hardware platforms since the control plane can be implemented on general-purpose processors rather than requiring expensive dedicated signaling processing hardware, thereby reducing deployment cost while maintaining high signaling processing performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using expensive dedicated hardware for signaling processing, the patent uses software-based control plane implementations that can be copied and deployed across multiple gateway devices. This software copying approach reduces hardware costs and enables more economical deployment while maintaining consistent signaling processing capabilities across the network.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Ease of operation

If control and forwarding are coupled in gateway devices, then protocol negotiation and data path creation are simplified, but signaling processing capacity becomes a bottleneck

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotocol negotiation simplicityVSAvoidsignaling processing capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The gateway device is segmented into control plane and forwarding plane functions. The control plane handles signaling processing while the forwarding plane handles data forwarding. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each plane, enabling high signaling processing performance through software-based control plane implementation without requiring complex dedicated hardware for both functions simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2879461B1Protocol processing method under control and data forwarding decoupling

Publication Date: 2019.01.09 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD

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AI summary

The present invention discloses a protocol processing method applied when control is decoupled from forwarding, a control plane device, and a forwarding plane device. The method includes: causing a control plane device to send an indication to a forwarding plane device according to a processing manner of a packet service processing protocol, and to deliver a negotiation parameter of the packet service processing protocol to the forwarding plane device; and causing the control plane device to receive a negotiation result of the packet service processing protocol, and to create a data path between a user equipment and a network device, where the negotiation result is uploaded by the forwarding plane device and obtained according to information that includes the negotiation parameter of the packet service processing protocol. In this way, when control is decoupled from forwarding on a gateway, the forwarding plane device can cooperate with the control plane device to perform packet service processing protocol negotiation.