Converged UPF Signaling Optimization for Location-Based Services
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing approaches to provide location-based user plane services in packet data networks are inefficient, leading to increased signaling overhead and latency in propagating updated subscriber information.
Innovation Solution
The method involves determining the existence of a converged User Plane Function (UPF) and transmitting User Equipment (UE) information from the Serving Gateway Control Plane (SGW-C) to the SGW-U session of the converged UPF, which then shares this information with the Packet Data Network (PDN) Gateway User Plane (PGW-U) session without communicating with the PDN Gateway Control Plane (PGW-C) session.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If traditional signaling approaches are used to propagate updated subscriber information to PGW-U, then reliability of information delivery is maintained, but signaling overhead and latency increase
Solution Approach 1:
The SGW-U acts as an intermediary that receives updated subscriber information from the control plane and directly shares it with the PGW-U through the S5b interface, eliminating the need for PGW-C to forward the same information. This intermediary approach reduces signaling latency while maintaining reliability through direct peer-to-peer communication between user plane functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the subscriber information sharing function from the control plane (PGW-C) and relocates it to the user plane (SGW-U to PGW-U direct sharing). By taking out this function from the traditional control plane signaling path, the system eliminates redundant signaling messages and reduces latency without compromising information delivery reliability.
2Quantity of substance
If redundant signaling messages are used to ensure information propagation, then information completeness is improved, but signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes redundant signaling messages by extracting the information propagation function from the control plane and implementing it directly in the user plane. The SGW-U directly shares subscriber information with PGW-U, eliminating the need for PGW-C to forward the same information and reducing signaling overhead while maintaining information completeness.
Solution Approach 2:
The SGW-U creates a copy of the subscriber information received from the control plane and directly transmits it to the PGW-U through the S5b interface. This copying mechanism ensures information completeness is maintained while avoiding the need for redundant control plane signaling messages.
3Productivity
If multiple signaling steps are used to propagate subscriber information, then information accuracy is maintained, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the subscriber information propagation function into a single direct signaling step between SGW-U and PGW-U through the S5b interface, eliminating multiple intermediate signaling steps involving PGW-C. This consolidation improves processing efficiency by reducing the number of message processing delays while maintaining information accuracy through direct peer-to-peer communication.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure is directed to systems and techniques for improved signaling of subscriber information and updates thereto for one or more location-based user plane services. In one examples, the systems and techniques can include determining the existence of a converged User Plane Function (UPF) comprising a Serving Gateway User Plane (SGW-U) session and a Packet Data Network (PDN) Gateway User Plane (PGW-U) session. In response to determining the existence of the converged UPF, User Equipment (UE) information can be transmitted from a Serving Gateway Control Plane (SGW-C) session to the SGW-U session of the converged UPF. The UE information received at the SGW-U session can be shared to the PGW-U session of the converged UPF, wherein the PGW-U session receives the UE information without communicating with a PDN Gateway Control Plane (PGW-C) session.