Core Network Filter Element for Mobile Traffic Amplification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile communication networks face performance impacts due to traffic amplification, which existing filter solutions fail to address effectively, leading to network overload and service degradation, as they lack awareness of mobile network-specific conditions that cause traffic amplification based on the state of mobile devices.
Innovation Solution
A method that employs a filter element within the core network to differentiate the handling of downlink data packets based on the load conditions and the state of user equipment, allowing forwarding only if specific conditions are met to avoid message amplification, such as knowing the user equipment is in an activated state, and applying alternative treatments like rejecting or delaying packets when the network is overloaded.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing filter solutions are used to protect the mobile communication network, then network security is improved, but traffic amplification caused by mobile network-specific conditions cannot be addressed, leading to network overload and service degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by implementing a specialized filter element within the mobile network core that addresses mobile-network-specific traffic amplification conditions. This filter element is positioned at a specific location (between the packet gateway and the radio access network) and applies localized filtering rules tailored to mobile device states (idle vs. activated), rather than using generic network-wide filtering. This resolves the contradiction by providing targeted protection against amplification attacks while maintaining normal network performance for legitimate traffic.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter element acts as an intermediary component between the packet gateway and the radio access network. It mediates the traffic flow by inspecting downlink data packets and determining whether to forward them based on the current network load and the state of the target mobile device. This intermediary position allows the filter to prevent traffic amplification before it reaches the radio access network, thereby protecting network performance while maintaining security.
2Reliability
If the network forwards all downlink data packets to maintain service quality, then user service quality is improved, but traffic amplification occurs when mobile devices are in idle state, causing network overload
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the filter element's behavior adaptive based on real-time conditions. The filter dynamically adjusts its forwarding decisions based on two key variables: the current network load (monitored via load indicators) and the state of the target mobile device (idle or activated). When the network is lightly loaded and the device is activated, packets are forwarded normally. When the network is heavily loaded or the device is idle, the filter blocks packets to prevent amplification. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between maintaining service quality and preventing network overload.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of packet forwarding behavior based on the state parameters of the mobile device and network load. Specifically, the filter element modifies its forwarding parameter (forward vs. block) based on the device state parameter (idle/activated) and network load parameter (light/heavy). This parameter-based decision-making allows the network to optimize between service quality and load management by changing operational parameters rather than maintaining a fixed forwarding policy.
3Stability of the object's composition
If rate limiting is applied to prevent network overload, then network stability is improved, but regular traffic is excessively limited, degrading service quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing traffic into different categories based on the state of the target mobile device (idle state traffic vs. activated state traffic). The filter element applies different handling rules to each segment: activated state traffic is forwarded normally even under load, while idle state traffic is blocked to prevent amplification. This segmentation allows the network to maintain stability by blocking only the problematic idle-state traffic while preserving throughput for legitimate activated-state traffic, avoiding excessive limitation of regular traffic.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for protecting a mobile communication network from performance impacts, wherein the mobile communication network comprises an access network and a core network, the access network comprising a plurality of radio cells and a plurality of base station entities, and the core network comprising a plurality of network nodes of the mobile communication network, wherein a user equipment is located in a radio cell of the plurality of radio cells, the radio cell being served by a base station entity of the plurality of base station entities, wherein the core network comprises a filter element, the filter element -- either providing a forwarding functionality, to the user equipment, of downlink data packets directed to the specific IP-address or to the specific range of IP-addresses of the user equipment, -- or providing an alternative treatment functionality of downlink data packets directed to the specific IP-address or to the specific range of IP-addresses of the user equipment, the application of the forwarding versus the alternative treatment functionality of the filter element being dependent on load conditions of the mobile communication network at a reception time of the downlink data packets at the core network, wherein at a given load condition of the mobile communication network in case of a particular downlink data packet directed to the user equipment, incoming to the core network, the particular downlink data packet is forwarded to the user equipment if at least one of the following conditions are met: -- the filter element comprises an information that the user equipment is in the activated state, -- a preceding downlink data packet, preceding the particular downlink data packet in time and being directed to the specific IP-address or to the specific range of IP- addresses of the user equipment, has been forwarded to the user equipment, wherein the preceding downlink data packet precedes the particular downlink data packet by less than a predetermined first time interval, -- a preceding uplink data packet, preceding the particular downlink data packet in time and being originating from the specific IP-address or from the specific range of IP- addresses of the user equipment, has been received, by the filter element, from the user equipment, wherein the preceding uplink data packet precedes the particular downlink data packet by less than a predetermined second time interval.