Core Network Interface Device for Protocol Interaction Simplification

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Solution Overview

Problem

The conventional Evolved Packet Core (EPC) network architecture faces difficulties in dynamically adjusting network functions to meet changing user requirements, as it is challenging to add, update, or delete network functions due to high design complexity and maintenance difficulties caused by the need to implement and maintain multiple protocol interfaces for message interactions with external entities.

Innovation Solution

A core network interface device is introduced to manage message interactions by receiving request messages, obtaining necessary identifiers and types, and forwarding response messages, thereby reducing the complexity of communication interactions between the core network and external entities, allowing the service instance to interact directly with other devices without implementing multiple protocol interfaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the service component implements multiple protocol interfaces to complete network functions, then the network function can be completed, but the design complexity of the service component increases and maintenance difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork function completionVSAvoidservice component complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a message forwarding device as an intermediary between the service component and external entities. The service component only needs to implement a simplified internal interface, while the message forwarding device handles protocol conversion and forwarding to multiple external entities. This resolves the contradiction by reducing service component complexity while maintaining its ability to complete network functions through the intermediary's protocol handling capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the service component implements multiple protocol interfaces to complete network functions, then the network function can be completed, but the maintenance difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork function completionVSAvoidmaintenance difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The message forwarding device serves as a maintainable intermediary that centralizes protocol interface management. When protocol changes or maintenance is needed, only the message forwarding device requires updates, not the service component itself. This significantly improves ease of repair and maintenance while the service component continues to complete network functions through the stable internal interface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Stability of the object's composition

If the conventional EPC network architecture is used, then the network structure is stable, but it is difficult to dynamically adjust network functions to meet changing user requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork structure stabilityVSAvoidnetwork function adaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the network architecture into distinct functional components: a stable message forwarding device that handles protocol interactions and a flexible service component that implements network functions. This segmentation allows the message forwarding device to maintain stable network structure while the service component can be dynamically added, updated, or removed to meet changing user requirements, resolving the contradiction between stability and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3413537B1Method of transmitting information and core network access apparatus
Publication Date: 2020.04.22 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3413537B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3413537B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3413537B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A message transmission method and a core network interface device are provided, so as to reduce complexity of a communication interaction between a core network and each external entity. The method is as follows: After receiving a request message from a service instance, a core network interface device obtains device indication information of a target device, an identifier of the service instance, and a type of a response message corresponding to the request message; after sending the request message and receiving a to-be-forwarded response message, obtains a type of the to-be-forwarded response message and device indication information of a device that sends the to-be-forwarded response message; and obtains the identifier of the service instance, and sends the to-be-forwarded response message to the service instance when the type of the to-be-forwarded response message and the device indication information of the device that sends the to-be-forwarded response message respectively match the type of the response message and the device indication information of the target device that correspond to the request message. In this way, the complexity of the communication interaction between the core network and each external entity may be reduced.