Decentralized Gateway Devices for Local Traffic Breakout
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Solution Overview
Problem
The deployment of Home eNodeBs (HeNBs) in wireless networks leads to increased scalability challenges and operational costs due to the need for extensive interfaces with the Evolved Packet Core (EPC), as existing LTE standard specifications require all traffic to transit through the central EPC, limiting capacity and increasing costs per bit of information.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that establish a connection to a single mobility management entity in the core network via a gateway device, restricting connectivity to a pre-defined group of core network addresses, allowing for local breakout of bulk traffic and distributing load across a pool of gateway devices, thereby reducing the need for centralized routing and simplifying network functions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If all traffic transits through the centralized EPC, then core network control and management is simplified, but scalability is reduced and operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the centralized EPC functionality by introducing distributed gateway devices that can handle traffic locally. The core network is divided into centralized control functions (MME) and distributed user plane functions (gateway devices), allowing traffic to be processed at multiple levels rather than funneling everything through a single centralized point.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a spatial dimension to traffic routing by enabling local breakout capabilities at distributed gateway devices. Instead of a single-dimensional centralized routing path, traffic can now flow through multiple dimensions - either through the centralized EPC or locally at gateway devices, creating a multi-path architecture that improves scalability.
2Device complexity
If all traffic transits through the centralized EPC, then centralized control is maintained, but costs per bit of information increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the user plane traffic handling function from the centralized EPC and places it at distributed gateway devices. This extraction allows bulk traffic to be processed locally without incurring the full cost of centralized EPC transit, reducing the cost per bit while maintaining centralized control for management and signaling functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The gateway devices act as intermediaries between the centralized EPC and the access network. They mediate traffic flow by allowing local breakout for bulk traffic while still maintaining connectivity to the centralized EPC for control functions, thus reducing costs while preserving centralized control architecture.
3Productivity
If HeNBs connect to multiple core network nodes, then load distribution is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple gateway device functions into a single selected gateway for each HeNB connection. Instead of requiring HeNBs to manage multiple core network node connections simultaneously, the system selects one gateway from a pool to handle all traffic for a given HeNB, simplifying the device complexity while still achieving load distribution across the gateway pool.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service through automatic gateway selection mechanisms. The HeNB or the network controller automatically selects an appropriate gateway from the pool based on current load conditions, eliminating the need for manual configuration or complex multi-node management at the HeNB level, thus achieving load distribution without increasing device complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to methods and apparatuses for providing network access, wherein a connection to a core network is established via a wireless access device (20) and a gateway device (42). Connectivity of the wireless access device (20) is restricted to a pre-defined group of core network address of a pool of gateway devices (42) with multi-node connectivity to the core network, and a single address is selected to establish the connection to a one of the gateway de¬ vices (42). The gateway device (42) is provided with a relay function for mapping a single input address to a plurality of core network addresses based on a location information of the wireless access device (10) and with at least one co-located decentralized core network functionality.