Distributed Access Gateway for Cellular Network Tunneling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current LTE cellular networks face inefficiencies due to the overhead of tunnel setup and termination, especially with short-lived sessions and increased machine-to-machine communications, which overwhelm the network and do not facilitate content caching or local data breakout.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a distributed access gateway architecture that uses native IP forwarding for most traffic, invoking tunnels only when necessary for mobility, and leveraging standard IP gear to optimize tunneling requirements, allowing for efficient content dissemination and traffic routing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If tunneling mechanisms are used for each user equipment, then mobility and billing are enabled, but processing overhead increases and scalability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemobility supportVSAvoidprocessing overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The network architecture is segmented into access gateways that handle local data breakout and tunnel management entities that handle mobility signaling. This segmentation allows mobility support to be maintained through targeted tunneling while reducing overall processing overhead by localizing data plane operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The data plane functionality is extracted from the core network and placed at the access gateway level. This extraction enables local data breakout where data can be routed directly at the edge without traversing the entire core network, reducing processing overhead while mobility management remains centralized.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Productivity

If tunnels are established for short-lived sessions, then user data can be transmitted, but signaling overhead increases and network elements become overwhelmed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transmission capabilityVSAvoidsession setup time

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Access gateways pre-establish data forwarding paths and maintain connection state information in advance. When data needs to be transmitted, the path is already prepared, eliminating the need for time-consuming tunnel setup procedures for each short-lived session.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The access gateway maintains local state information and autonomously handles data forwarding decisions without requiring continuous signaling to core network elements. This self-service capability reduces signaling overhead while maintaining data transmission capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Device complexity

If centralized network core architecture is used, then tunnel management is simplified, but content caching close to user and local breakout are not facilitated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetunnel management complexityVSAvoidcontent caching capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Different functional qualities are distributed to appropriate network elements: access gateways possess local quality attributes including content caching capability and local routing intelligence, while the core network maintains centralized tunnel management. This distribution enables both content caching close to users and simplified core network operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The architecture adds a spatial dimension by placing content caching and data breakout capabilities at the network edge (access gateway level) while maintaining centralized control in the core. This dimensional separation allows local content delivery without complicating centralized tunnel management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

4Reliability

If specialized hardware is deployed for tunnel management, then mobility and billing functions are reliable, but device cost and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemobility management reliabilityVSAvoidspecialized hardware requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Access gateways are designed as multi-functional elements that simultaneously handle data forwarding, content caching, local routing, and mobility support. This universality eliminates the need for specialized single-function hardware while maintaining reliable mobility management through integrated operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS9072041B2Architecture for cellular networks

Publication Date: 2015.06.30 ALCATEL LUCENT SA

AI summary

Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method for transmitting data packets in a cellular network to a user equipment using a first distributed access gateway, including: receiving a first tunnel request from a second distributed access gateway; establishing a first tunnel with the second distributed access gateway; receiving a first data packet destined to the user equipment from a native packet transport network; and transmitting the first data packet to the user equipment via the first tunnel to the second distributed access gateway.