Distributed Gateway Load Balancing via F-TEID Advertisement
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Solution Overview
Problem
In distributed gateway deployments, existing load-balancing methods in wireless communication networks lead to significant packet resending between different gateway instances, resulting in performance overhead and inefficiencies, as routers lack precise information on which gateway instance is responsible for specific subscriber sessions.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method where each distributed gateway instance advertises its assigned F-TEID range to the router, allowing the router to forward packets directly to the correct gateway instance based on the F-TEID, reducing unnecessary traffic and improving performance by ensuring each instance only handles its designated subscriber sessions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If existing load-balancing methods are used in distributed gateway deployments, then gateway instances can handle subscriber sessions, but packet resending occurs between gateway instances causing performance overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having each gateway instance advertise its F-TEID range to the router in advance. This allows the router to pre-establish the mapping between F-TEIDs and gateway instances, enabling direct packet forwarding without subsequent resending operations. The advertisement mechanism ensures that routing information is available before packets arrive, eliminating the need for packet resending and the associated performance overhead.
2Reliability
If gateway instances handle all subscriber sessions, then service coverage is maintained, but traffic distribution is unoptimized leading to inefficiencies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the F-TEID space into distinct ranges, with each gateway instance assigned a specific F-TEID range. This segmentation enables the router to distribute traffic efficiently by directing packets with F-TEIDs within a particular range to the corresponding gateway instance. The segmentation maintains service coverage across all gateway instances while optimizing traffic distribution, as each instance handles only the sessions within its assigned range.
3Device complexity
If routers forward packets without F-TEID range information, then routing is simple, but packet resending occurs between gateway instances
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where gateway instances advertise their F-TEID ranges to the router. This advertisement acts as an intermediary information layer that enables the router to make informed forwarding decisions. The router uses this advertised information to directly forward packets to the appropriate gateway instance based on F-TEID matching, eliminating packet resending while maintaining relatively simple routing logic through the use of standardized BGP or OSPF advertisement protocols.
Data Source
AI summary
Method for assisting load-balancing of subscriber sessions in a distributed mobile gateway (e.g. PGW, SGW, ePDG, or TWAG) comprising a plurality of distributed gateway instances (DGIs) is disclosed. Method includes receiving an advertisement of GTP fully qualified tunnel endpoints identifications (F-TEIDs) allocated to a first plurality of subscriber sessions, the sessions assigned to a first DGI of the DGIs. The advertisement indicates the first DGI as a recipient for data provided to the gateway and related to any of the first plurality of sessions. Method further includes storing an association between the GTP F-TEIDs of the advertisement and the first DGI, receiving a packet comprising data related to a subscriber session of the first plurality of sessions, identifying a F-TEID for the data of the received packet, identifying from stored association, that the F-TEID is associated with the first DGI, and forwarding data of the packet to the first DGI.