Dynamic GTP Termination Point Shifting in Virtualized Gateways
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current network technologies face limitations in dynamically managing GTP termination points, leading to inflexibility and potential overloading in virtualized gateways, especially when separating user plane and control plane functionalities.
Innovation Solution
A method is introduced to dynamically shift or change the GTP termination point between the fast path and cloud, utilizing OpenFlow protocol to optimize the location of the mobility anchor point, allowing for real-time adjustments and independent scaling of user and control planes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If GTP termination is implemented in the fast path with dedicated hardware, then processing speed and real-time performance are improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments GTP termination functionality into separate virtual network functions that can be independently deployed and scaled. By virtualizing the GTP termination point, the system separates the control plane from the user plane, allowing fast path processing for user data while maintaining simplified hardware architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a virtualization layer as an intermediary between the physical hardware and GTP termination functions. This virtualization infrastructure enables flexible deployment of GTP termination points without requiring dedicated hardware for each function, thus reducing device complexity while maintaining processing speed through efficient virtual resource management.
2Adaptability or versatility
If user plane handling is separated from control plane functionalities, then network flexibility and scalability are improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by separating control plane and user plane into distinct virtual network functions. This allows independent scaling and management of each plane, improving network flexibility while using standardized virtualization components to manage the resulting system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates universal virtual network functions that can perform multiple roles. The separated user plane and control plane functionalities are implemented as versatile virtual components that can be dynamically configured and allocated, reducing overall system complexity through reuse rather than requiring dedicated hardware for each function.
3Adaptability or versatility
If flow tables in switches are used to store user specific GTP entries, then GTP termination flexibility is improved, but the limited size of flow tables becomes a constraint
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves GTP termination from the data plane (flow table dimension) to the control plane (virtualization dimension). By implementing GTP termination as a virtual network function rather than relying on switch flow tables, the system eliminates the constraint of limited flow table size while maintaining flexibility through virtual resource allocation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts GTP termination functionality from the switch flow table environment and relocates it to a virtualized network function. This extraction removes the constraint of limited flow table capacity, allowing unlimited GTP sessions to be handled through virtual resource management rather than being bound by hardware flow table sizes.
4Productivity
If all sessions are terminated to the cloud, then resource utilization in fast path is optimized, but latency increases for real-time traffic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic session placement that can adaptively move GTP termination between fast path and cloud based on traffic characteristics. Real-time traffic is dynamically routed to the fast path for low-latency processing, while non-real-time traffic is directed to the cloud, optimizing both resource utilization and latency performance through dynamic decision-making.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different quality characteristics to different traffic flows by location. Fast path resources provide high-performance, low-latency service for real-time traffic, while cloud resources handle non-real-time traffic. This local quality differentiation ensures that each traffic type receives appropriate service quality while optimizing overall resource utilization across the network.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method of operating a network entity of a network comprising a gateway (200) is provided, wherein the method comprises dynamically changing a GTP termination point (204, 227) in the gateway (200).