Ethernet Header Compression Negotiation for 5G Control Plane Latency

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication networks face challenges in efficiently compressing Ethernet headers for data packets transmitted over the control plane, leading to increased data transfer latency and inefficiencies in 5G networks.

Innovation Solution

Implementing Ethernet Header Compression (EHC) by allowing user equipment (UE) to negotiate with network components for EHC support, enabling the compression of Ethernet headers within control plane data packets, thereby reducing data transfer latency and optimizing data transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If Ethernet headers are transmitted uncompressed in control plane data packets, then data transmission reliability is maintained, but data transfer latency increases and transmission efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transfer latencyVSAvoidheader compression complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by establishing EHC context and negotiating compression parameters before actual data transmission begins. The UE and network component perform capability exchange and context setup in advance, so that when data packets are transmitted, the compression algorithms are already configured and ready, eliminating setup delays during data transfer and reducing overall latency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting compression parameters based on traffic conditions and packet types. The system modifies compression depth, algorithm selection, and context parameters adaptively, allowing optimal compression ratios for different data scenarios while maintaining low computational overhead, thus reducing latency without excessive complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If Ethernet headers are compressed using EHC for control plane data, then data transmission efficiency improves, but protocol complexity and negotiation overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission efficiencyVSAvoidEHC negotiation and context management
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the extraction principle by separating EHC capability negotiation and context management into distinct phases from the main data transmission flow. The capability exchange and context setup are extracted as preliminary steps, allowing the core data transmission to focus solely on compressed packet handling, thereby improving transmission efficiency while confining protocol complexity to specific management functions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies universality by designing the EHC mechanism to handle multiple Ethernet packet types and control plane protocols through a unified compression framework. The same EHC context and algorithms serve various data scenarios, reducing the need for separate negotiation procedures for each packet type and minimizing overall protocol complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Quantity of substance

If EHC is implemented for control plane data transfer, then bandwidth utilization improves, but processing overhead at network components increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebandwidth utilizationVSAvoidprocessing overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies self-service by implementing compression at the UE side before transmission, shifting the primary processing burden from network components to the endpoint device. The UE performs header compression locally using stored context, so that network components receive already-compressed packets requiring minimal processing, thereby improving bandwidth utilization while keeping network processing overhead low

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4128721B1Ethernet header compression for data sent over non-access stratum (NAS) control plane
Publication Date: 2024.10.30 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP4128721B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4128721B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4128721B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Enabling Ethernet Header Compression (EHC) for use with data sent within a Non-Access Stratum (NAS) control plane of a wireless communication network. In one aspect, a wireless communication device sends a signal to a wireless communication network indicating the device supports EHC for data transfer over a control plane. The device obtains a response from the wireless communication network indicating the wireless communication network supports EHC for data transfer over the control plane. The device then sends an Ethernet packet compressed using EHC to the wireless communication network over the control plane. The wireless communication device may be configured to send a request to the wireless communication network to use EHC before sending the Ethernet packet compressed using EHC. The device sends the compressed Ethernet packet only if the request is granted. In another aspects, complementary EHC features are provided within a network component of the wireless communication network.