EPC Error Code Translation for Network Outage Resilience
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Solution Overview
Problem
The 4G EPC network is susceptible to catastrophic failures due to unconsidered failure scenarios, leading to network outages that overload authentication and re-authentication devices, causing service disruptions for hundreds of thousands of users.
Innovation Solution
Implementing data structures that translate error codes into a format understandable by Mobility Management Entities (MMEs) and user equipment (UEs), allowing network nodes to map error codes for effective communication and management during network outages, thereby preventing service disruptions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the EPC network handles millions of UEs with high capacity nodes, then network capacity and coverage are improved, but the network becomes more susceptible to catastrophic failures during outages
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary error code translation and mapping mechanisms at network nodes (MME, SGW, PGW) before failures occur. These nodes are pre-configured with error code translation tables that map error codes from different network elements into a standardized format, enabling proactive preparation for failure scenarios and ensuring continuous operation during outages.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary error code translation layer between different network elements. When a network node receives error codes from another node, the translation mechanism acts as an intermediary that converts these codes into a standardized format, preventing direct compatibility issues and enabling seamless communication during network outages.
2Ease of manufacture
If standardization of 4G EPC network did not consider failure scenarios, then network deployment is simplified, but the network remains susceptible to catastrophic failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the error code translation function into separate, manageable components distributed across different network nodes (MME, SGW, PGW). Each node maintains its own error code translation table, allowing independent configuration and maintenance without affecting the entire network, thus simplifying deployment while enhancing reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of error code format from heterogeneous to standardized. By implementing error code translation mechanisms that convert error codes into a unified format, the network maintains deployment simplicity while gaining failure resistance through parameter standardization.
3Use of energy by moving object
If network nodes are designed to handle millions of UEs with reduced space and power requirements, then resource efficiency is improved, but the network lacks resilience during catastrophic failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service error code translation capabilities at each network node. Each node (MME, SGW, PGW) autonomously translates error codes from different sources into standardized formats without requiring external intervention or additional centralized translation services, thereby maintaining service continuity during failures while using minimal additional resources.
Data Source
AI summary
A first node device, associated with an evolved packet core network, receives an error code from a second node device associated with the evolved packet core network, where the error code is destined for a user equipment. The first node device compares the error code to information included in a data structure that maps multiple error codes to multiple translated error codes understood by the user equipment, and translates the error code into a translated error code based on the comparing of the error code to the information included in the data structure. The translated error code is in a format that is understood by the user equipment. The first node device provides the translated error code to the user equipment or to a third node device associated with the evolved packet core network.