ePDG PCO Exchange for Untrusted WLAN IP Configuration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mobile IP networks lack a standard mechanism to directly assign essential IP configuration parameters, such as DNS server addresses and P-CSCF addresses, to mobile devices when using untrusted WLAN access, leading to communication inefficiencies and increased bandwidth and delay overhead.
Innovation Solution
The system enhances the ePDG to imitate a PCO exchange by creating a PCO option to request and send IP configuration parameters from the PGW to the mobile device, using existing IKEv2 configuration attributes or modifying the IKEv2 protocol to include new configuration attributes, ensuring parity with 3GPP PCO exchange features.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If untrusted WLAN access is used without standard PCO exchange mechanism, then mobile devices can connect to the network, but IP configuration parameters cannot be efficiently assigned
Solution Approach 1:
The ePDG acts as an intermediary between the mobile device and the network, implementing a PCO-like exchange mechanism over the IKEv2 protocol to assign IP configuration parameters. This mediator approach enables efficient parameter assignment while maintaining connection reliability through the established IKEv2 security framework.
2Adaptability or versatility
If existing IKEv2 configuration attributes are used without modification, then protocol compatibility is maintained, but new configuration parameters cannot be supported
Solution Approach 1:
The solution dynamically adapts the IKEv2 protocol by conditionally supporting both existing configuration attributes and new PCO-style configuration parameters. This dynamic approach allows the system to maintain backward compatibility while enabling new configuration capabilities without requiring mandatory protocol modifications.
3Ease of operation
If PCO exchange is implemented over untrusted WLAN interface, then IP configuration parameters can be assigned, but bandwidth and delay overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The PCO exchange mechanism is merged with the existing IKEv2 configuration attribute exchange process. By combining these functions into a unified protocol exchange, the system enables IP configuration parameter assignment without requiring separate communication channels, thereby minimizing additional bandwidth and delay overhead.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are described for exchanging network protocol configuration option (PCO) parameters for a mobile device in a communications network (IP) address to enable communication with the mobile device with untrusted WLAN access. In one embodiment, the PCO is passed in a first interface from mobile device to first gateway and passed as is over a second interface to a packet gateway. In a second embodiment, the first interface carries information used in PCO in configuration options/Information elements, such as configuration option in IKE in case of ePDG. The serving gateway, such as an ePDG, creates PCO and extracts the information from first interface and then sends PCO over the second interface. In the response path the PCO response is used to fill in information that is sent in the first interface.