Serving Gateway Traffic Offload via Source Port Translation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication systems face challenges in introducing a traffic offload function, particularly with Wi-Fi offload, as they require base station support and struggle with mobility, connectivity, and scalability, especially with increasing smartphone traffic.
Innovation Solution
A communication system with an address translation table that allocates predetermined source port ranges to different radio bearers, enabling easy introduction of a traffic offload function by translating source ports and controlling offload paths, thereby facilitating mobility and scalability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a traffic offload function is introduced using existing systems (Wi-Fi offload, LIPA, SIPTO), then traffic offloading capability is improved, but base station support and system complexity are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the traffic offload function from the base station by implementing it in the serving gateway. The serving gateway performs packet inspection and NAT operations independently, removing the dependency on base station support for traffic offloading while maintaining the core functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The serving gateway acts as an intermediary between the base station and the external network. It intercepts traffic, performs inspection and NAT operations, and forwards packets accordingly, enabling offload functionality without modifying base station architecture.
2Productivity
If Wi-Fi offload is used to reduce core network load, then traffic offloading is improved, but mobility and connectivity are lost when terminals move out of access point range
Solution Approach 1:
The serving gateway implements a universal traffic handling mechanism that works across different access types (Wi-Fi, cellular). By performing packet inspection and NAT at the gateway level, it maintains connectivity and mobility support regardless of the access network used, unlike Wi-Fi offload which is access-specific.
3Productivity
If traditional traffic offload methods are used, then offloading capability is improved, but scalability with increasing smartphone traffic cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operational parameters of traffic offloading by implementing dynamic packet inspection and flexible NAT operations at the serving gateway. This allows the system to adapt to varying traffic patterns and scales efficiently with increasing smartphone traffic without requiring fundamental architectural changes.
Data Source
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AI summary
A communication system, a communication apparatus and a communication control method are provided that make it possible to easily introduce a traffic offload function. A communication system including: a base station (10) wirelessly connecting to terminals (20); and a network (40) is provided with an address translation table (101) for offloading a traffic from a terminal to the network, and a source translation section (102) for translating a source port in the address translation table, per radio bearer (RB) that is set up between a traffic source terminal and the base station.