GTP Packet Aggregation for Satellite Backhaul Delay Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Terrestrial mobile communication networks, particularly 4G LTE systems, face challenges in efficiently managing backhaul traffic due to high bandwidth requirements and long distances between eNodeBs and the core network, making it costly and inefficient to deploy high-speed terrestrial links, leading to the use of satellite networks which introduce significant signaling delays and higher costs per bit.
Innovation Solution
Applying network acceleration technologies such as performance enhancing proxies (PEPs) and HTTP acceleration techniques to remote node backhaul traffic carried over GPRS tunneling protocols, by de-encapsulating GTP packets, applying acceleration functions, and re-encapsulating them for transmission over satellite links, thereby reducing delay and improving spectral efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If satellite networks are used for eNodeB backhaul to cover remote sites, then geographical coverage is improved, but signaling delay increases and cost per bit increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing packet aggregation at the eNodeB before transmission over the satellite link. Multiple packets are collected and combined into larger transmission units, which reduces the number of individual transmissions required and thereby reduces the cumulative signaling delay while maintaining geographical coverage through satellite backhaul
2Area of stationary object
If satellite networks are used for eNodeB backhaul to cover remote sites, then geographical coverage is improved, but cost per bit increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies merging by combining multiple small data packets into larger aggregated packets for transmission over the satellite link. This consolidation increases the utilization of the expensive satellite bandwidth resource, reducing the cost per bit transmitted while maintaining the ability to serve remote geographical areas
3Adaptability or versatility
If GTP protocol is used for backhaul traffic to maintain tunnel connectivity, then mobility management is improved, but protocol overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing GTP packet aggregation at the eNodeB before transmission over the satellite link. Multiple packets are collected and combined into larger transmission units, which reduces the number of individual transmissions required and thereby reduces the cumulative signaling delay while maintaining geographical coverage through satellite backhaul
Data Source
AI summary
An approach is provided for the application of network acceleration technologies to remote node traffic over GPRS tunneling protocols (GTP) in terrestrial mobile communications networks. A proxy device of a first network node receives a stream of data packets that are encapsulated in accordance with GTP. Each GTP packet is de-encapsulated by stripping GTP header from the packet, identifying the TEID (reflecting a respective GTP flow with which the GTP packet is associated), and maintaining a respective GTP payload (PDU). Acceleration functions are applied to the GTP PDUs, and the resulting acceleration packets are transmitted communications network link(s) to a proxy of a second network node. The second node proxy device receives the transmitted packets, and re-encapsulates each packet, in accordance with the GTP protocol, based at least in part on the respective TEID of the packet.