GTP Protocol Version Detection via ICMP Feedback

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems face delays due to ambiguities in standards and excessive timeouts when trying to detect whether a node supports GTPv0 or GTPv1, leading to inefficient protocol version fallback in dual mode terminals.

Innovation Solution

A method is introduced to detect lack of protocol support by using an indicator message, such as an ICMP Destination unreachable-port unreachable message, to quickly determine if a destination node supports GTPv1, allowing immediate fallback to GTPv0 communication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the system waits for timeouts to elapse and attempts to fail before falling back to GTPv0, then protocol compatibility is maintained, but communication delays increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotocol compatibilityVSAvoidcommunication delay

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having the GTPv0 node proactively send an ICMP Destination Unreachable message when it detects that the GTPv1 node is not listening on port 2123. This allows the GTPv1 node to know in advance that GTPv0 should be used, eliminating the need to wait for multiple timeout attempts and significantly reducing communication delays while maintaining protocol compatibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback by introducing an ICMP Destination Unreachable message as a feedback mechanism. When the GTPv0 node detects that GTPv1 signaling is not supported (port 2123 is not listening), it sends this feedback message to inform the GTPv1 node of the protocol version incompatibility, enabling immediate fallback to GTPv0 without excessive timeouts

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If GTPv1 nodes use port 2123 for signaling, then GTPv1 protocol functionality is enabled, but GTPv0 nodes cannot detect GTPv1 support since GTPv0 only listens on port 3386

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedual mode supportVSAvoidprotocol version detection

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses ICMP Destination Unreachable messages as an intermediary mechanism to bridge the detection gap between GTPv0 and GTPv1 nodes. Since GTPv0 nodes only listen on port 3386 and GTPv1 uses port 2123, the ICMP message serves as a mediator that allows the GTPv0 node to detect GTPv1 support by checking if port 2123 is listening, thereby enabling protocol version detection without requiring GTPv0 to directly monitor GTPv1 ports

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS7440459B2Methods of detecting protocol support in wireless communication systems

Publication Date: 2008.10.21 WSOU INVESTMENTS LLC

AI summary

In a method of detecting whether a given node supports a given protocol version, a source node sends a request message to the destination mode based on a first protocol version. The source node receives an indication message in reply to the request, and may detect that the destination node does not support the first protocol version based on the indication message. Accordingly communications may be established between a user of the wireless network and an external network via the source and destination nodes.