GTP Switch for Distributed Packet Core Node Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mobile data networks face scalability limitations and operational challenges due to the bundling of control signaling and data plane traffic in GGSN/P-GW nodes, particularly with the increasing demand from IoT deployments, which requires more dynamic and elastic scalability and deployment across different networks, without an intelligent gateway to bridge between GGSN and SGSN or P-GW and SGW.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves separating the control plane and data plane modules of GGSN/P-GW into independent and distributed nodes, with a GTP Switch that interfaces with SGSN/SGW, performing flexible node selection and Network Address Translation (NAT) to route traffic, and optionally encrypting/decrypting messages using algorithms like TLS, AES, to enhance security and hide the topology of distributed nodes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If control plane and data plane modules are bundled together in GGSN/P-GW nodes, then device complexity is reduced and operation is simplified, but scalability and adaptability are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the bundled GGSN/P-GW node into separate control plane nodes and data plane nodes. The control plane node handles signaling and control functions, while the data plane node handles user data traffic. This segmentation allows independent deployment, scaling, and management of control and data functions across different networks and cloud environments, thereby improving scalability and adaptability without significantly increasing operational complexity.
2Productivity
If GTP-U instances are increased to handle IoT deployments, then network capacity and functionality are improved, but device complexity and operational difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple GTP-U instances into a single data plane node that can handle multiple data streams simultaneously. The control plane node manages multiple control plane instances that coordinate with the shared data plane node. This merging approach allows the network to handle increased IoT traffic capacity while reducing the operational complexity of managing numerous separate GTP-U instances, as the data plane resources are consolidated and efficiently shared.
3Adaptability or versatility
If an intelligent gateway is introduced to bridge between GGSN and SGSN or P-GW and SGW, then adaptability and security are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a control plane node as an intermediary between the data plane node and the SGSN/SGW. This control plane node acts as an intelligent gateway that performs node selection, routing decisions, and security functions. Rather than adding multiple separate gateway nodes, the control plane node serves as a virtual intermediary that can dynamically route traffic and provide security services, thereby improving adaptability and security while minimizing the increase in physical device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A networking and application system for handling the data communications protocols in the mobile packet core network. General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) Tunneling Protocol (GTP) has a control plane for control signaling (GTP-C) and a data plane for user data (GTP-U). A GTP Switch interfaces with Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) and/or serving gateway (S-GW). The GTP Switch provides Interment Protocol (IP) address manipulation to hide the topology of distributed control plane and data plane instances. The GTP Switch also implements dynamic node selection to route the control signaling and data plane traffic to different instances, hosted on separate servers, thus enabling higher flexibility in the network routing path optimization and scalable and elastic handling of the data traffic.