GTP TCP Spoof Session Handling for Satellite Roaming ACK Duplication

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Solution Overview

Problem

The long round trip delay in satellite-based backhaul solutions for LTE/5G-NR networks leads to retransmissions occurring too late, causing issues with TCP sessions due to duplicated TCP ACK packets during user equipment (UE) roaming, which existing solutions fail to address.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a method and device at either end of the TCP spoofer to manage GTP TCP data packet flow by creating or updating spoof sessions based on sequence numbers, and managing TCP ACK packets to prevent duplication during UE roaming.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If satellite-based backhaul solutions are used for LTE/5G-NR networks, then sufficient bandwidth is available to handle backhaul traffic, but long round trip delay occurs causing retransmissions to happen too late

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovebandwidthVSAvoidround trip delay
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a TCP spoofer as an intermediary device that sits between the UE and the satellite network. This spoofer intercepts TCP packets, creates spoofed sessions with fake ACKs, and manages the TCP state locally to mask the long satellite latency from the UE, allowing the UE to think the connection is fast while the actual data travels over the slow satellite link

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the perceived network parameters by creating artificial fast feedback loops through TCP spoofing. The spoofer generates fake ACK packets that make the UE believe data was received quickly, changing the UE's perception of round trip time from the actual long satellite delay to a perceived short delay, thereby improving TCP throughput behavior

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If TCP spoofing is implemented to accelerate TCP sessions over satellite links, then throughput is improved, but duplicated TCP ACK packets occur during UE roaming

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovethroughputVSAvoidTCP session stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the TCP spoofer monitors TCP session state and generates appropriate responses based on current conditions. When UE roaming is detected, the spoofer updates its state information and adjusts its spoofing behavior accordingly, sending updated session identifiers and state information to maintain reliable TCP connections across network changes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-establishing and maintaining detailed TCP session state information in the spoofer before roaming events occur. The spoofer proactively manages session identifiers and state data, so when roaming happens, the pre-prepared state information can be quickly transitioned to new network nodes without duplicating ACK packets or breaking connections

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If existing TCP acceleration solutions are used, then some performance improvement is achieved, but they fail to address the issue of duplicated TCP ACK packets during roaming

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveperformanceVSAvoidhandling roaming scenarios
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the TCP spoofer dynamic by enabling it to adapt its behavior based on real-time network conditions and UE mobility state. The spoofer continuously updates its session management logic in response to roaming events, network changes, and TCP session state transitions, allowing it to handle diverse scenarios including initial connections, data transfer, and roaming without requiring separate static solutions for each phase

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4672725A1Method for GTP TCP data packet traffic
Publication Date: 2025.12.31 ST ENG IDIRECT INC DBA IDIRECT
  • EP4672725A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
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AI summary

The present invention relates to a method for organizing traffic of GTP TCP data packets over a network comprising a satellite link between a hub side and one or more terminals at a remote side, whereby a TCP spoofer is provided at either side. The method comprises : - receiving at a TCP spoofer at the hub side or the remote side a GTP TCP data packet transmitted over the network or to be transmitted over the network, - checking if the GTP TCP data packet belongs to an existing GTP spoof session, - if no existing GTP spoof session is found, create a new GTP spoof session and save the GTP TCP data packet's sequence number as reference sequence number for the new GTP spoof session for the side where the TCP spoofer is located if the GTP TCP data packet is to be transmitted over the network, or, if the GTP TCP data packet has been transmitted over the network, from the other side, - if an existing GTP spoof session is found and if a stored reference sequence number linked to the existing GTP spoof session equals a predetermined value, overwrite the stored reference sequence number with the sequence number of the received GTP TCP data packet for the other side than where the TCP spoofer is located if the GTP TCP data packet was transmitted over the network or for the side where the TCP spoofer is located if the GTP TCP data packet is to be transmitted over the network.