GTP-U Error Indication Handling via Delayed Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current handling of GTP-U error indication messages in communication networks leads to race conditions, causing undesirable release procedures that impact subscriber quality of experience and result in network traffic overload and unfairness, due to immediate transmission of error messages without considering dependency on other system parts.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that delay the transmission of the first error indication message and pace subsequent messages by using a timer mechanism to manage unknown destination identifiers, preventing immediate release of all bearers and conserving network resources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If error indication messages are transmitted immediately upon receiving unknown G-PDUs, then error detection speed is improved, but network overload and unfairness increase due to race conditions triggering complete UE context removal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by checking whether a control plane release message is already in transit before transmitting the error indication message. This preliminary check prevents the race condition by ensuring that error messages are not sent unnecessarily when release procedures are already underway, thereby reducing network traffic volume while maintaining error detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism in the form of a buffer or queue that holds error indication messages temporarily. This intermediary structure allows the system to manage error message transmission more carefully, coordinating with control plane procedures and preventing immediate transmission that would cause race conditions and network overload.
2Loss of time
If error indication messages are transmitted immediately, then error response time is improved, but subscriber quality of experience deteriorates due to unnecessary bearer releases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs a preliminary check to determine if a control plane release message is already in transit before sending error indication messages. This preliminary action prevents unnecessary bearer releases that would degrade subscriber quality of experience, while still maintaining timely error response through coordinated message transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by preventing the transmission of error indication messages when a control plane release message is already in transit. This counter-action avoids the harmful effect of race conditions that would otherwise trigger unnecessary complete UE context removal and bearer releases, thereby protecting subscriber quality of experience.
3Ease of operation
If error indication messages are transmitted without coordination, then error handling simplicity is improved, but system fairness deteriorates due to resource consumption by single faulty connections
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary coordination mechanism that manages error indication message transmission. This intermediary structure coordinates between user plane error detection and control plane release procedures, ensuring fair resource allocation and preventing single faulty connections from consuming excessive network resources, thereby improving system fairness while maintaining manageable error handling complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
Arrangements for handling transmission of error indication messages in a communication network are provided. A destination computer associated with a destination address receives a user data packet from a source computer associated with a source address. A determination is made as to whether a destination identifier included in the user data packet is known. If it is determined that the destination identifier is known, then the user data packet is transmitted to a destination associated with the destination identifier. Else, the transmission of the first error indication message is delayed and the transmission of subsequent error indication messages is paced if subsequent user data packets received from the source computer include the unknown destination identifier.