ICN Application Function for 5G Congestion Handling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current communication networks lacking native support for ICN protocols face challenges in effectively handling congestion of ICN protocol-based traffic, as existing congestion handling methods only consider PDU session-level information and not ICN layer information.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of an ICN application function (ICN-AF) that obtains ICN layer information from an ICN router to assess congestion states, allowing it to initiate the establishment of new PDU sessions or upgrade Quality of Service (QoS) characteristics of existing sessions based on this information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If congestion handling is performed only at PDU session level using existing methods, then the network can maintain current architecture simplicity, but congestion handling effectiveness is insufficient because ICN layer information is not considered
Solution Approach 1:
An ICN application function (ICN-AF) is introduced as an intermediary component that bridges the ICN layer and the PDU session layer. The ICN-AF receives ICN layer information from an ICN router, assesses congestion states, and triggers appropriate PDU session actions. This intermediary enables effective congestion handling by integrating ICN layer information without requiring fundamental changes to the existing network architecture.
2Reliability
If ICN layer information is obtained and used to assess congestion states, then congestion handling effectiveness is improved, but the complexity of the network function increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ICN application function is designed to perform multiple functions: receiving ICN layer information from the ICN router, assessing congestion states based on this information, and triggering appropriate PDU session actions. By consolidating these diverse functions into a single network function, the system achieves effective congestion handling without proportionally increasing overall network complexity.
3Productivity
If new PDU sessions are established or QoS characteristics are upgraded based on ICN layer information, then traffic flow management is improved, but network resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of establishing new PDU sessions or upgrading QoS characteristics for all ICN traffic, the ICN-AF selectively applies these actions only when congestion is detected through ICN layer information assessment. This partial action approach improves traffic flow management efficiency for congested flows while avoiding unnecessary network resource consumption for non-congested flows.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4A
AI summary
In a communication network, a network function may be provided for controlling Information Centric Networking (ICN) protocol-based traffic flow between a set of user equipment (UE). This network function may be an ICN application function (ICN-AF), and may obtain ICN layer information from an ICN router which is indicative of a congestion state of a current PDU session of user equipment. If the congestion state indicates congestion, the ICN-AF may initiate establishment of a new PDU session for the user equipment (UE1) or initiate upgrade of a quality of service (QoS) characteristic of the current PDU session, for example using the session management function (SMF) and via the SMF's session management of PDU sessions.