ICN Mobility Management for Seamless NG-RAN Handover
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current Information Centric Networking (ICN) systems face challenges in efficiently managing mobility, particularly in next-generation (NG) cellular networks, where seamless handover of user equipment (UE) between different radio access networks (RANs) is complex and not optimally supported, leading to potential packet losses and delays due to the lack of efficient tracking of UE mobility.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of new mobility management procedures for inter-NG-RAN handover, involving the AMF, ICN-CF, ICN-PoA, and ICN-GW entities, which update the Pending Interest Table (PIT) and Forward Information Base (FIB) tables to ensure seamless handover without N2 interface involvement, and utilize ICN context info updates to manage UE mobility across different RANs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional 4G mobility management methodology is used in ICN systems, then existing network infrastructure can be utilized, but UE mobility tracking efficiency deteriorates and handover performance worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameters of mobility management by transitioning from 4G's connection-based tracking to ICN's content-based routing. This involves changing how UEs are identified (from IMSI to content names), how mobility is tracked (from MME to ICN-CF), and how data flows (from bearer-based to interest-data packet-based), thereby improving handover performance while adapting to ICN architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The ICN-CF (ICN Control Function) acts as an intermediary between the AMF and ICN-PoA, managing mobility-specific information and coordinating handovers. This intermediary simplifies the complexity by centralizing mobility management functions and providing a dedicated interface for handling UE mobility in ICN systems
2Stability of the object's composition
If seamless handover is implemented in ICN NG-RAN, then service continuity is improved, but packet loss and delays increase without proper mobility tracking
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-establishing forwarding rules in the ICN-PoA before handover occurs. The ICN-CF proactively updates the PIT and FIB tables in advance, so when handover happens, data packets can be immediately forwarded to the new RAN without delay or loss, ensuring seamless service continuity
Solution Approach 2:
The mobility management system implements feedback mechanisms where the ICN-CF continuously monitors UE location and network conditions, updating routing information dynamically. This feedback loop ensures that the network adapts to UE mobility in real-time, maintaining service continuity while minimizing handover delays
3Productivity
If ICN context info updates are used for mobility management, then resource utilization is optimized, but tracking precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The ICN-CF serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a mobility management entity, a routing controller, and a context information repository. By consolidating these functions in a single entity, the system optimizes resource utilization while maintaining the precision needed for UE tracking through centralized information management
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods of handover in an information-centric network are described. The ICN-CF receives an update request from an ICN ICN-AMF indicating handover of a UE from a source NG-RAN to a target NG-RAN. The ICN-CF transmits, to an ICN router, an update request to update a PIT and/or FIB table to enable data communications with the UE after handover. The request includes the UE and target NG-RAN, and if the source and target ICN-PoA are different, the source and target ICN-PoA and the ICN-GW.