Control Plane IP Address Segment Routing Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

In a scenario where the user plane is separated from the control plane, inconsistencies in IP address segment mask lengths lead to abnormal downlink routing policies, causing disorder in IP address route advertisements and affecting data forwarding in communication systems.

Innovation Solution

A routing management method that involves the control plane determining and communicating the IP address segment to the user plane, allowing the user plane to advertise routing policies based on the correct IP address segment, thereby ensuring accurate routing of packets to their destinations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the user plane function advertises routing policy based on agreed mask length, then routing policy advertisement is standardized, but IP address route advertisement becomes disordered when associated IP address segment mask length is inconsistent

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverouting policy advertisement standardizationVSAvoidIP address route advertisement accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control plane function performs preliminary action by determining the IP address segment and its mask length before the user plane function advertises the routing policy. The control plane function sends this determined IP address segment information to the user plane function in advance, ensuring that the user plane function uses the correct mask length when advertising the routing policy, thus preventing route advertisement disorder.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple IP address segments are associated with one user plane function, then routing flexibility is improved, but routing policy consistency deteriorates when mask lengths are inconsistent

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverouting flexibilityVSAvoidrouting policy consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The solution applies local quality by allowing different IP address segments associated with the same user plane function to have different mask lengths. The control plane function determines and manages each IP address segment's specific mask length individually, and the user plane function adapts its routing policy advertisement locally according to the specific mask length of each segment, thus maintaining both flexibility and consistency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Productivity

If the user plane function receives data without correct IP address segment information, then data forwarding can proceed, but routing policy abnormality occurs causing disordered route advertisement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata forwarding capabilityVSAvoidrouting policy correctness
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control plane function acts as an intermediary between the data source and the user plane function. It determines the correct IP address segment and mask length, then communicates this information to the user plane function. This intermediary role ensures that the user plane function receives accurate routing information before forwarding data, preventing routing policy abnormalities while maintaining data forwarding productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3863242B1Routing management method and apparatus
Publication Date: 2024.06.05 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3863242B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3863242B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP3863242B1 patent drawingFigure 6

AI summary

Embodiments of this application disclose a routing management method, used to advertise an address segment routing policy. The method in the embodiments of this application includes: A control plane function assigns an internet protocol IP address to user equipment. The control plane function determines an IP address segment, where the IP address belongs to the IP address segment. The control plane function sends information used to identify the IP address segment to a user plane function, where the IP address segment is used to advertise a routing policy.