IP Addressing for Access Traffic Steering Without Packet Encapsulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems face inefficiencies in access traffic steering due to the overhead and complexity of adding and removing extra IP addresses and headers during packet encapsulation, which impacts throughput and resource usage.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a single cellular-assigned IP address with different port values for packets transmitted on multiple links, avoiding encapsulation with additional IP addresses, and using a user plane function to translate port numbers for efficient traffic steering and splitting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If packet encapsulation with additional IP addresses is used for access traffic steering, then traffic steering capability is improved, but processing overhead and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the additional IP address and header encapsulation mechanism from the traffic steering process, replacing it with a simpler port-based identification method. This removes the harmful overhead while preserving the essential traffic steering functionality through port number translation at the user plane function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the identification parameter from IP address to port number. Instead of modifying IP addresses and adding encapsulation headers, the system uses port number translation to identify and steer traffic, fundamentally changing the parameter used for traffic differentiation and reducing processing complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If packet encapsulation with additional IP addresses is used for access traffic steering, then traffic steering capability is improved, but throughput decreases due to resource consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the encapsulation overhead that was consuming processing resources and reducing throughput. By extracting the unnecessary IP address manipulation and replacing it with port-based identification, the system reduces resource consumption and improves overall throughput while maintaining traffic steering capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the traffic identification parameter from IP address to port number, which requires less processing overhead. This parameter change reduces the computational resources needed for each packet, thereby improving throughput and system productivity.
3Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If multiple IP addresses are used for packets on different links, then link identification capability is improved, but signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the multiple IP address mechanism from the link identification process, replacing it with port number-based identification. This removes the signaling overhead associated with IP address allocation and management while maintaining the ability to identify and differentiate links through port numbers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the link identification parameter from IP address to port number. This parameter substitution reduces signaling overhead because port numbers require less coordination and management infrastructure compared to IP address allocation, while still providing sufficient differentiation capability for link identification.
Data Source
AI summary
Various aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication. In some aspects, a user equipment (UE) may receive a configuration that indicates an internet protocol (IP) address that applies to an access traffic steering, switching, and splitting lower layer (ATSSS-LL) entity and at least one of an ATSSS multipath transmission control protocol (MPTCP) entity or an ATSSS multipath-enabled quick user datagram protocol internet connections (MPQUIC) entity. The UE may generate a first packet with the IP address as a source IP address in a first header and an associated second packet with the IP address as the source IP address in a second header. The UE may transmit the first packet on a first link and the second packet on a second link, where neither packet is encapsulated in another packet with a different IP address. Numerous other aspects are described.