IPv6 Flow Label Carrying GTP-U TEID for Radio Access Overhead Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

IPv6 backhaul networks in wireless communications increase network transmission overheads, reduce user payload proportion, and affect data transmission efficiency compared to IPv4 networks.

Innovation Solution

A user plane data transmission method using a protocol stack with an IPv6 header that carries a type identifier of the GTP-U header, allowing the omission of UDP and GTP-U headers, reducing processing complexity and increasing payload proportion by utilizing a flow label or next-hop header to identify tunnel identifiers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If IPv6 backhaul network is used to replace IPv4, then network address exhaustion problem is solved, but network transmission overhead increases and user payload proportion decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork address capacityVSAvoiduser payload proportion
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the UDP header from the protocol stack by using IPv6 flow label field to carry GTP-U tunnel endpoint identifier (TEID) information. This extraction eliminates the 8-byte UDP header overhead while preserving the necessary tunnel identification functionality, thereby increasing the user payload proportion in IPv6 backhaul networks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the GTP-U tunnel identification function with the IPv6 flow label field. By carrying GTP-U TEID information in the IPv6 flow label (20 bits), the patent combines two previously separate functions into one, reducing protocol overhead and improving transmission efficiency without losing the adaptability of IPv6 addressing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If traditional protocol stack with UDP and GTP-U headers is used, then tunnel identification is achieved, but processing complexity increases and transmission efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetunnel identification accuracyVSAvoiduser data processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the tunnel identification function from the GTP-U header and relocates it to the IPv6 flow label field. This extraction eliminates the need for separate UDP and GTP-U header processing, reducing device complexity while maintaining reliable tunnel identification through the 20-bit TEID carrying capability of the flow label field.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent makes the IPv6 flow label field serve multiple functions: it maintains its original role in flow identification while simultaneously carrying GTP-U TEID information for tunnel identification. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional protocol layers and headers, simplifying processing while ensuring reliable tunnel identification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If GTP-U header is included in user data packet, then tunnel endpoint identification is enabled, but network transmission overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetunnel endpoint identificationVSAvoidnetwork transmission overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the tunnel endpoint identification information from the GTP-U header and places it in the IPv6 flow label field. This extraction removes the 8-byte UDP header and reduces GTP-U header overhead, as the TEID is now carried in the IPv6 header itself, thereby reducing total network transmission overhead while maintaining tunnel endpoint identification capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent nests the GTP-U TEID information within the IPv6 header structure, specifically in the flow label field. This nesting approach allows the tunnel identification data to be embedded within the existing IPv6 packet structure, eliminating the need for separate GTP-U header segments and reducing overall packet overhead.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentEP2924940B1User plane data transmission methods, mobility management network element and evolved node b
Publication Date: 2019.12.04 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP2924940B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3a
  • EP2924940B1 patent drawingFigure 3b~4
  • EP2924940B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The present invention relates to a user plane data transmission method, a mobility management entity, an evolved NodeB, and a system, where the method includes: setting up a radio access bearer connection with a radio access network node; and performing user plane data transmission with the radio access network node by using a user plane protocol stack, where the user plane protocol stack includes a physical layer, a data link layer, and a network layer, where the network layer includes an IPv6 header and a flow label of the IPv6 header carries a user plane tunnel endpoint identifier TEID, or the network layer carries a type identifier of a GTP-U header. The present invention simplifies network layers of radio access, and can reduce overheads of network transmission, increase proportion of user payload, reduce complexity of a user data processing device, and improve data transmission efficiency of radio access.