L2TP Tunnel Failure Signaling for 5G Session Continuity
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication networks face challenges in efficiently managing tunnel failures and signaling procedures, particularly in complex architectures like 5G networks, leading to disruptions and inefficiencies in data transmission.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a framework for tunnel failure signaling procedures that includes a service-based architecture, where network functions communicate through interfaces and provide services to each other, enabling dynamic adaptation and recovery from tunnel failures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing tunnel management procedures are used in 5G networks, then network complexity is reduced, but reliability and data transmission continuity deteriorate during tunnel failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a tunnel management function as an intermediary component that mediates between the session management function and the user plane function. This mediator handles tunnel failure detection, characterization, and signaling procedures, isolating the complexity of failure management from the core network functions while improving reliability during tunnel failures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the tunnel management function continuously monitors tunnel status and provides feedback about failure conditions to the session management function. This enables dynamic adaptation and recovery procedures that maintain data transmission continuity by responding to tunnel failure conditions.
2Productivity
If rapid tunnel failure detection is implemented, then service resilience is improved, but signaling procedure complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring failure detection parameters and establishing monitoring mechanisms before tunnel failures occur. The tunnel management function is pre-positioned to immediately detect and characterize failures when they occur, reducing detection time without requiring complex real-time analysis procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the failure detection and management functions into a dedicated tunnel management component that operates independently from session management and user plane functions. This segmentation allows rapid failure detection through specialized monitoring while keeping the overall signaling procedure structure modular and manageable.
Data Source
AI summary
A user plane function (UPF) receives, from a control plane function (CPF), a request to establish a layer 2 tunneling protocol (L2TP) tunnel for a first protocol data unit (PDU) session of a wireless device. The UPF sends, to the CPF, a message comprising a tunnel failure cause for the establishment of the L2TP tunnel for the first PDU session. The message indicating at least one of a L2TP tunnel failure of the L2TP tunnel, or a L2TP session failure associated with the L2TP tunnel.