LTE Transport Tunnel Aggregation for QoS Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current LTE technology networks face challenges in managing a high number of transport tunnels for packet data services, leading to increased computational load and degradation of quality of service, especially during critical events with multiple users requiring advanced data services like high-definition videos.

Innovation Solution

A method for managing transport tunnels by aggregating packet data services into proprietary Quality of Service (QoS) identifiers, reducing the number of required tunnels, and implementing a mapping rule for IP-level priority routing to enhance network performance and congestion management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the number of transport tunnels is increased to support more packet data services for multiple users, then the network can provide more advanced data services (e.g., high-definition videos), but the computational load on network elements increases and quality of service degrades

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecapability to support advanced data servicesVSAvoidcomputational load on network elements
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies merging by consolidating multiple packet data services into a single aggregated transport tunnel. Instead of creating separate tunnels for each service (video, data, signaling), the invention combines them into one tunnel identified by a single QCI identifier, thereby reducing the number of tunnels and lowering computational complexity while maintaining the ability to support multiple advanced services

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If separate transport tunnels are created for each packet data service, then quality of service can be precisely controlled for each service, but the number of tunnels increases and network complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequality of service controlVSAvoidnumber of transport tunnels
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements universality by designing an aggregated transport tunnel that can carry multiple different packet data services simultaneously. The single tunnel structure is made multi-functional through the use of service identifiers and mapping rules that allow different services (voice, video, data) to share the same tunnel while maintaining individual QoS characteristics through the QCI identifier system

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

3Productivity

If the number of user terminals and bearers increases during critical events, then more users can access advanced services, but the impact on computational performance increases and quality of service degrades

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of users accessing servicesVSAvoidcomputational performance impact
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies merging at scale by aggregating services from multiple user terminals into shared transport tunnels. Instead of provisioning individual tunnels for each user's each service, the system consolidates services from multiple users into aggregated tunnels, dramatically reducing the total number of tunnel management operations and computational overhead during critical events with high user density

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3198983B9Method for managing transport tunnels of packet data services in a LTE telecommunication network and network architecture implementing such method
Publication Date: 2019.07.17 LEONARDO SPA
  • EP3198983B9 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3198983B9 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3198983B9 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Method for managing transport tunnels (bearers) of packet data services usable by a user in a LTE technology telecommunications network, wherein each data service is defined by set characteristics of quality of service having set values. The method defines aggregates of packet data services (500; 600), to which corresponding proprietary aggregated QCI identifiers are assigned, defined by aggregated characteristics of quality of service having corresponding aggregated values. Each aggregated value of a aggregated characteristic of quality of service is selected, among the values of the characteristics of quality of service of the data services to be aggregated, so as to ensure the use of the aggregated packet data services both when these packet data services are transmitted within the aggregate of packet data services (500; 600) and when these packet data services are transmitted individually within a corresponding transport tunnel having a corresponding QCI identifier of the standard type. The method further allows mapping between a proprietary aggregated QCI identifier or a non-aggregated standard QCI identifier to identify the quality of service QoS at the transport tunnel level and the corresponding IP-level service class, by assigning a numeral value (coloration) of DSCP in the corresponding field of the header of the IP packet. In addition, the method allows the definition and use of a parameter representative of the allocation priority level ARP associated to the aggregates of packet data services in order to manage at the best the network congestion conditions.