Master-Slave Control Plane Entity for Multi-RAN Signalling
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Solution Overview
Problem
In communication networks with multiple coexisting radio access networks (RANs) based on distinct technologies, managing control plane signalling becomes complex, leading to increased computing requirements and latency during handovers.
Innovation Solution
Assigning a master role to one serving entity and a slave role to another within the control plane, allowing the master entity to handle core network signalling and act as a proxy for slave entities, thereby reducing signalling load and improving synchronisation between control plane serving entities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a UE is simultaneously registered in multiple distinct RANs, then network coverage and service continuity are improved, but control plane signalling complexity and computing capacity requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple control plane serving entities into a single master serving entity that handles all control plane signalling for a UE simultaneously registered in multiple RANs. The master serving entity consolidates the functions of what would otherwise be separate serving entities for each RAN, reducing signalling complexity while maintaining service continuity across different radio access networks.
Solution Approach 2:
The master serving entity acts as an intermediary between the UE and multiple RANs. Instead of having separate serving entities for each RAN, the master serving entity mediates all control plane communications, simplifying the signalling architecture while enabling the UE to maintain simultaneous registrations across different RANs for improved reliability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple serving entities handle control plane signalling for simultaneous RAN registrations, then each RAN can be managed independently, but computing capacity requirements and processing load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the computing resources of multiple serving entities into a single master serving entity. By merging the processing functions that would otherwise be distributed across multiple entities, the system reduces total computing capacity requirements while maintaining the ability to manage multiple RANs through a centralized control point.
3Productivity
If control plane signalling is distributed across multiple serving entities, then signalling can be processed in parallel, but handover latency increases due to coordination overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple serving entities into a single master serving entity, eliminating the coordination overhead that occurs when multiple entities must communicate during handovers. This consolidation removes the inter-entity signalling delay, reducing handover latency despite the loss of distributed parallel processing.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for operating a communication network includes at least two radio access networks (10-1, 10-2) in which a user equipment (12) can simultaneously be registered and, for each of the at least two radio access networks (10-1, 10-2), a serving entity (14-1, 14-2) in the control plane. The method including the steps of assigning (s16) a master role to one serving entity (14-2) and a slave role to the other serving entity (14-1) or entities; and when a serving entity (14-1) to which a slave role is assigned has to perform control plane signalling (s18), transmitting (s20), by the serving entity, a signalling message to the serving entity (14-2) to which the master role is assigned, so as to perform (s22) the control plane signalling Servers acting as serving entities, systems including such servers, and computer programs executable on the servers are also disclosed.