5G MBMS Data Delivery Optimization via N3 Interface
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Solution Overview
Problem
In 5G multicast and broadcast services, the redundancy of data delivery over multiple N3 tunnels creates wasteful data overhead and signaling overhead due to multiple User Plane Functions (UPFs) sending the same MBMS data to a 5G base station, leading to inefficient resource usage.
Innovation Solution
The system optimizes multicast and broadcast delivery by identifying a single UPF or IP multicast router for data delivery, reducing redundant tunnel setup through multicast addressing information, allowing the 5G Access Network node to join the MBMS service delivery tree and bind it to the appropriate PDU session, thereby minimizing redundant data transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple UPFs send MBMS data over multiple N3 tunnels to a 5G base station, then data delivery is established, but data overhead and signaling overhead increase due to redundancy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple redundant N3 tunnels into a single optimized tunnel by having the Access Network node select one UPF as the primary data source. This combining approach eliminates duplicate data transmissions while maintaining delivery reliability, directly resolving the contradiction between reliable data delivery and excessive data overhead.
2Reliability
If multiple UPFs send MBMS data over multiple N3 tunnels to a 5G base station, then data delivery is established, but signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces signaling overhead by merging multiple UPF interactions into a single primary UPF relationship. The Access Network node establishes one main data path and uses efficient mechanisms to handle failover, thereby maintaining delivery reliability while minimizing the signaling complexity associated with managing multiple active tunnels.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the primary data delivery function from the redundant multi-UPF setup, isolating it into a single selected UPF. This extraction eliminates unnecessary signaling related to coordinating multiple UPFs, reducing overhead while preserving the essential data delivery capability.
3Reliability
If multiple UPFs send MBMS data over multiple N3 tunnels, then data delivery redundancy is achieved, but resource usage efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple redundant data paths into a single efficient path by selecting one primary UPF for data delivery. This merging maintains the redundancy benefit for reliability while eliminating the resource waste of parallel transmissions, directly improving resource usage efficiency without sacrificing delivery reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
In some embodiments, there is provided an apparatus comprising at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least: receive, from a user equipment, a request to join a multicast, broadcast service; and send, in order to process the request, information in a request message to an access network node, the information including an identifier of the multicast, broadcast service, an identifier of a user equipment context and/or a session identifier corresponding to the user equipment served by the access network node, a source address and/or a multicast address where the access network node can access, via an N3 interface, data of the multicast, broadcast service.