Mobility Management Entity Session Context for 5G Network Reconnection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current mobile communication systems face challenges in efficiently managing network reconnection for terminals transitioning from an idle state to a connected state, particularly in supporting network slices and ensuring efficient operation of wireless and network resources.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a mobility management (MM) function entity that receives session information, transmits paging messages, and configures interfaces between user plane gateways and base stations to facilitate network reconnection, ensuring data communication resumes efficiently across network slices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a terminal in idle mode needs to resume data communication, then network reconnection is required, but this process increases network signaling overhead and delays service restoration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata communication restorationVSAvoidreconnection time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal performs preliminary actions by maintaining session information and configuration data while in idle mode. When resuming communication, the terminal can quickly reattach to the network using pre-stored session context, avoiding time-consuming re-establishment of bearers and network paths. This preliminary preparation significantly reduces reconnection time while ensuring reliable data communication restoration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the network configures dedicated interfaces between user plane gateways and base stations for each terminal, then data communication quality improves, but network device complexity and resource consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata communication qualityVSAvoidnetwork interface configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The network employs universal interface configurations that can serve multiple terminals simultaneously. Instead of creating dedicated interfaces for each terminal, the system uses multi-functional interface structures that can be dynamically allocated and shared. This approach maintains high data communication quality through proper resource allocation while significantly reducing overall network device complexity and resource consumption.

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

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple terminal interfaces are merged into shared network paths between user plane gateways and base stations. The network consolidates interface resources by allowing multiple terminals to share common transmission paths when in idle or low-activity states, while still providing dedicated quality of service when needed. This merging strategy reduces the total number of interface configurations required while maintaining communication quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Speed

If the network maintains session information for all idle terminals, then service restoration speed improves, but network memory and processing resources increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice restoration speedVSAvoidnetwork resource consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The network applies local quality management by maintaining detailed session information selectively for specific terminals based on their service requirements, activity patterns, and priority levels. High-priority or frequently active terminals receive full session context maintenance for fastest restoration, while lower-priority terminals use simplified reattachment procedures. This localized differentiation optimizes service restoration speed for critical services while conserving network memory and processing resources.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The network performs partial session information maintenance by keeping only essential reattachment data for idle terminals rather than complete session contexts. This partial action approach provides sufficient service restoration capability for most scenarios while significantly reducing the quantity of stored information and associated resource consumption. Full session information is maintained only when explicitly required by service level agreements or terminal priority.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3466121B1Method and apparatus for specified attach procedure and mobility and paging support in data communication network
Publication Date: 2021.11.10 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3466121B1 patent drawingFigure 1a
  • EP3466121B1 patent drawingFigure 1b
  • EP3466121B1 patent drawingFigure 1c~1g

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a communication technique that combines a 5G communication system for supporting a data rate that is higher than that of a beyond 4G system with IoT technology, and a system thereof. The present disclosure may be applied to intelligent services on the basis of 5G communication technology and IoT related technology, such as smart home, smart building, smart city, smart car or connected car, health care, digital education, retail, security and safety related services. A method by a mobility management (MM) function entity is provided. The method includes receiving a message including session information for a terminal in an idle mode, transmitting a paging message for the terminal based on the message, receiving a service request message for the terminal from a base station, transmitting an interface configuration request message including the session information to the base station based on the session information, receiving an interface configuration response message from the base station, and transmitting information for configuring an interface between a user plane gateway (UP GW) corresponding to the session information and the base station.