Mobile Gateway Error Handling via IP Address Lookup

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Solution Overview

Problem

In large mobile networks, handling error indication packets with unknown tunnel endpoint identifiers (TEIDs) is time-consuming and resource-intensive, requiring linear scans of subscriber records, which delays data delivery and impacts user experience.

Innovation Solution

Including additional information, such as the Internet Protocol (IP) address, in error indication packets allows service nodes to perform a more efficient lookup using hash tables, reducing the number of operations required to identify subscriber records.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If service nodes perform linear scans of subscriber records to identify unknown TEIDs, then error handling can be performed, but processing time and resource consumption increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveerror handling capabilityVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where the downstream mobile gateway includes the destination IP address in the error indication packet. This IP address serves as a mediator that enables the upstream mobile gateway to perform efficient hash table lookups instead of linear scans, thereby resolving the contradiction between reliable error handling and processing time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter used for lookup by adding the destination IP address to the error indication packet. This parameter change enables the system to transition from linear scanning (inefficient) to hash table-based lookup (efficient), significantly reducing processing time while maintaining error handling reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If service nodes perform linear scans of subscriber records to identify unknown TEIDs, then error handling can be performed, but processor cycles and memory resources increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveerror handling capabilityVSAvoidresource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The destination IP address acts as an intermediary that enables efficient resource utilization. By including this IP address in error indication packets, the system can leverage existing hash table structures in the upstream mobile gateway, avoiding the need for resource-intensive linear scans across all subscriber records.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical linear scanning process with a more efficient hash table lookup mechanism. This substitution eliminates the need to sequentially check numerous subscriber records, thereby reducing processor cycle consumption and memory resource usage while maintaining comprehensive error handling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If service nodes perform linear scans of subscriber records to identify unknown TEIDs, then error handling can be performed, but data delivery speed decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveerror handling capabilityVSAvoiddata delivery speed

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The destination IP address in the error indication packet serves as a fast lookup key. This intermediary enables the upstream mobile gateway to quickly identify the correct subscriber record through hash table search, thereby reducing the time to resolve errors and restore data delivery without compromising handling reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

By changing the lookup parameter from TEID (requiring linear scan) to destination IP address (enabling hash table lookup), the system significantly accelerates error resolution speed. This parameter change allows rapid identification of affected subscriber records, thereby speeding up data delivery while maintaining reliable error handling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS8855071B1Handling errors in subscriber session management within mobile networks

Publication Date: 2014.10.07 JUNIPER NETWORKS INC

AI summary

In general, techniques are described for handling errors in subscriber session management within mobile networks. A downstream mobile gateway comprising a forwarding unit and a service unit may implement the techniques. The forwarding unit receives a packet that includes a destination address for a subscriber and a tunnel endpoint identifier (TEID). The service unit determines whether the TEID is associated with one of a number of subscriber records that store session data for current sessions associated with subscriber devices to communicate with the mobile network. In response to determining that the TEID is not associated with one of the subscriber records, the service unit generates a message that includes the TEID and the destination address and indicates that the downstream mobile gateway has determined that the TEID is not associated with one of the subscriber records. The forwarding unit then sends the message to the upstream mobile gateway.