Mobility Management in Virtualized 5G Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional 5G network architecture is limited by centralization and undergeneralization, as control processing and mobility-related characteristics are confined to a single physical entity, hindering network openness and adaptability for future evolution.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves a method for mobility management where a network device performs measurement configuration and update decisions for access points between network functions, and maps or remaps sessions from the non-access stratum to bearers in the access stratum, utilizing virtualized or cloud-based network functions to enhance openness and generalization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If control processing and mobility-related characteristics are confined to a single physical entity in traditional network architecture, then device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but adaptability and openness of the network are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the traditional monolithic network architecture into multiple independent network functions (NFs) that can be independently deployed and managed. Each NF performs specific control processing tasks, allowing the system to adapt to different scenarios by selecting and combining appropriate NFs, thereby improving network adaptability without significantly increasing operational complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates universal network function components that can perform multiple roles depending on configuration and context. These multi-functional NFs can be dynamically instantiated to handle various mobility management scenarios, enhancing network versatility while maintaining standardized interfaces that prevent complexity escalation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If control processing is distributed across multiple network functions, then network openness and generalization are improved, but device complexity and operational difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces standardized service interfaces and communication protocols as intermediaries between distributed network functions. These intermediaries abstract the complexity of inter-NF interactions, allowing operations to be performed uniformly across different NF implementations without requiring deep understanding of underlying architectural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables dynamic configuration of network function parameters and behaviors through standardized management interfaces. Operations can be adjusted by changing parameters rather than reconfiguring entire systems, maintaining ease of operation while supporting generalized multi-functional architectures.
3Reliability
If measurement configuration and handover decisions are performed by separate network functions, then reliability of mobility management is improved, but loss of time due to additional processing steps increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary configuration of measurement parameters and handover policies before mobility events occur. Network functions pre-establish measurement configurations and decision criteria, so that during actual handover scenarios, the distributed NFs can quickly execute pre-planned actions without extensive real-time processing, thus maintaining high reliability while minimizing time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes feedback loops between measurement collection NFs and handover decision NFs that enable rapid iterative optimization. Measurement results are continuously fed back to adjust handover parameters in real-time, improving mobility management reliability through adaptive control while keeping processing time minimal through efficient feedback mechanisms.
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a mobility management method, a network device, and a terminal. The method comprises: a first network element executing an update decision of a measurement configuration related to mobility between network elements and/or an access point (AP) related to mobility between the network elements; a second network element executing mapping or re-mapping between a session of a non-access layer and a bearer of an access layer. The network device comprises the first network element and the second network element.