Mobility Manager Destructive Testing via Simulated Load Interruption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current network testing methodologies fail to adequately ensure the robustness of telecommunication networks, leading to vulnerabilities and node failures that can result in significant service outages, especially when networks are stressed by a large number of connected devices.
Innovation Solution
A test environment is set up to emulate a cellular communications system, where the Mobility Management Entity (MME) is loaded with a significant number of eNodeBs and communication sessions, and communications between eNodeBs and MME are temporarily interrupted to simulate stress conditions, monitoring performance and fail-over procedures to ensure stability and fault tolerance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If network stress testing is performed by increasing network traffic and CPU usage, then network robustness should be improved, but existing testing methodologies are inadequate and fail to cover all failure scenarios
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring the test environment with simulated eNodeBs, UEs, and communication sessions before conducting the destructive test. The mobility manager is pre-loaded with a significant number of eNodeBs and communication sessions to ensure the system is in a stressed state before the actual interruption test begins, allowing comprehensive coverage of failure scenarios without requiring complex real-time stress induction mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying by creating simulated eNodeBs and UEs that replicate real network components and their behaviors. These virtual copies allow the test environment to emulate a full cellular communications system without requiring physical deployment of numerous actual network elements, simplifying the testing infrastructure while maintaining test validity
2Productivity
If the number of connected devices and communication sessions is increased to stress the network, then network capacity is improved, but the risk of node failure and service outage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by implementing a controlled test environment where the mobility manager is deliberately overloaded with a significant number of eNodeBs and communication sessions before the interruption event. This pre-stressing creates a cushion of stress tolerance that allows the system to be tested at high capacity levels while the controlled nature of the test prevents actual service outages, as the interruption is temporary and monitored
Solution Approach 2:
The test environment implements multi-functionality by using simulated components that can serve multiple purposes: simulated eNodeBs can represent both normal and stressed conditions, and the same test framework can evaluate both capacity limits and failure responses. This universal test platform allows assessment of network behavior across multiple operating conditions without requiring separate physical infrastructures
3Reliability
If communications between eNodeBs and MME are interrupted to test fail-over procedures, then fault tolerance is improved, but communication sessions may be dropped
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary element in the form of a controlled communication interruption mechanism between eNodeBs and the mobility manager. This intermediary allows the test system to selectively block communications for a predetermined time period while monitoring the system's response. The intermediary nature of this controlled interruption enables fault tolerance testing without directly causing uncontrolled service outages, as the interruption parameters are precisely defined and time-limited
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring communication sessions and system behavior during the interruption event. The test system observes whether communication sessions are maintained or dropped, and uses this feedback to assess the effectiveness of fail-over procedures. This real-time feedback mechanism allows the system to evaluate fault tolerance while minimizing harmful effects, as the monitoring enables immediate detection and cessation of any problematic conditions
Data Source
AI summary
A mobility manager of a cellular communication network is tested using a test network. The test network has a mobility manager, multiple actual and simulated base stations, and multiple actual and simulated communication devices. To test one aspect of the mobility manager, the number of simulated base stations is increased to nearly the rated capacity of the mobility manager. In addition, simulated communication sessions are established, again so that the number of communication sessions is near the rated capacity of the mobility manager. Communications are then interrupted between the base stations and the mobility manager. Behavior of the mobility manager is monitored after the interruption to determine, among other things, how many communications sessions are lost as a result of the interruption.