Transparent MPTCP Proxy for 5G Multi-Connectivity Sub-Flow Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Multipath TCP (MPTCP) approaches in mobile networks fail to effectively leverage multiple paths for improved reliability and throughput, as user equipment (UE) remains unaware of concealed multiple paths, leading to sub-optimal sub-flow establishment and management within the network.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a transparent MPTCP proxy within the user plane function that intercepts and manages MPTCP connections, allowing for the establishment of additional sub-flows over non-cellular access and mapping of MPTCP sub-flows to quality of service flows, enabling seamless multipath transmission control protocol operations across multiple bearers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a transparent MPTCP proxy is implemented to manage MPTCP connections and establish additional sub-flows, then network control over IP flows and reliability are improved, but device complexity and protocol processing overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
A transparent MPTCP proxy is introduced as an intermediary component within the user plane function to manage MPTCP connections, intercept TCP handshake procedures, and coordinate sub-flow establishment between the terminal device and network. This mediator resolves the contradiction by centralizing complex MPTCP management functions in a dedicated network element rather than requiring complex implementation at the terminal device, thereby improving reliability through coordinated multi-path management while containing device complexity.
2Productivity
If multiple MPTCP sub-flows are established over different paths including non-cellular access, then throughput and network utilization are improved, but protocol processing overhead and signaling complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The transparent proxy performs preliminary actions by pre-establishing and maintaining multiple sub-flows over different paths (cellular and non-cellular access) before data transmission requirements arise. The proxy proactively manages path availability, performs advance path selection and sub-flow establishment, and maintains ready-state connections. This preliminary preparation enables high-throughput data transmission without incurring protocol processing delays during actual data transfer, as the multi-path infrastructure is already in place.
3Ease of operation
If the terminal device remains unaware of concealed multiple paths, then device simplicity is maintained, but sub-optimal sub-flow establishment and network resource utilization occur
Solution Approach 1:
The transparent proxy acts as an intelligent intermediary that conceals the complexity of multiple network paths from the terminal device while optimizing network resource utilization. The proxy intercepts TCP handshake procedures, manages sub-flow establishment across multiple paths, and coordinates communication between the unaware terminal device and the multi-path network infrastructure. This allows the terminal device to operate simply with standard TCP protocols while the proxy behind the scenes establishes optimal multi-path connections, resolving the contradiction between device simplicity and network productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes connecting, by a terminal device, in a protocol data unit session establishment procedure, to at least one master node and at least one network node that provides a proxy for at least one connection of the terminal device, and establishing a master multipath transmission control protocol sub-flow. The method includes receiving, at a multipath transmission control layer, a notification that includes at least one multipath transmission control segment with an add address option that advertises an internet protocol interface address of at least one of the proxy and the at least one network node, and establishing a secondary multipath transmission control protocol sub-flow to the internet protocol interface address in response to receiving the notification.