Multi-Access Traffic Splitting With Packet Reordering Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies face challenges in optimizing network efficiency and user experience in multi-connectivity scenarios by dynamically selecting and combining multiple access networks, leading to suboptimal resource utilization and quality of experience (QoE) due to limitations in current path selection and management frameworks.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of Multiple Access Management Services (MAMS) framework, which leverages network intelligence and policies to dynamically adapt traffic distribution across selected paths and UP treatments, allowing for smart selection and flexible combination of access and core network paths based on application needs and dynamic conditions, without impacting control plane signaling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If dynamic path selection and traffic splitting are implemented across multiple access networks, then network utilization and resource allocation are optimized, but system complexity and difficulty of managing multiple connections increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a convergence layer as an intermediary component that sits between the transport layer and multiple access networks. This convergence layer acts as a mediator that manages traffic splitting, path selection, and retransmission across multiple connections, thereby optimizing network utilization while isolating the complexity from higher layers and preventing system-wide complexity escalation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the network protocol stack by introducing a distinct convergence layer between the transport layer and access networks. This segmentation allows independent management of traffic flow, path selection, and retransmission mechanisms for each access network connection, enabling optimized resource allocation while containing complexity within specific functional modules rather than distributing it throughout the entire system.
2Reliability
If multiple access networks are combined and dynamically selected, then service availability and user experience are improved, but difficulty of detecting and measuring network conditions increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the convergence layer continuously monitors network conditions across multiple access networks and dynamically adjusts traffic splitting ratios and path selection based on real-time measurements. This feedback loop enables improved service availability by automatically routing traffic through optimal paths while systematically measuring and detecting network conditions, thereby reducing the difficulty of monitoring through automated collection and processing of network metrics.
Solution Approach 2:
The convergence layer performs self-service by autonomously detecting network conditions, measuring performance metrics, and making path selection decisions without requiring complex external monitoring systems. This self-service capability improves service availability through automated adaptation while reducing the difficulty of detection and measurement by embedding monitoring functions directly within the traffic management layer.
3Productivity
If traffic is split across multiple paths, then network efficiency is optimized, but loss of information increases due to packet reordering and duplication
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements packet duplication mechanisms where critical data packets are copied and transmitted through multiple access networks simultaneously. The convergence layer tracks these copies and ensures proper reassembly at the destination, thereby maintaining network efficiency through parallel transmission while preventing information loss by verifying receipt and reordering of duplicate packets through sequence numbering and acknowledgment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The convergence layer acts as an intermediary that buffers and reorders packets arriving from multiple access networks before forwarding them to the transport layer. This intermediary function resolves packet reordering issues by maintaining sequence information and reconstructing the original packet flow, thereby preserving data integrity while allowing efficient parallel traffic splitting across multiple paths.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure is related to Multi-Access Management Services (MAMS), which is a programmable framework that provides mechanisms for the flexible selection of network paths in a multi-access (MX) communication environment, based on an application's needs. The present disclosure discusses dynamic traffic splitting mechanisms, cross-layer and cross access technology traffic splitting mechanisms and retransmission mechanisms, multi-link packet reordering mechanisms, and link-aware packet duplication mechanisms. Generic Multi-Access (GMA) data plane functions are also integrated into the MAMS framework.