Multi-Homed PDU Session Management via Router Advertisements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems, particularly in 5G networks, face challenges in managing multi-homed data sessions that require concurrent access to multiple data networks and service continuity, especially when a user equipment (UE) moves between different geographical locations, as they typically assume a point-to-point link rather than a shared link with multiple routers.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a multi-homed Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session management system using router advertisements to establish and manage multiple PDU session anchors, allowing a UE to connect to multiple data networks via shared links with branching points that steer traffic based on source IP prefixes, enabling concurrent access and service continuity without requiring additional control plane support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a point-to-point link assumption is used in current wireless communication systems, then the system design is simplified, but the system cannot support concurrent access to multiple data networks and service continuity during mobility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network architecture by introducing multiple PDU session anchors (first anchor for first data network, second anchor for second data network) instead of a single anchor. This segmentation allows the UE to maintain concurrent connections to multiple data networks through separate anchors while sharing a common user plane function, thereby achieving multi-network access without proportionally increasing control plane complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a branching point as an intermediary element that mediates between the UE and multiple PDU session anchors. The branching point receives router advertisements from multiple anchors and steers traffic accordingly, enabling the UE to access multiple data networks without direct complex control plane interactions with each anchor, thus reducing overall system complexity while maintaining versatility.
2Reliability
If multiple PDU session anchors are managed for service continuity, then mobility management is improved, but the complexity of managing multiple anchors increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the management of multiple PDU session anchors by introducing a common user plane function that handles both the first and second anchors. This merging allows the UE to maintain service continuity across mobility events while the common user plane function coordinates anchor management, reducing the complexity that would otherwise arise from managing completely separate anchor systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The branching point serves as an intermediary that simplifies anchor management by receiving router advertisements from multiple PDU session anchors and processing them through a unified interface. This intermediary layer abstracts the complexity of multiple anchors from the UE, enabling service continuity while maintaining manageable system complexity.
3Device complexity
If router advertisements are used to manage multiple anchors, then control plane support is reduced, but the complexity of route management increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by enabling the branching point to autonomously process router advertisements from multiple PDU session anchors and automatically steer traffic based on the received routing information. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for complex control plane configurations, as the system automatically manages route steering through standardized router advertisement protocols, reducing both control plane complexity and route management difficulty.
Data Source
AI summary
Router advertisements may be used to configure multi-homed Protocol Data Unit (PDU) sessions. A first router advertisement message from a first PDU session anchor and a second router advertisement message from a second PDU session anchor may be decoded. A user equipment (UE) may identify, based on the first and second router advertisement messages, a first preference value associated with destination routes of the first network and a second preference value associated with destination routes of the second data network. The UE may determine a destination data network for a signal by comparing a destination route of the signal to destination routes associated with whichever data network has a greater preference value. The UE may prepare the signal with a prefix based on the destination data network.