External MUP Controller for SR Routing and Session-Aware Forwarding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing MUP protocols lack sophisticated routing capabilities to efficiently transmit data between user equipment and data networks, limiting network capacity and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an external controller for mobile user plane (MUP) that utilizes an operation system to determine routes and manage session information through a publisher and subscriber database, enabling efficient packet forwarding and routing using segment identifiers and border gateway protocol messages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional MUP protocol is used for packet routing, then basic connectivity is maintained, but routing efficiency and network capacity are limited
Solution Approach 1:
An external controller is introduced as an intermediary component that receives session information from the UPF, determines optimal routes through the SRv6 network, and publishes routing instructions to border routers. This mediator enables sophisticated routing capabilities while maintaining compatibility with existing MUP protocol architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The routing function is segmented into distinct components: the external controller handles route determination and policy application, while border routers execute the routing decisions. This segmentation allows the complex routing intelligence to be separated from the simple packet forwarding function, improving both efficiency and adaptability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If packet routing is handled by border routers alone, then device complexity is low, but routing sophistication and network optimization are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The external controller acts as an intermediary that centralizes routing intelligence. It receives session information from UPFs, determines optimal paths through the SRv6 network, and publishes routing instructions to border routers. This separates complex routing decisions from simple packet forwarding, enabling sophisticated routing without increasing border router complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The complex routing determination function is extracted from the border routers and placed in a dedicated external controller. This extraction allows border routers to maintain simple forwarding logic while the external controller handles sophisticated route selection and policy application.
3Productivity
If user plane function is used for packet forwarding, then connection management is maintained, but transmission efficiency is reduced due to routing through UPF
Solution Approach 1:
The external controller performs preliminary actions by determining optimal routes in advance and publishing routing instructions to border routers before data transmission occurs. This pre-computation of routing paths enables direct forwarding without requiring packets to pass through the UPF for routing decisions, reducing transmission time and improving efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
Mobile User Plane (MUP) is combined with routing, e.g., a forwarding policy, determined by an external operation system. A network environment includes an MUP-PE connected to a data network and an MUP-GW connected to a cellular communication base station, the MUP-PE and MUP-GW connected by an access network. An MUP-C obtains mobile session information for user equipment connected to the base station and an operation system modifies the mobile session information to obtain modified mobile session information, which is used by MUP-C to generate ST1 and ST2 routes The modified mobile session information may include a forwarding policy.