N10 Interface Congestion Control in 5G Core
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Solution Overview
Problem
The N10 interface between the Session Management Function (SMF) and the Unified Data Management Function (UDM) in 5G core networks experiences congestion, leading to delays or failures in establishing user sessions due to unnecessary noise and unmanaged message traffic, which conventional systems are unable to effectively address.
Innovation Solution
The SMF intelligently manages N10 interface communications by identifying source Radio Access Technologies (RAT) and congestion thresholds to determine whether to send messages, eliminating unnecessary messages and delaying or localizing de-registration processes to reduce traffic and alleviate congestion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the SMF sends all necessary messages to the UDM via the N10 interface, then the session establishment function is complete, but the N10 interface experiences congestion and message delivery delays
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the AMF pre-register device information with the UDM before the SMF needs to communicate with the UDM. This pre-registration includes device identity, location, and session context, so that when the SMF needs to send messages, the UDM already has the necessary information ready, reducing the need for additional message exchanges and alleviating N10 interface congestion
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the registration function from the SMF-UDM interaction path and relocates it to the AMF-UDM interaction path. By having the AMF handle device registration independently, the patent removes unnecessary registration-related messages from the N10 interface between SMF and UDM, reducing traffic and congestion on this critical interface
2Reliability
If the system sends de-registration messages immediately when sessions end, then the UDM maintains accurate device status, but unnecessary message traffic increases during low-activity periods
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by introducing batched de-registration processing. Instead of sending de-registration messages immediately for each session termination, the system accumulates multiple de-registration events and processes them in batches at predetermined intervals. This reduces the total number of individual messages on the N10 interface while maintaining acceptable device status accuracy in the UDM
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics by making the de-registration message timing flexible rather than fixed. The system dynamically adjusts between immediate de-registration (when needed for accuracy) and batched de-registration (when reducing traffic is priority), based on current network conditions and session characteristics. This dynamic approach optimizes the balance between status accuracy and traffic reduction
3Loss of information
If the SMF communicates all session information to the UDM, then the UDM has complete device context, but redundant information increases interface traffic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by having different network functions maintain different levels of device context information locally. The AMF maintains location and mobility information, the SMF maintains session management information, and only essential information is shared with the UDM. This distributed information architecture reduces redundant transmissions on the N10 interface while ensuring each function has the context it needs for its operations
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided for optimizing N10 interface messaging. Specifically, registration messages, de-registration messages, and the like can be dynamically controlled such that communication is prevented. Said messages are communicated via an N10 interface between a Unified Data Management function (UDM) and a Session Management function (SMF) in a 5G network. Additionally, subscription information, user profile information, etc., is also communicated via the N10 interface. Thus, the N10 interface can easily become overloaded or congested. Aspects herein provide mechanisms to avoid additional congestion of the N10 interface by intelligently eliminating specific messages communicated to the UDM via the N10 interface.