Network Apparatus for Access Node Discovery via Identifier Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current communication systems face challenges in efficiently managing user equipment (UE) transitions between access network nodes, particularly in handling changes in connection states and node handovers, which can lead to service disruptions and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a network apparatus and core network apparatus that facilitate the discovery and management of access network nodes serving UE, using identifiers to track connection states and node changes, enabling seamless transitions and service requests across nodes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the network apparatus tracks UE connection states and node changes using identifiers, then service continuity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The network apparatus acts as an intermediary between the core network function and access network nodes, managing identifier mappings and tracking UE states. This intermediary role centralizes the complexity in a dedicated component while maintaining simple interfaces with other network elements, thus improving service continuity without unnecessarily increasing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution segments the network into distinct functional components: core network functions, access network nodes, and the network apparatus that specializes in identifier management. By dividing responsibilities, each component remains relatively simple while the system as a whole achieves high reliability through coordinated identifier tracking across segments.
2Productivity
If the network apparatus manages identifier mappings between core network and access network, then service efficiency is improved, but information processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The network apparatus performs preliminary actions by pre-establishing and maintaining identifier mappings between core network and access network before service requests occur. This advance preparation eliminates the need for complex real-time processing during service operations, thus improving service efficiency while containing information processing complexity through upfront setup.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains copies of identifier mappings in the network apparatus, allowing rapid lookup and translation between core network identifiers and access network identifiers. This copying approach enables efficient service processing without requiring complex real-time computation, as the mapping information is readily available in a structured format.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a network apparatus configured to receive from a core network function a request to discover at least one access network node serving a user equipment, the request comprising a first user equipment identifier for identifying the user equipment in a core network; and use the user equipment identifier to provide to the core network function a second user equipment identifier identifying the user equipment in the access network, and at least one access network node identifier identifying at least one access network node in the access network that serves the user equipment.