Network Function Location Information Signaling Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems face inefficiencies in determining whether to include user equipment location information in messages to further network functions, leading to increased signaling overhead and complexity, especially when handling multicast sessions.
Innovation Solution
The system determines whether to include user equipment location information in messages based on indicators, capabilities, and registration status, using a container like the N1 session management container, and only provides the location information when necessary, reducing unnecessary signaling by leveraging capabilities and registration data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If location information is always included in messages to further network functions, then the further network function has complete information for multicast session handling, but signaling overhead increases and network efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic inclusion of location information based on capability negotiation. The network access node determines whether to include location information in messages to further network functions by checking if the receiving node supports it. This dynamic approach ensures information completeness when needed while reducing signaling overhead when not required, resolving the contradiction between reliability and energy loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of message content based on capability indicators. When the further network function indicates support for location information, the message includes location data; when not supported, the message excludes it. This parameter change strategy maintains information completeness for capable nodes while reducing overhead for non-capable nodes, balancing reliability and energy efficiency.
2Ease of operation
If location information is always transmitted, then multicast session setup is straightforward, but network complexity and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the transmission of location information dynamic based on capability negotiation between network nodes. The network access node checks the capability indicator of the further network function and only transmits location information when the receiving node indicates support. This dynamic approach simplifies session setup for capable nodes while reducing processing complexity for non-capable nodes, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and device complexity.
3Loss of energy
If capability negotiation is implemented, then signaling overhead is reduced, but the message format and processing steps become more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the capability indication with the existing message format by incorporating capability indicators into the container that carries location information. This merging approach allows capability negotiation to reduce signaling overhead while minimizing additional complexity, as the capability indicators are integrated into existing message structures rather than requiring separate negotiation protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs capability negotiation in advance before actual data transmission. The network access node determines whether to include location information by checking capability indicators received during initial setup. This preliminary action reduces the need for complex real-time decision-making during data transmission, thereby reducing signaling overhead while managing message format complexity through advance preparation.
Data Source
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AI summary
There is provided an apparatus for a network function, the apparatus comprising means configured to perform, receiving, from a network access node, a first message comprising: a container for a further network function, and location information of a user equipment, and determining whether to include the location information of the user equipment in a second message to the further network function. The means are further configured to perform, in response to determining that the indication of location information of the user equipment is to be included, providing, to the further network function, the second message comprising: the container, and the location information of the user equipment.