Packet Drop Priority Marking for 5G Control Plane Congestion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Network congestion leads to prolonged cure times and packet loss, particularly affecting control plane messaging in 5G core networks, causing race conditions and failures due to inefficient congestion management.
Innovation Solution
A network congestion service that adds priority drop bits to IP headers and implements re-routing mechanisms to manage packet transmission during congestion, ensuring deterministic handling of control plane messages by prioritizing them based on their importance and availability of alternative paths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional congestion management mechanisms are used, then network throughput is maintained, but control plane message delivery reliability deteriorates due to packet drops and prolonged cure times
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments control plane traffic from user plane traffic by implementing separate handling mechanisms. Control plane packets are identified and treated differently through dedicated congestion management policies, allowing prioritized processing and reduced packet drops for critical control messages during congestion events.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary actions by pre-configuring congestion management policies and priority markings for control plane packets. Network devices are pre-programmed with rules to identify and protect control plane traffic before congestion occurs, enabling faster response and reduced cure time when congestion is detected.
2Stability of the object's composition
If packet dropping is used for congestion control, then network stability is improved, but control plane messaging reliability deteriorates due to race conditions and failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by implementing differentiated packet handling based on packet type. Control plane packets are marked with special identifiers and subjected to different dropping thresholds or protected entirely from dropping, while user plane packets continue to be managed with traditional congestion control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism in the form of priority markings and identification fields in packet headers. These intermediaries allow network devices to distinguish control plane packets from user plane packets, enabling selective protection and differentiated treatment during congestion management.
3Reliability
If re-routing mechanisms are implemented, then delivery success rate improves, but device complexity increases due to path management requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic re-routing capabilities that activate only when congestion is detected on primary paths. Network devices can dynamically switch control plane packets to alternative paths based on real-time congestion conditions, while maintaining simple default routing for normal operations, thus balancing reliability improvement with device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, a network device, and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium are described in relation to an network congestion service. The service includes adding bits to a packet that indicate a priority for dropping the packet when there is congestion. The service may add the bits to an Internet Protocol header of the packet. The service may also include re-routing the packet based on the drop packet priority value indicated by the added bits. The service may select an alternate communication path during congestion based on the value of the added bits. The service may also include adding a token to a packet that validates the added bits and their value.