PDN Address Capability Notification for UE IP Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

In wireless broadband communication networks, especially in Release-8 GPRS/UMTS and EPS systems, there is a challenge in managing IP address allocation efficiently, leading to resource waste and service interruptions when User Equipment (UE) attempts to acquire additional IP addresses beyond what the network supports, resulting in UE failing to obtain new IP addresses for PDN connections.

Innovation Solution

The method involves determining and communicating the PDN address capability to the UE, which includes the available IP address versions and quantities, allowing the UE to determine if it can acquire additional IP addresses and how to proceed with the acquisition process, thereby preventing service disruptions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the UE initiates a new process to acquire an IP address for the PDN connection after the first bearer is established, then the UE may obtain an IP address with another version or a new IP address, but the process may fail when the network equipment does not allow the UE to acquire two IP addresses for the PDN connection, resulting in resource waste and service interruption

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveIP address version compatibilityVSAvoidservice continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The network equipment performs preliminary action by determining and notifying the UE of its IP address capability (whether it supports single or dual IP addresses) before the UE attempts to acquire additional IP addresses. This preliminary notification prevents the UE from initiating acquisition processes that would fail, thereby avoiding service interruptions and resource waste while maintaining adaptability to different network configurations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If the UE attempts to acquire additional IP addresses beyond network support, then the UE may obtain more IP address versions, but it results in resource waste and service interruptions

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveIP address acquisition flexibilityVSAvoidnetwork resource waste
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The network equipment provides feedback to the UE by notifying it of the network's IP address capability (single or dual address support). This feedback mechanism enables the UE to adjust its IP address acquisition behavior accordingly, acquiring additional addresses only when the network supports it, thereby preventing resource waste while maintaining acquisition flexibility when conditions permit

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP2249522B1A method, a user equipment and a network equipment for acquiring information
Publication Date: 2017.08.02 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP2249522B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2249522B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2249522B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

A method for acquiring information includes: receiving an Internet Protocol (IP) address acquisition request or Packet Data Network (PDN) address allocation information sent by User Equipment (UE) (1); determining a PDN address capability according to the IP address acquisition request or the PDN address allocation information (2); and sending the determined PDN address capability to the UE. A UE and network equipment are also provided. Through the solutions, the PDN address capability is determined by the network and is sent to the UE, so as to indicate to the UE the IP address information that may be acquired in a current PDN connection, such that when the network cannot provide an IP address for the UE any more, the UE is prevented from acquiring other IP addresses in other manners to result in service abnormality.