PDP Context Maintenance During Data Offload
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional telecommunications networks face issues in maintaining packet data protocol (PDP) context during data offload, leading to potential security breaches and resource misallocation due to idle timers incorrectly discarding PDP contexts when data offloads bypass the GGSN, causing IP address misassignment.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method and system that detect data offload conditions and send dummy or heartbeat packets to maintain the PDP context by interposing a node between the UE and the network node, preventing idle timer timeouts and ensuring continuous context maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If idle timers are used to release PDP contexts, then network resources are efficiently reclaimed, but PDP contexts are prematurely discarded during data offload operations
Solution Approach 1:
A packet generator node is introduced as an intermediary between the UE and GGSN. This intermediary sends periodic dummy packets or heartbeat packets to the GGSN on behalf of the UE during data offload operations, preventing the idle timer from triggering premature PDP context release while allowing efficient resource reclamation when offload is not occurring
2Loss of energy
If data offload bypasses the GGSN, then network traffic load is reduced, but the GGSN cannot detect ongoing data sessions leading to context loss
Solution Approach 1:
The packet generator acts as a mediator that maintains the information link between the UE and GGSN during data offload. By sending periodic packets through the GGSN, it ensures the GGSN remains aware of active sessions even when actual data traffic bypasses it, preventing context information loss
Solution Approach 2:
The packet generator implements periodic action by sending dummy packets or heartbeat packets at regular intervals to the GGSN during data offload operations. This periodic communication maintains the PDP context without requiring continuous actual data traffic, solving the information loss problem while preserving traffic load reduction benefits
3Reliability
If PDP contexts are maintained during data offload, then IP address integrity is preserved, but additional packets must be sent to prevent timeout
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous packet transmission, the system uses periodic dummy packets or heartbeat packets sent at intervals matching the idle timer configuration. This minimizes the quantity of additional packets required while maintaining IP address integrity throughout the data offload operation
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and computer readable media for maintaining packet data protocol (PDP) context while performing data offload are disclosed. According to one aspect, a method for maintaining PDP context while performing data offload includes detecting a data offload condition wherein a UE for which a first network node is maintaining a PDP context is sending or receiving data using a data path that does not include the first network node. While the data offload condition exists, packets are sent from a source other than the UE to the first network node so as to cause the first network node to maintain the PDP context for the UE. In one embodiment, a node interposed between the UE and the first network node periodically sends dummy packets or heart beat packets to the first network node on behalf of the UE, which may include packets that appear to come from the UE.