PDU Session Anchoring for High-Reliability Transmission

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing communication technologies face challenges in maintaining service reliability and user experience due to excessive packet loss on user plane paths, leading to potential application shutdowns.

Innovation Solution

A communication method that anchors a PDU session of a terminal to an anchor user plane gateway through an access network device, where the method involves obtaining packet loss statuses on both the first and second links of the user plane path, determining the quantity of consecutive lost packets, and triggering a high-reliability transmission mechanism when this quantity reaches a threshold determined by the survival time of the service flow.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If packet loss monitoring is implemented on user plane paths, then service reliability is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice reliabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by proactively monitoring packet loss on user plane paths before service degradation occurs. The AMF detects packet loss statuses on multiple links and triggers high-reliability transmission mechanisms in advance, preventing application shutdowns rather than reacting after failures occur.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The AMF acts as an intermediary between the terminal and the core network, centralizing the packet loss detection and high-reliability transmission triggering functions. This intermediary approach consolidates complexity in a single network element rather than distributing it across multiple devices, resolving the contradiction by improving reliability through centralized monitoring while managing system complexity through functional consolidation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If high-reliability transmission mechanism is triggered frequently, then service reliability is improved, but transmission overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission reliabilityVSAvoidtransmission overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the transmission mechanism based on monitored packet loss parameters. The system changes transmission behavior only when packet loss thresholds are exceeded, transitioning from normal to high-reliability mode as needed. This selective approach improves reliability when necessary while avoiding unnecessary transmission overhead during normal operating conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If packet loss detection is performed on multiple links, then transmission reliability is improved, but detection complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission reliabilityVSAvoiddetection complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements segmentation by dividing the user plane path into multiple discrete links (first link between terminal and access network device, second link between access network device and anchor UPF). Each link is monitored independently for packet loss, allowing the system to identify specific problematic segments. This segmented approach improves transmission reliability through comprehensive monitoring while managing detection complexity by organizing monitoring into distinct, manageable link segments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4021093B1Communication method, apparatus and system
Publication Date: 2025.02.19 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP4021093B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4021093B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4021093B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

This application provides a communication method, apparatus, and system. In the method, a PDU session of a terminal is anchored to an anchor user plane gateway through an access network device, a user plane path between the terminal and the anchor user plane gateway includes a first link and a second link, the first link is a user plane data link for communication between the terminal and the access network device, and the second link is a user plane data link for communication between the access network device and the anchor user plane gateway. The access network device or the anchor user plane gateway obtains packet loss statuses of a service flow on the first link and the second link; determines a quantity of consecutive lost packets of the service flow on the user plane path based on the packet loss statuses of the service flow on the first link and the second link; and when the quantity of consecutive lost packets of the service flow on the user plane path reaches a first threshold, triggers enabling of a high-reliability transmission mechanism for the service flow. This improves data transmission reliability, avoids application shutdown, and improves user experience.