PDU Session Anchor Relocation Service Continuity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in ensuring seamless service continuity during the relocation of PDU Session Anchors (PSAs), Uplink Classifiers (ULCLs), and Branching Points (BPs), leading to potential data loss during traffic offload, which is undesirable for applications requiring uninterrupted data transportation.
Innovation Solution
Introducing a parameter to indicate whether service continuity for offload traffic is supported, allowing for seamless data transportation during PSA, ULCL, and BP relocations by ensuring no data loss when continuity is required, and enabling early resource release when it is not, through the use of new parameters in AF requests and PCC rules managed by SMF, PCF, and UDR.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If PSA and/or ULCL and/or BP are relocated to support multiple PSAs or traffic routing, then adaptability and traffic management flexibility are improved, but service continuity and data loss prevention deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by establishing a forwarding tunnel between the source PSA and target PSA before initiating the relocation process. This forwarding tunnel is set up in advance to ensure that data packets can be seamlessly forwarded during the transition, preventing data loss while maintaining routing flexibility. The tunnel is established as part of the relocation preparation phase, allowing the system to maintain service continuity throughout the PSA relocation process.
2Productivity
If source PSA and/or source ULCL and/or source BP are released early to optimize resource utilization, then productivity and resource efficiency are improved, but service continuity and data transportation reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by establishing a forwarding tunnel before releasing the source PSA resources. This ensures that data packets can be forwarded through the tunnel during the transition period, maintaining service continuity. The tunnel is set up in advance, allowing the system to release source resources early while preventing data loss, thus optimizing resource utilization without compromising reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The forwarding tunnel acts as an intermediary mechanism between the source PSA and target PSA during relocation. It mediates the data packet transmission during the transition period, ensuring that data flows continuously without interruption. This intermediary structure allows the source PSA to be released early while maintaining data transportation reliability, as the tunnel bridges the gap between the old and new PSA locations.
3Reliability
If forwarding tunnel is established to prevent data loss during PSA relocation, then service continuity is improved, but device complexity and relocation process complexity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The forwarding tunnel serves as a standardized intermediary mechanism that simplifies the relocation process. By using a well-defined tunnel establishment and termination procedure, the patent reduces the complexity of managing multiple PSAs and ULCLs during relocation. The tunnel acts as a simple bridge that can be automatically set up and torn down, avoiding complex manual configuration and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining service continuity.
Data Source
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AI summary
Method and apparatus for improving the flexibility of supporting service continuity are disclosed. A method comprises receiving a PCC rule containing a traffic steering control information per AF request which includes an indication on whether service continuity for offload traffic is supported or not; and performing a PSA relocation based on the information.