PDU Session Continuity Types for 5G Signaling Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current 3GPP mobile networks face high mobility management signaling overhead due to the requirement of maintaining a fixed mobility anchor for data connections, which becomes unmanageable with increasing UE population and mobility, especially in 5G networks.

Innovation Solution

Implementing data sessions with varying levels of continuity types (address-preservation, session-continuity, and no-continuity) to reduce signaling load, allowing UEs to select the appropriate continuity type based on application requirements, and using local or global mobility anchors accordingly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a fixed mobility anchor is maintained for every PDN connection to ensure IP address preservation, then data session continuity is improved, but mobility management signaling overhead increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata session continuityVSAvoidmobility management signaling load
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments PDN connections into multiple IP sessions, each with its own mobility anchor. Instead of requiring a single fixed anchor for the entire PDN connection, individual IP sessions can have separate anchors, allowing mobility without requiring anchor relocation for the whole connection. This reduces signaling overhead while maintaining session continuity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamic anchor selection where mobility anchors can change based on UE location and session requirements. Rather than fixing the anchor for the entire PDN connection duration, the system dynamically selects appropriate anchors for each IP session, enabling flexible mobility management without excessive signaling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If bearer relocations are performed frequently to maintain fixed mobility anchor during UE movement, then IP address preservation is improved, but network signaling load becomes unmanageable with large UE population

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveIP address preservationVSAvoidnetwork signaling capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

By dividing PDN connections into separate IP sessions with independent anchors, the patent eliminates the need for frequent bearer relocations. Each IP session maintains its own anchor independently, so UE movement does not trigger anchor relocation for other sessions, dramatically reducing signaling load in high-mobility scenarios with large UE populations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the mobility management parameter from fixed anchor per PDN connection to dynamic anchor per IP session. This parameter change allows the system to adapt anchor selection based on session-specific requirements and UE mobility patterns, reducing unnecessary bearer relocations and signaling overhead.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple PDN connections are established to support different continuity requirements, then application-specific continuity is improved, but device and network complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontinuity type selectionVSAvoidsession management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables dynamic selection of continuity types within a single PDN connection by creating IP sessions with different continuity requirements. Instead of establishing multiple static PDN connections, the system dynamically configures IP sessions based on application needs, reducing device and network complexity while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3796739B1PDU sessions with various types of session continuity
Publication Date: 2023.12.06 MOTOROLA MOBILITY LLC
  • EP3796739B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3796739B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3796739B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Apparatuses, methods, and systems are disclosed for providing data connectivity with various types of data session continuity. One apparatus 200 includes a processor 205 that receives a data session request, identifies a required continuity type based on the data session request, and establishes a PDU session having the required continuity type. The required continuity type may be selected from a plurality of continuity type supported by a mobile communication network 312. In various embodiments, the apparatus 200 includes a transceiver 225 that communicates with the mobile communication network 312.