PDU Set Handling Rules for Encrypted 5G Traffic
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Solution Overview
Problem
The 5G system (5GS) lacks efficient mechanisms for handling and scheduling PDU sets in advanced media services like XR and media services, which require high data rates and low latency, and existing solutions are inadequate for encrypted traffic, leading to inefficient resource utilization and security vulnerabilities.
Innovation Solution
Implementing methods in the Policy Control Function (PCF) and Session Management Function (SMF) to provide rules for PDU set handling, including enhanced Packet Detection Rules (PDRs) and QoS enforcement rules, enabling PDU set identification and classification, even for encrypted traffic, and ensuring secure communication protocols like DTLS/TLS are used.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the 5GS treats each packet in a QoS flow according to the same QoS requirements, then the QoS framework is simple to implement, but it cannot efficiently handle PDU sets with different importance levels or dependencies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the QoS flow into PDU sets with different importance levels (e.g., critical PDU sets requiring strict QoS, non-critical PDU sets with relaxed QoS). This allows differentiated resource allocation while maintaining a unified QoS framework, resolving the contradiction between efficiency and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different QoS parameters and handling policies to different PDU sets within the same QoS flow. Critical PDU sets receive prioritized scheduling and resource allocation, while non-critical sets receive standard treatment, enabling efficient resource utilization without overwhelming system complexity.
2Productivity
If the 5GS schedules packets without considering PDU set dependencies, then the scheduling mechanism is simple, but it drops packets inefficiently and wastes radio resources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-identifying and classifying PDU sets into critical and non-critical categories before scheduling occurs. This preliminary classification enables the scheduler to make informed decisions about packet dropping and resource allocation without requiring complex real-time analysis, thus improving scheduling efficiency while controlling complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements partial action by focusing scheduling decisions on PDU set dependencies rather than analyzing every individual packet in detail. By applying scheduling rules at the PDU set level, the system achieves improved efficiency without the excessive complexity of per-packet analysis.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the 5GS uses existing packet-based processing for XRM services, then the network infrastructure is simple, but it cannot properly handle encrypted traffic and PDU set identification
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (PDU set identification and classification function) that operates between the encrypted traffic and the scheduling/processing functions. This intermediary layer handles PDU set identification and classification without requiring decryption of the actual payload, enabling support for encrypted traffic while avoiding the complexity of implementing full decryption capabilities throughout the network.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the 5GS applies uniform QoS treatment to all packets, then the policy implementation is simple, but it cannot support different service requirements for different PDU sets
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the uniform QoS policy into differentiated policies applied to different PDU set categories. By maintaining a unified QoS framework while segmenting the application logic into critical and non-critical handling paths, the system achieves service differentiation without proportionally increasing overall policy complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for packet data unit (PDU) handling is implemented in a Policy Control Function (PCF) of a core network (CN) and comprises receiving an indication related to handling a PDU set that includes a plurality of PDUs associated with one unit of information generated at an application level; and providing, to a Session Management Function (SMF) of the CN, rules for processing PDUs in accordance with the indication.