Per-Session User Plane Control for Lower 5G Signaling Overhead

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Solution Overview

Problem

The increased signaling for tunnel establishment and maintenance in 5G networks due to multiple User Plane Functions (UPFs) and network slice instances, leading to inefficient resource utilization and signaling overhead, particularly during mobility state transitions and session management.

Innovation Solution

Independent session state machines per PDU session or network slice, allowing selective activation and deactivation of user plane connections, with signaling between Mobility Management Function (MMF) and Session Management Function (SMF) to manage UE context and UPF connections efficiently.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple User Plane Functions (UPFs) and network slice instances are established to support diverse 5G services, then service capability and adaptability are improved, but signaling overhead and resource utilization efficiency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice capabilityVSAvoidsignaling overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the session management functionality by introducing independent session state machines for each PDU session or network slice. This allows the MMF to maintain multiple independent session contexts simultaneously, enabling selective activation and management of individual sessions without affecting others, thus reducing overall signaling overhead while maintaining service diversity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic session state management where session contexts can be independently activated or deactivated based on mobility state transitions. The session state machines transition between active and inactive states dynamically, allowing the system to adapt resource allocation to actual service needs and reduce unnecessary signaling

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If session contexts are maintained in both UE and network for each PDU session, then session management reliability is improved, but memory resources and system complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesession management reliabilityVSAvoidmemory resources

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the session management functionality into the Mobility Management Function (MMF) by integrating session state machines within the existing mobility management framework. This consolidation allows the MMF to maintain session contexts alongside mobility contexts, reducing the need for separate dedicated session management memory structures and lowering overall system complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS20250287464A1Method for user plane connection activation or deactivation per session

Publication Date: 2025.09.11 NEC CORP

AI summary

This disclosure provides a User Equipment (UE), including: a transmitter configured to transmit at least one Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session identifier (ID), each of which indicates a PDU session that the UE needs to use in a Non Access Stratum (NAS) Service Request message to a Mobility Management Function (MMF) via an access network (AN) node when the UE has user data to send.