PFCP Message Routing Control in vBNG CU Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In broadband access networks with virtual broadband network gateway (vBNG) architecture and control-user (CU) separation, there is a need for efficient routing control between the control plane (CP) and user plane (UP) to facilitate maintenance and reduce costs.
Innovation Solution
A message sending method where the CP device generates and sends a PFCP message with route information and a control indication to the UP device, enabling the UP device to update the route information based on the control indication, thus implementing routing control in a communication system with CU separation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If BNG functions are divided into control plane (CP) and user plane (UP) with CU separation, then maintenance efficiency is improved and deployment flexibility is enhanced, but system complexity increases due to the need for interaction between CP and UP
Solution Approach 1:
The BNG function is segmented into control plane (CP) and user plane (UP) components. The CP handles routing control, authentication, and IP address allocation, while the UP handles data forwarding. This segmentation allows independent maintenance and deployment of each component, improving maintenance efficiency while managing system complexity through functional separation.
Solution Approach 2:
A standardized message interface is introduced as an intermediary between CP and UP for routing control interactions. The message includes route information and control indications, enabling structured communication that simplifies the interaction protocol and reduces system complexity despite the separation architecture.
2Reliability
If routing control interaction between CP and UP is implemented, then routing control functionality is achieved, but message processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The routing control message uses parameterized fields including route information (destination address, next-hop address, outbound interface index, route cost) and control indications (install indication, remove indication). This parameterized structure allows flexible routing control operations while maintaining consistent message processing logic, reducing complexity through standardized parameter handling.
Solution Approach 2:
The message structure is designed to be universal, supporting multiple routing control operations (install, remove, update) through a single standardized format. The control indication field can take different values to indicate different operations, eliminating the need for separate message types for each operation and simplifying message processing.
Data Source
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AI summary
This application relates to message sending and receiving methods and apparatuses, and a communication system. A control plane CP device in a communication system in which a CP and a user plane UP are separated generates a first message, where the first message includes route information and a control indication for the route information, and the route information is associated with a UP device. The CP device sends the first message to the UP device, so that the UP device updates the route information based on the control indication, where the first message is a packet forwarding control protocol PFCP message. Based on the technical solutions provided herein, interaction on routing control between the CP device and the UP device in a communication system architecture in which a CP and a UP are separated may be implemented.