Pre-established User Plane Path Selection for Network Response Time
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless networks face delays in establishing user plane paths, which is critical for delay-sensitive applications like smart grid operations and paramedic services, as existing methods require runtime signaling for path setup during user plane path selection or reselection.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that pre-establishes user plane paths and allows for application-aware path selection or reselection, using a control plane function to configure traffic steering rules and select optimal user plane paths based on the location of user equipment and application systems, reducing the need for runtime signaling and improving network response time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If runtime signaling is used for user plane path setup during path selection or reselection, then the path can be established dynamically according to current network conditions, but the network response time increases due to the time required for signaling exchange
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-establishes user plane paths during idle time before they are needed for actual data transmission. The control plane function pre-configures multiple possible user plane paths based on historical data and network topology, so that when path selection or reselection is needed, the system can immediately activate a pre-configured path without undergoing time-consuming signaling exchange procedures.
2Loss of time
If pre-established user plane paths are used, then the network response time is reduced, but the ability to adapt to current network conditions and optimize path selection is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a hybrid approach where the system maintains multiple pre-established user plane paths with different characteristics (e.g., different routes, different QoS profiles). When path selection is needed, the control plane function dynamically evaluates current network conditions and application requirements to select the most appropriate pre-configured path. This allows the system to benefit from both the speed of pre-configuration and the flexibility of dynamic selection.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple pre-configured user plane paths are maintained, then path selection flexibility is improved, but the system complexity and resource requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates pre-established user plane paths that can serve multiple purposes and multiple applications. Instead of dedicating separate pre-configured paths to each application or service, the system establishes universal paths that can be dynamically selected and allocated based on current needs. This reduces the total number of pre-configured paths required while maintaining flexibility, as the same physical path infrastructure can be logically reused across different services.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the disclosure provide a system and method used for allowing a path selection or reselection (hereby (re)selection). In some embodiments data packets for a session between a UE and an application system (AS) can utilize a pre-established user plane path between the AS and an access node (AN) which serves the UE. This can allow for faster session set-up times as a new user plane (UP) path need not be established for every new session if existing UP paths can be utilized. Some embodiments allow an application aware (re)selection of the user plane.