Configurable QFI Length for 5G PDU Session Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current 5G wireless communication systems lack an effective solution to efficiently indicate Quality of Service (QoS) flows, leading to resource waste and inefficiencies in data transmission due to varying quantities of QoS flows within PDU sessions.
Innovation Solution
A method is introduced where a core network device determines and communicates the appropriate length of Quality of Service Flow Identifiers (QFIs) to both access network devices and terminal devices, ensuring that QFIs of appropriate lengths are used during data transmission, thereby avoiding resource waste and improving efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed 6-bit QFI is used in 5G systems, then the structure is simple and backward compatible, but it cannot efficiently indicate QoS flows when a PDU session includes more than 63 QoS flows, leading to resource waste and transmission inefficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the QFI length configurable and adaptable rather than fixed. The network can dynamically select between 6-bit and extended QFI lengths based on the actual number of QoS flows in a PDU session, allowing the system to adapt to varying traffic conditions while maintaining simplicity when 6-bit QFIs are sufficient.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of QFI length from a fixed 6 bits to a variable parameter that can be configured based on network conditions. This allows the system to optimize between simplicity (6-bit) and capability (extended length) by adjusting the parameter according to the number of QoS flows present.
2Productivity
If extended QFI length is used to support more QoS flows, then QoS flow indication becomes efficient, but it increases processing complexity and may affect backward compatibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by using extended QFI length only when necessary (when more than 63 QoS flows are present), rather than always using the extended format. This allows the system to optimize productivity when needed while maintaining simplicity and lower processing complexity for the common case of fewer QoS flows.
Solution Approach 2:
The network performs preliminary determination of the appropriate QFI length based on the number of QoS flows before data transmission begins. This preliminary action allows the system to prepare the correct QFI format in advance, avoiding processing complexity during actual data transmission while ensuring efficient QoS flow indication.
3Reliability
If the network determines and signals QFI length information to access network devices, then appropriate QFI lengths are used for optimal transmission, but it increases signaling overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The network performs preliminary determination of QFI length based on the number of QoS flows and signals this information to access network devices before data transmission begins. This preliminary action ensures that the correct QFI length is used throughout the data transmission process, maintaining reliability and continuity while limiting signaling overhead to only the necessary length indication.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the network determines the appropriate QFI length based on actual QoS flow characteristics and communicates this information to access network devices. This feedback ensures that the QFI length is optimized for the specific traffic conditions, maintaining transmission reliability while using signaling overhead only when needed.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of this patent application provide a data transmission method and an apparatus for determining, by a core network (CN) device, a length of a quality of service flow identifier (QFI) used when a protocol data unit (PDU) session is established or modified for a terminal device; and sending, by the CN device, a first message to a radio access network (RAN) device, where the first message includes length information of at least one QFI. After receiving the first message from the core network CN device, the access network RAN sends a second message to the terminal device, where the second message includes the length information of the at least one QFI.