QoS Management via Deep Packet Inspection and GTP-U Header Modification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional traffic differentiation in LTE networks is limited by its reliance on IP 5-tuple classification, which struggles to accurately differentiate traffic due to the use of arbitrary ports and protocol shifts between TCP and UDP, failing to provide optimal quality of service for modern applications.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a system and method that utilizes deep packet inspection (DPI) to identify application-level characteristics, modifies quality of service parameters, and manages EPS bearers by parsing GTP-U headers to redirect traffic to appropriate bearers with recalculated Differentiated Services Code Points, ensuring optimal QoS for various applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If conventional IP 5-tuple classification is used for traffic differentiation, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision of application-level characteristics deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the packet inspection process into multiple stages: initial classification using IP 5-tuple (Layer 3-4) followed by deep packet inspection of Layer 7 application data. This segmentation allows the system to use simple initial filtering while applying complex analysis only when needed, resolving the contradiction between low complexity and high precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a new dimension to traffic classification by moving from traditional 5-tuple classification to include application-level protocol identification. This dimensional expansion enables precise identification of applications like Skype, BitTorrent, and YouTube that operate on arbitrary ports, solving the precision problem while maintaining manageable complexity through structured inspection.
2Measurement precision
If deep packet inspection is implemented to identify application-level characteristics, then traffic differentiation precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary classification using IP 5-tuple before performing deep packet inspection. This preliminary action filters out traffic that can be classified using simple rules, reducing the volume of traffic requiring complex DPI analysis and thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high precision for applications requiring detailed inspection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary classification layer that bridges simple IP-based routing and complex application-level analysis. This intermediary uses protocol-specific inspection (identifying protocols like SIP, H.323, FTP) to classify traffic without requiring full deep packet inspection of all packets, reducing complexity while maintaining precision.
3Adaptability or versatility
If protocol-specific inspection is used to handle arbitrary ports and protocol shifts, then adaptability to modern applications is improved, but difficulty of detecting and measuring increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the inspection parameters dynamically based on detected protocol types. For example, SIP traffic is inspected for specific headers and methods, while H.323 traffic is inspected for different protocol markers. This parameter adaptation allows the system to handle arbitrary ports and protocol shifts effectively while maintaining manageable detection complexity through protocol-specific rule sets.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for managing quality of service (QoS) consists of receiving a packet and identifying at least one application level characteristic of the packet. The method for managing QoS further consists of modifying quality of service parameters of the packet based on the application level characteristic and sending the packet to a destination with modified quality of service parameters. A system for managing QoS includes modules such as a bearer module adapted to review and retrieve data from a packet and a payload packet inspector module adapted to identify at least one application level characteristic of the packet. The system for managing QoS further has a policy enforcement module designed to modify quality of service parameters of the packet based in part on the retrieved data and the at least one application level characteristic.