QUIC and MP-QUIC Connections for UDP Multi-Access Offloading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional technologies fail to implement traffic flow offloading using multi-access technologies for User Datagram Protocol (UDP) traffic due to the lack of support for Multi-Path Transmission Control Protocol (MPTCP), limiting data transmission efficiency in next-generation wireless communication systems.
Innovation Solution
Establishing Quick UDP Internet Connections (QUIC) or Multi-Path QUIC (MP-QUIC) connections between user equipment and User Plane Function (UPF) network elements to facilitate data transmission for UDP traffic flows, leveraging Session Management Function (SMF) network elements to manage QUIC/MP-QUIC capabilities and parameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional multi-access PDU session technology is used, then TCP traffic can be offloaded using MPTCP, but UDP traffic cannot implement multi-access offloading
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a new protocol parameter (QUIC capability indication) in the PDU session establishment request message to enable UDP-based multi-access transmission. By changing the protocol parameter set to include QUIC support, the system allows UDP traffic to utilize multi-access PDU sessions through the SMF's capability to select QUIC-based transport, thereby resolving the limitation of conventional MPTCP-only approaches.
2Productivity
If QUIC/MP-QUIC connections are established for UDP traffic, then multi-access offloading is enabled, but new protocol complexity is introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The Session Management Function (SMF) acts as an intermediary that abstracts the complexity of QUIC/MP-QUIC connection management from the terminal device. The SMF receives capability indications from the terminal, determines the appropriate QUIC transport mode, and manages the multi-access PDU session establishment, thereby shielding the terminal from protocol complexity while enabling advanced UDP offloading capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The terminal device autonomously indicates its QUIC capability support through the PDU session establishment request message, enabling the network to automatically configure the appropriate transport mode without requiring complex terminal-side protocol management. This self-service approach reduces terminal complexity while maintaining productivity benefits.
3Reliability
If MPTCP is used for traffic offloading, then reliable data transmission is achieved, but it requires terminal support for TCP protocols
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal multi-access PDU session framework that can handle both TCP and UDP traffic through a common mechanism. The SMF's capability to select QUIC-based transport based on terminal indication allows the system to provide MPTCP-like reliable transmission for TCP traffic while simultaneously enabling UDP traffic to use QUIC/MP-QUIC connections, achieving protocol-agnostic multi-access offloading with a single unified approach.
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments of this application provide a communication method and apparatus, and relate to the communication field. According to the method in embodiments of this application, a network side may control establishment of a QUIC connection or an MP-QUIC connection between a terminal device and a UPF network element, to implement data transmission at a flow granularity for a UDP traffic flow based on the QUIC connection or the MP-QUIC connection. The method includes: An SMF network element receives, from a terminal device, a first message used to request to establish or update a PDU session; and the SMF network element sends a second message to the terminal device, where the second message is used to indicate that the PDU session is successfully established or updated, the second message includes second indication information, and the second indication information is used to indicate that a traffic flow in the PDU session is transmitted by using a QUIC method, or is used to indicate that a traffic flow in the PDU session is transmitted by using an MP-QUIC method.