5G NSA Traffic Identification on S1 Interface
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems cannot effectively identify and monitor 5G Non-Standalone Architecture (NSA) traffic on the S1 interface, hindering the generation of complete dashboards and statistics, and making it impossible to differentiate between 4G and 5G NSA activity.
Innovation Solution
Analyzing Secondary Radio Access Technology (RAT) Data Usage Report (DUR) messages on the S1 interface to determine the bearer type, identifying gNodeB addresses, and updating Call Detail Records (CDRs) to reflect whether the traffic is 5G NSA or 4G based on database entries.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional monitoring methods are used on the S1 interface, then monitoring is simple and straightforward, but it is impossible to identify 5G NSA traffic and generate complete statistics
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary component (monitoring system with database) that sits between the S1 interface traffic and the statistics generation process. This intermediary captures Secondary RAT DUR messages, extracts gNodeB addresses, and stores them in a database for later reference, enabling accurate 5G NSA traffic identification without fundamentally changing the core monitoring infrastructure
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by proactively capturing and storing gNodeB addresses from Secondary RAT DUR messages before they are needed for traffic classification. This advance preparation creates a ready-reference database that enables rapid and accurate 5G NSA traffic identification when statistics need to be generated, rather than attempting to identify traffic in real-time without prior information
2Loss of information
If 5G NSA activity is monitored without additional procedures, then monitoring overhead is low, but complete dashboards and statistics cannot be generated
Solution Approach 1:
A database intermediary is introduced to capture and store gNodeB addresses from Secondary RAT DUR messages. This database serves as a knowledge repository that enables complete traffic statistics generation by providing reference information for classifying traffic as 5G NSA or 4G, preventing information loss without requiring complex automated analysis procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a copy of gNodeB address information from the Secondary RAT DUR messages and stores it in a database. This copying approach preserves the essential identification information needed for complete statistics generation without requiring the system to continuously analyze or reprocess the original traffic streams, reducing procedural complexity
3Measurement precision
If the S1 interface monitors all traffic uniformly, then monitoring is straightforward, but differentiation between 4G and 5G NSA mobility is impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by treating different types of traffic differently based on their characteristics. Specifically, it identifies and separately processes Secondary RAT DUR messages (which contain 5G NSA information) from other S1 interface messages. This selective, localized analysis approach enables mobility type differentiation without requiring complex analysis of all traffic uniformly
Solution Approach 2:
The database acts as an intermediary that stores gNodeB addresses extracted from Secondary RAT DUR messages. This intermediary enables the system to differentiate between 4G and 5G NSA mobility by providing a reference mechanism: when traffic is analyzed, the system can check against the database to determine if it corresponds to 5G NSA activity, achieving precise differentiation without complex real-time analysis
Data Source
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AI summary
Systems and methods include obtaining monitored traffic from an S1 interface; detecting (402) a Secondary Radio Access Technology (RAT) Data Usage Report (DUR) in the monitored traffic; determining (406) whether the Secondary RAT DUR relates to a 5G Non-Standard Architecture (NSA), and, if so, determining an address of a gNodeB in the Secondary RAT DUR; and storing (408) the address of the gNodeB in a database. The systems and methods can include, for a call, updating a Call Detail Record (CDR) to reflect one of 5G NSA and 4G based on whether an address in the CDR is in the database.