Satellite IMS Call Routing via Shared UPF to Cut Delay
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing satellite communication network experiences low call efficiency due to a lengthy transmission path for Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) calls between terminals, which results in increased transmission delay.
Innovation Solution
A communication method and apparatus that determines if two terminals are connected to the same satellite hosting a user plane function (UPF), and upon confirmation, transmits an indication message to enable a direct IMS call via the satellite, reducing transmission delay and improving efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the traditional IMS call transmission path through ground UPF and SBC is used, then network coverage and compatibility are ensured, but the transmission path becomes long and call efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the UPF function from the ground network and relocates it to the satellite network. This allows terminal devices connected to the same satellite to communicate directly through the satellite-hosted UPF, bypassing the lengthy ground-based transmission path through multiple ground UPFs and SBCs, thereby reducing transmission delay and improving call efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The satellite acts as an intermediary that hosts the UPF function. When two terminals are connected to the same satellite, the satellite enables direct communication between them by routing traffic through its hosted UPF, eliminating the need for complex ground-based routing through multiple network elements
2Productivity
If a direct IMS call via satellite is implemented, then transmission delay is reduced and call efficiency is improved, but network complexity increases due to satellite-hosted UPF requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The satellite is designed to perform multiple functions: it provides both the communication relay function and hosts the UPF network function. This multi-functionality allows the satellite to enable direct IMS calls between terminals connected to it without requiring additional ground infrastructure, thereby improving call efficiency while managing network complexity through functional consolidation
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a communication method and apparatus, a device, a system, and a chip. The method includes: a first network element determining whether a first terminal and a second terminal are connected to the same satellite when the first terminal requests to perform an IMS call with the second terminal. The satellite hosts a first UPF. The first network element transmits an indication message to a second network element upon determining that the first terminal and the second terminal are connected to the same satellite. The indication message is used to indicate that a condition for the first terminal and the second terminal to perform the IMS call via the satellite is met. As a result, the second network element can easily determine through the indication message that the condition for the first terminal and the second terminal to perform the IMS call via the satellite is met.