Service Continuity Network Function for IoT Session Resumption
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In IoT networks, especially in 3GPP and oneM2M, service continuity is challenging when transport layer session continuity is not supported, leading to overhead and inefficiencies, particularly for constrained devices that need to re-register and re-subscribe services upon changes in network conditions or device mobility.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a Service Continuity Network Function (SCNF) that associates higher layer session and service information with transport layer session information, allowing service continuity without relying on transport layer session continuity, and exposing these capabilities to the service layer through a resource data structure, enabling quick resumption of higher layer services during new PDU session creation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If transport layer session continuity is not supported, then device complexity is reduced, but service continuity deteriorates requiring re-registration and re-subscription procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a Service Continuity Network Function (SCNF) as an intermediary component that mediates between the transport layer and service layer. The SCNF maintains service continuity by storing service layer session information and reconstructing sessions when transport layer sessions are reestablished, thereby decoupling service continuity from transport layer session continuity and eliminating the need for re-registration and re-subscription procedures.
2Speed
If session continuity is maintained across PDU session changes, then service resumption speed is improved, but network overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts service layer session information from the transport layer PDU session context. The SCNF stores service layer session information independently, allowing service sessions to be resumed without maintaining full transport layer session continuity. This extraction approach enables fast service resumption while minimizing network overhead by only preserving essential service layer state information rather than complete transport session state.
3Reliability
If higher layer service information is associated with transport layer session information, then service continuity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The SCNF acts as an intermediary that manages the association between higher layer service information and transport layer session information. Rather than requiring end devices to maintain complex associations, the SCNF stores and manages these relationships centrally, retrieving service layer session information when needed to reconstruct services after transport session changes. This approach improves service continuity while keeping device complexity low.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A Service Continuity Network Function (SCNF) may be used to provide service continuity support in IoT networks such as 3 GPP and oneM2M, whereby higher layer session and service information is associated with transport layer session information. By means of the SCNF, a higher layer service may be resumed when a new session or connection is created, without support for transport layer session continuity. The service continuity capabilities of the SCNF may be exposed to the service layer of the network by way of a resource data structure.