SCTP Proxy Gateway for Cloud AMF NAT-Safe Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Deploying a 5G private network core at a cloud introduces issues with Network Address Translation (NAT) for Stream Control Transmission Protocol (SCTP) connections and message security during transmission between a base station and an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), which are not addressed by conventional technologies.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an SCTP proxy gateway to convert SCTP messages into Google Remote Procedure Call (gRPC) or Hypertext Transfer Protocol 2.0 (HTTP/2) messages, utilizing a DNS load balancing gateway to allocate AMF network addresses, and encapsulating messages through an SCTP proxy gateway to ensure secure and flexible communication between the base station and AMF, reducing dependency on cloud service providers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the AMF is deployed at the cloud, then the service processing capability and flexibility are improved, but the NAT compatibility and message security are deteriorated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an SCTP proxy gateway as an intermediary component between the base station and the cloud-based AMF. This gateway performs message encapsulation and transmission, enabling the AMF to be deployed at the cloud while maintaining message security and NAT compatibility. The gateway acts as a mediator that protects the communication between the base station and cloud services.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the AMF is deployed at the cloud, then the deployment flexibility is improved, but the NAT compatibility is deteriorated
Solution Approach 1:
The SCTP proxy gateway serves as an intermediary that handles NAT traversal issues. It encapsulates SCTP messages within UDP packets, enabling cloud deployment of the AMF while maintaining compatibility with NAT networks. The gateway resolves the conflict between deployment flexibility and NAT compatibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the transmission parameter from direct SCTP to encapsulated UDP-SCTP mode. This parameter change enables the system to work through NAT gateways while maintaining cloud deployment flexibility. The message format and transmission protocol are modified to accommodate NAT environments.
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided in embodiments of the present application are a communication method and a related apparatus. The method comprises: in response to an SCTP connection request sent by a base station device, establishing an SCTP connection with the base station device; after the SCTP connection with the base station device has been established, receiving a service establishment request sent by the base station device on the basis of the SCTP connection, and encapsulating request data in the service establishment request as a request message; looking up an AMF network address corresponding to pre-configured AMF domain name information according to said AMF domain name information, and sending the request message to a target AMF corresponding to the AMF network address; performing, on the basis of an SCTP protocol, encapsulation on a response message for the request message returned by the target AMF, obtaining a response result, and transmitting same to the base station device. A means of networking between a base station device and an AMF is optimized, AMF deployment flexibility is implemented while ensuring secure communication between the AMF and the base station device, and the improvement of a service processing capability of the AMF is also facilitated.