SDN Controller Selecting Abstract Data Plane Nodes for Mobile Traffic
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current centralized mobile network architectures face scalability issues, suboptimal routing, and increased complexity due to the explosion of user traffic and diversification of communication paradigms, necessitating improved traffic distribution and mobility support.
Innovation Solution
An SDN-based mobile communication system with a control plane and data plane separation, utilizing a network controller to select and enforce policies across abstract data plane nodes for efficient session establishment and traffic management, offloading data plane configuration from the control plane.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a centralized architecture is used for mobile networks, then control and management is simplified, but scalability and routing efficiency deteriorate due to the explosion of user traffic and diversification of communication paradigms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the mobile network architecture into control plane functions and data plane functions, with further separation of policy control (PCRF) from policy enforcement (PGW). This segmentation allows the control plane to remain simplified while the data plane handles increased traffic throughput independently, resolving the contradiction between control simplicity and traffic handling capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an SDN controller as an intermediary between the PCRF and the data plane nodes. This intermediary automates the configuration and management of policy enforcement points, enabling scalable traffic management without increasing control plane complexity, as the SDN controller handles the computational overhead of dynamic policy deployment.
2Adaptability or versatility
If control plane functions are virtualized and abstracted, then flexibility and adaptability improve, but system complexity increases due to the need for mapping abstract views to physical resources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complexity of mapping abstract control plane views to physical data plane resources into a separate SDN controller entity. This allows the control plane functions to remain virtualized and flexible while the mapping complexity is isolated in the SDN controller, which handles the translation between abstract policy requirements and concrete network configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses abstract views and topology graphs as simplified copies or representations of the physical network infrastructure. These abstract models enable flexible control plane operations without requiring direct management of physical resources, while the SDN controller maintains the mapping between abstract and physical layers.
3Speed
If multiple anchor points are introduced for user data traffic, then routing efficiency and service delivery improve, but overhead and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic selection of policy enforcement points based on user location, service requirements, and network conditions. Multiple PGWs can serve as anchor points, and the system dynamically determines which PGW should handle traffic for each user session, enabling efficient routing while the SDN controller manages the complexity of coordinating multiple anchor points.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of policy enforcement from a single fixed point to multiple configurable points (PGWs) that can be dynamically selected. The SDN controller manages the parameters of these PGWs, including their roles, capacities, and assignment to user sessions, enabling efficient traffic routing while distributing the management complexity across multiple standardized nodes.
4Loss of energy
If packet overhead is reduced by avoiding tunnels, then network efficiency improves, but mobility support complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the data plane to self-configure mobility management functions through the SDN controller. When users move between access points, the SDN controller automatically updates the policy enforcement points and routing paths without requiring complex tunneling protocols, reducing packet overhead while the system self-manages the complexity of mobility support through automated controller-based reconfiguration.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for operating an SDN-based mobile communication system is provided. The system provides a control plane function that possesses information from an access network about location and/or proximity of devices and information about rules and/or policies for setting up sessions for the devices. The system includes a mobile network having a control plane and a data plane, with a network controller being implemented therebetween. The method includes: upon a particular device's request for session establishment, receiving, via signaling and at the control plane, device related information; based on the device related information that is received via the signaling, performing, at the control plane, selection of an abstract data plane node or a group of abstract data plane nodes; and providing, at the control plane, the selected abstract data plane node or the selected group of abstract data plane nodes to the network controller.