SDN Forwarding Apparatus Intranet Packet Routing

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing packet transmission methods in LTE systems suffer from route recurvation, which is not conducive to network resource saving, especially when accessing a target server through a different gateway, leading to inefficient data routing.

Innovation Solution

A software-defined networking (SDN) forwarding apparatus determines whether the target server is an intranet server and directly sends the uplink GTPU packet to the corresponding target gateway, avoiding route recurvation by obtaining or assigning a tunnel endpoint identifier (TEID) from an SDN controller, thus optimizing the packet transmission path.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the GTPU packet is transmitted through the base station, SGW, and PGW to reach a target server on another GW, then the packet can reach the target server, but route recurvation occurs which is not conducive to network resource saving

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepacket delivery reliabilityVSAvoidnetwork resource consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the SDN forwarding apparatus from the traditional packet transmission path (base station, SGW, PGW) to directly forward packets between GWs. This removes unnecessary intermediate nodes from the transmission path, eliminating route recurvation while maintaining reliable packet delivery. The SDN controller separately manages routing decisions, allowing the forwarding apparatus to efficiently direct packets without traversing the entire core network infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Loss of energy

If the SDN forwarding apparatus directly sends the uplink GTPU packet to the target gateway, then network resource consumption is reduced, but the device complexity increases due to SDN controller integration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork resource consumptionVSAvoidforwarding apparatus complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the network control function from the forwarding function. The SDN controller handles complex routing decisions, path optimization, and resource management, while the SDN forwarding apparatus focuses on efficient packet forwarding based on controller instructions. This segmentation allows the forwarding apparatus to have simpler logic while achieving optimized packet transmission paths that reduce network resource consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If the packet transmission path follows the traditional route through PGW and GW, then all packets can be routed correctly, but transmission efficiency is reduced due to route recurvation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepacket routing adaptabilityVSAvoidpacket transmission efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces the SDN controller as an intermediary that optimizes packet transmission paths. The controller receives packet information, determines the most efficient route to the target server, and instructs the SDN forwarding apparatus to forward packets directly to the appropriate GW. This intermediary enables adaptive routing that maintains versatility in handling different packet destinations while significantly improving transmission efficiency by eliminating unnecessary path recurrences.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3454588B1Method and device for transmitting messages
Publication Date: 2023.06.07 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3454588B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3454588B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3454588B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A packet transmission method, an apparatus, and a system are provided, to improve packet transmission efficiency. An SDN forwarding apparatus receives an uplink GTPU packet from a base station, where the uplink GTPU packet carries an IP address of a target server; the SDN forwarding apparatus determines whether the target server is an intranet server; and when the target server is an intranet server, the SDN forwarding apparatus sends the uplink GTPU packet to a target gateway, where the target gateway is a gateway corresponding to the target server; or when the target server is not an intranet server, the SDN forwarding apparatus sends the uplink GTPU packet to a serving gateway.