SDN QoS Tag for Connectionless Mobility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cellular mobility management approaches are inefficient for the growing number of IoT and M2M devices, as they treat all network end points equally and rely on connection-oriented architectures that do not scale well with the increasing diversity of devices and mobility states, leading to inconsistent Quality of Service (QoS) in 5G networks.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an SDN-based connectionless mobility architecture that uses a QoS tag to include key queue parameters, allowing intermediate routers to predictably manage queue requirements and eliminate dependencies on GTP tunnels and QCIs, thereby providing consistent and predictable QoS across the network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If connection-oriented architecture with GTP tunnels and bearers is used, then QoS management is established, but scalability is poor for billions of IoT/M2M endpoints
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the QoS management functionality from the connection-oriented control plane and embeds it directly into the data plane packets through QoS tags. This removes the dependency on complex GTP tunneling and bearer management while maintaining QoS enforcement at intermediate routers through packet inspection of the embedded tags.
Solution Approach 2:
The QoS tag acts as an intermediary carrier that transports QoS parameters embedded within the data plane packets themselves. This eliminates the need for separate control plane signaling and connection management, allowing intermediate routers to enforce QoS directly from the packet content without establishing persistent connections.
2Adaptability or versatility
If per-flow QoS is implemented without connection-oriented control protocol, then connectionless mobility is enabled, but consistent QoS behavior cannot be maintained in intermediate routers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by embedding all necessary QoS parameters into the QoS tag at the packet injection point before the packet traverses the network. This pre-packaging of QoS information ensures that intermediate routers can consistently enforce QoS behavior without requiring ongoing control plane communication or connection state maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the mechanical connection-oriented control system with an information-embedding approach where QoS parameters are carried within the data plane packets themselves. This replacement eliminates the need for separate control protocols while maintaining QoS consistency through direct packet inspection at intermediate routers.
3Ease of operation
If traditional cellular mobility management is used, then all network endpoints are treated equally, but it does not account for device type and mobility state variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by allowing different QoS parameter sets to be embedded in QoS tags based on device type and mobility state. Each packet can carry customized QoS requirements specific to its source device characteristics, enabling differentiated treatment without complex centralized management logic.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables parameter changes by allowing the QoS tag to dynamically carry different QoS parameter values based on device type and mobility state. This flexibility allows the network to adapt QoS treatment to varying device characteristics while maintaining a simple underlying packet forwarding mechanism.
Data Source
AI summary
Concepts and technologies disclosed herein are directed to providing enhanced quality of service (“QoS”) in a software-defined network (“SDN”)-based connectionless mobility architecture. According to one aspect of the concepts and technologies disclosed herein, an SDN controller can receive service level requirements and can map the service level requirements to QoS requirements and attributes to be associated with a QoS tag. The SDN controller can configure a service entry point to insert the QoS tag into incoming packets so that one or more other service points can extract the QoS tag. The other service point(s) can determine, based upon the QoS tag, a QoS treatment to apply to the incoming packets. The other service point(s) can apply the QoS treatment to the incoming packets in accordance with the QoS tag.