Separate PFCP Session Model for Residential Gateway QoS Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current 5G network architectures face challenges in managing separate forwarding rules for control signaling and data traffic, leading to complexities in managing and scaling control and user plane functions independently, which affects the quality of service for residential gateways.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a separate Packet Forwarding Control Protocol (PFCP) session model that allows for the full separation of control signaling and data traffic, enabling the creation, modification, and deletion of PFCP sessions independently for each packet data unit (PDU) session between residential gateways and the 5G Core network, and utilizing an Aggregate Gateway Function (AGF) to host PDU sessions with varying quality of service (QoS) functions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a combined PFCP session model is used to manage control signaling and data traffic together, then device complexity is reduced, but service quality and reliability deteriorate due to inability to independently manage control and user plane functions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the PFCP session into separate control plane sessions and user plane sessions. The control plane session manages control signaling between the AGF-CP and UPF, while the user plane session handles data traffic forwarding rules at the AGF-UP. This segmentation allows independent management and modification of control and user plane functions, improving service quality and reliability without requiring complete system redesign.
2Reliability
If a separate PFCP session model is implemented to enable independent management of control and user plane functions, then service quality and reliability improve, but device complexity and configuration overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces the Aggregate Gateway Function (AGF) with separate control plane (AGF-CP) and user plane (AGF-UP) as an intermediary between the UPF and the residential gateway. The AGF-CP establishes control plane PFCP sessions with the UPF, while the AGF-UP establishes user plane PFCP sessions. This intermediary structure manages the complexity of separate session management, allowing independent control and user plane function management without excessive configuration overhead.
3Ease of operation
If control and user plane functions are managed together in a single PFCP session, then ease of operation is maintained, but adaptability and scalability deteriorate when different QoS functions are required for different services
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments PFCP sessions into control plane sessions for managing QoS policies and user plane sessions for data traffic forwarding. This allows different QoS functions to be applied to different user plane sessions independently, while control plane sessions maintain centralized policy management. The segmentation enables the network to adapt to varying QoS requirements for different services (e.g., voice, video, data) without compromising operational simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables dynamic establishment and modification of separate control plane and user plane PFCP sessions based on service requirements. The control plane can dynamically allocate resources and configure QoS parameters, while user plane sessions are dynamically created or modified to match service demands. This dynamic approach enhances adaptability for different QoS functions while maintaining ease of operation through automated session management.
4Productivity
If a separate PFCP session model is used to enable independent modification of control and user plane sessions, then productivity and network performance improve, but difficulty of detecting and measuring session states increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the control plane PFCP sessions continuously monitor and manage the state of user plane PFCP sessions. The AGF-CP receives status information from the AGF-UP and UPF, enabling centralized detection and measurement of session states. This feedback loop allows efficient session modification while maintaining visibility into session states, as the control plane can query and update user plane session information without direct intervention at the user plane level.
Data Source
AI summary
A network element includes an aggregate gateway function having a control plane and a separate user plane, wherein the network element is configured to: establish a plurality of first packet forwarding control protocol sessions for a plurality of packet data unit sessions between the residential gateway and the network, each of the plurality of first packet forwarding control protocol sessions hosting a set of data packet forwarding rules for a respective packet data unit session among the plurality of packet data unit sessions; and facilitate network access by the residential gateway according to the plurality of first packet forwarding control protocol sessions.