Shared GRE Key Assignment for WiMAX Multicast Service Flows
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for supporting multicast broadcast services (MBS) in WiMAX systems face challenges in creating GRE tunnels that ensure quality of service (QoS) and efficient network resource usage, particularly due to issues with unicast transmission methods that lead to unnecessary network resource consumption and inability to classify multicast data packets effectively.
Innovation Solution
The method involves assigning a shared GRE key to MBS service flows with the same QoS parameters, allowing for the creation of a shared GRE tunnel for delivering MBS contents to multiple mobile stations, thereby reducing the number of GRE tunnels and ensuring QoS is met.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If per-MS granularity is used to create GRE tunnel for unicast transmission, then the GRE tunnel can be created per every MS using 5-tuple data packet, but it is impossible to create GRE tunnel for multicast data since destination IP address is group address not IP address, and cannot ensure QoS for other MBS contents
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the key parameter for GRE tunnel identification from per-MS 5-tuple to per-MBS service flow parameters including multicast group address, source address, and QoS parameters. This allows GRE tunnels to be properly created for multicast traffic while maintaining QoS assurance through service flow-level granularity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal GRE tunnel creation mechanism that works for both unicast and multicast traffic by using service flow-level parameters that are applicable to all MBS contents, rather than MS-specific parameters that cannot handle multicast group addresses.
2Ease of operation
If per-BS granularity is used to create GRE tunnel, then the GRE tunnel can be created per every BS without considering MS, but it is impossible to classify multicast data packet at R6 interface between BS and ASN-GW, so cannot ensure QoS for multicast data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces service flow-level parameters including multicast group address, source address, and QoS parameters as the basis for GRE tunnel identification. This enables proper classification of multicast data packets at the R6 interface while ensuring QoS through service flow matching, bridging the gap between operational simplicity and technical precision.
3Reliability
If per-SF granularity is used to create GRE tunnel, then the GRE tunnel can be created per every service flow included in each MS with data path granularity established, but unnecessary GRE tunnel is created for transmission of same multicast data by MSs registered in multicast group, consuming unnecessary network resources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple service flows that share the same multicast group address, source address, and QoS parameters into a single shared GRE tunnel. This eliminates redundant tunnel creations for multiple MSs receiving the same multicast content, reducing network resource consumption while maintaining service flow-level QoS assurance through parameter matching.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal GRE tunnel that serves multiple service flows with identical parameters, allowing a single tunnel to handle multicast traffic for multiple MSs simultaneously. This reduces the number of GRE tunnels from potentially one per service flow to one per unique parameter combination, optimizing network resource usage.
4Adaptability or versatility
If unicast transmission methods are used for MBS, then existing unicast GRE tunnel mechanisms can be utilized, but multiple unnecessary GRE tunnels are created and network resources are consumed inefficiently
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adapts existing GRE tunnel mechanisms by changing the identification parameters from unicast IP addresses to multicast service flow parameters including group address, source address, and QoS parameters. This maintains compatibility with existing infrastructure while enabling efficient multicast-specific tunnel creation that avoids the resource waste inherent in unicast-based approaches.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a mobile internet system, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for supporting a multicast broadcast service (MBS) over WIMAX. The MBS supporting method of the present invention comprises assigning a first GRE key to a first MBS service flow for a first MS, and delivering MBS contents having the first MBS service flow through the use of first GRE key; and if a second MBS service flow for a second MS is the same as the first MBS service flow, delivering MBS contents having the second MBS service flow through the use of first GRE key pre-assigned to the first MBS service flow.