SIP Transport Protocol Selection for IMS Signaling Reliability

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Solution Overview

Problem

IMS signaling is often lost during EPS fallback in 5G networks due to the lack of a direct connection between 5GC AMF and EPC MME, leading to delays and inefficiencies in IMS MMTEL session setup.

Innovation Solution

Establishing a TCP connection between the UE and P-CSCF for IMS signaling, allowing for guaranteed delivery of SIP messages and converting between TCP and UDP transport protocols as needed to optimize transmission efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If TCP connection is used between UE and P-CSCF for guaranteed delivery, then reliability of SIP message delivery is improved, but transmission speed and efficiency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveSIP message delivery reliabilityVSAvoidtransmission speed
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different transport protocols (TCP vs UDP) to different segments of the IMS signaling path. TCP is used between UE and P-CSCF for reliable delivery, while UDP may be used between P-CSCF and S-CSCF where speed is more critical. This local differentiation of protocol quality resolves the contradiction by optimizing each segment's transport protocol according to its specific requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If TCP protocol is used for all IMS signaling, then message delivery reliability is improved, but network overhead and processing complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveSIP message delivery reliabilityVSAvoidprotocol processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements local quality by selectively applying TCP only where reliability is critical (UE to P-CSCF interface) while allowing UDP in other segments (P-CSCF to S-CSCF). This reduces overall protocol processing complexity and network overhead while maintaining reliability where needed, resolving the contradiction between reliability and complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Productivity

If UDP is used for faster transmission, then transmission efficiency is improved, but message delivery reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission efficiencyVSAvoidSIP message delivery reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies UDP in segments where transmission efficiency is prioritized (such as between P-CSCF and S-CSCF) while using TCP in segments where reliability is critical (UE to P-CSCF). This local differentiation allows the system to achieve high transmission efficiency where possible while maintaining reliability where necessary, resolving the contradiction between productivity and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3834397B1Transport layer protocol for sip message
Publication Date: 2022.10.05 LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE LTD
  • EP3834397B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3834397B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3834397B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Apparatuses, methods, and systems are disclosed for selecting a transport layer protocol for SIP messages. One apparatus 600 includes a processor 605 and a transceiver 625 that receives 805 a SIP message from a remote unit, the SIP message comprising a first request to initiate a session for an IMS MMTEL. The processor 605 determines 810 that the SIP message is communicated using TCP as a transport layer protocol and forwards 815 the first request to a network entity, wherein the first request is sent using UDP as the transport layer protocol.