Network Slice Mapping to Transport Resources in 5G User Plane
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current 5G networks face challenges in optimizing the mapping of logical network resources, such as 3GPP slices, to transport resources due to a lack of control plane information availability at the CU-UP, leading to suboptimal decisions on user plane traffic mapping.
Innovation Solution
The SMF provides network instance information over the E1 interface to the CU-CP, enabling it to leverage control plane information for determining optimized transport user plane resources, and sends the same information to the UPF via the NGAP, ensuring consistent resource selection across the CU-UP and UPF for user plane traffic.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If control plane information is not provided to CU-UP, then the system architecture remains simple and decoupled, but the mapping of PDU session resources to transport resources becomes suboptimal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the control plane information distribution by introducing a specific information element (IE) structure that separates network instance identification from transport resource configuration. This allows incremental information provision to CU-UP without overwhelming it with complete control plane data, thus improving resource allocation efficiency while managing complexity through structured information segmentation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism in the form of a standardized information element that acts as a mediator between the control plane (SMF) and the user plane (CU-UP). This intermediary IE carries essential mapping information without requiring direct control plane access at CU-UP, thus improving resource mapping efficiency while maintaining architectural simplicity through the intermediary information structure.
2Reliability
If network instance information is provided to both UPF and CU-UP, then consistent transport resource selection is achieved, but the signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing network instance information specifically where it is needed - both at UPF and CU-UP - but with different levels of detail and purposes. The SMF provides comprehensive information to UPF for transport resource selection, while providing a streamlined version to CU-UP for consistent mapping decisions, thus achieving reliability without uniform redundancy throughout the system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by having the SMF determine and communicate the network instance identification to both UPF and CU-UP before the actual PDU session establishment is complete. This preliminary provision of mapping information ensures that when transport resources need to be selected, both entities already have the necessary information, achieving consistency without redundant signaling during the critical resource allocation phase.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
A control plane function (31) of a core network of a communication network system derives a parameter relating to transport resources for a user plane from an identification relating to logical network resources of a session between a user equipment (10) and a data network (40), and provides the parameter to a user plane function (32) of the core network and to a control plane control unit (21) of an access network (20) of the communication network system. The control plane control unit (21) provides information derived from the parameter to a user plane control unit (22) of the access network (20), wherein the information relates to transport resources for the user plane for the session, and wherein the transport resources relate to a logical transport network to use to carry the user plane of the session. Based on the received information, the user plane control unit (22) derives the transport resources to be used for the session over the user plane, and exchanges user plane traffic for the session over the derived transport resources.