SMF Context Transfer for Continuous 5G Session Reliability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing 5G communication systems face challenges in providing continuous and efficient service continuity due to potential service processing conflicts and collisions when network functions (NFs) are changed, particularly in ultra-reliable and low-latency communication (URLLC) services and IoT environments, which require high reliability and low latency.
Innovation Solution
A method is introduced for managing user data context in 5G systems, involving the Session Management Function (SMF) and Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) to identify and trigger SMF changes, ensuring seamless transitions and preventing service disruptions by exchanging and storing user data efficiently among NFs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If network functions are changed in 5G systems, then service adaptability and flexibility are improved, but service processing conflicts and collisions occur leading to service disruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by establishing a context transfer mechanism before network function changes occur. The source NF transfers user data context to the target NF in advance, ensuring that the target NF is already prepared with necessary information before the actual service switch happens, thereby preventing service disruptions and conflicts during NF changes
2Reliability
If context transfer between network functions is implemented, then service continuity is improved, but processing latency increases due to context exchange overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential user data context information that is necessary for service continuity, rather than transferring complete context. This selective extraction reduces the amount of data that needs to be exchanged between NFs, thereby minimizing processing latency while still ensuring service continuity
Solution Approach 2:
The context transfer is performed in advance before the network function change occurs. By preparing the context transfer beforehand, the actual service switching can happen quickly without the overhead of real-time context exchange, thus reducing processing latency
3Reliability
If seamless NF transitions are implemented, then service quality is improved, but system complexity increases due to additional management mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a context transfer mechanism as an intermediary between the source NF and target NF. This intermediary mechanism handles the complexity of context management and coordination, allowing the core network functions to maintain their simplicity while still achieving seamless transitions and high service quality
Data Source
AI summary
A method, performed by a first Session Management Function (SMF), for providing a continuous service to a user equipment (UE) includes: identifying, by the first SMF, triggering of an SMF change operation; transmitting, to an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), a message indicating a change in a status of a Packet Data Unit (PDU) session of the UE so as to request a procedure of changing an SMF; receiving a context request message requesting a context of the UE from a second SMF that is a target SMF; and transmitting a context request response message to the second SMF.