SMF-EAS IP Coordination for Consistent Service Paths
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods fail to determine an optimal service transmission path when multiple edge application server IPs are returned by the DNS server, leading to inconsistencies between the location of the traffic routing point inserted by the session management function and the EAS IP selected by the terminal device.
Innovation Solution
The session management function network element determines an EAS IP address information set based on the IP addresses of multiple EASs, selecting a DNAI corresponding to a specific IP address, and sends this information to the edge application server discovery function, which in turn sends it to the terminal device for accurate selection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the DNS server returns multiple EAS IPs corresponding to different DNAIs, then the terminal device has more edge application server options, but the session management function cannot determine which EAS IP to select for inserting the traffic routing point, leading to path inconsistency
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal device feeds back its selected EAS IP address to the session management function. This feedback mechanism allows the SMF to know which EAS IP the terminal has chosen, enabling the SMF to insert the traffic routing point at the correct location and ensure path consistency between the terminal's selection and the network's routing configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The session management function pre-processes the multiple EAS IPs returned by the DNS server by determining a target EAS IP based on routing optimization criteria before the terminal makes its selection. This preliminary determination of routing path ensures that when the terminal selects an EAS IP, the SMF is already prepared to configure the appropriate traffic routing point location, preventing path inconsistency.
2Ease of operation
If the session management function inserts traffic routing point based on assumed EAS IP, then the routing point location is determined, but it may not match the EAS IP actually selected by the terminal device, resulting in suboptimal service transmission path
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal device feeds back its selected EAS IP address to the session management function. This feedback mechanism allows the SMF to know which EAS IP the terminal has chosen, enabling the SMF to insert the traffic routing point at the correct location and ensure path consistency between the terminal's selection and the network's routing configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The session management function dynamically adjusts the traffic routing point insertion location based on the actual EAS IP selected by the terminal. Rather than using a static or assumed location, the SMF adapts its routing configuration in real-time to match the terminal's selection, ensuring the service transmission path remains optimal regardless of which EAS IP the terminal chooses.
Data Source
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AI summary
A communication method and apparatus are provided, to optimize a service transmission path of a terminal device. A session management function network element sends first information to a first device, where the first information indicates to send destination IP address information of a first packet of a terminal device to the session management network element. The first device determines the destination IP address information of the first packet after detecting the first packet of the terminal device, and determines whether to send the destination IP address information to the session management function network element. After receiving the destination IP address information from the first device, the session management function network element determines, based on the destination IP address information, a target local session anchor that serves the terminal device. In this way, the finally determined local session anchor can satisfy a requirement of the terminal device, so that EAS IP address information selected by the session management function network element is consistent with that selected by the terminal device, to optimize a user plane path.