SMF Network Element Service Continuity via NAT Rerouting
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current communication technologies face challenges in maintaining service continuity when a user equipment (UE) is moved or when an application server (AS) is migrated, as existing mechanisms struggle to efficiently reroute traffic and maintain low communication delays in edge computing environments.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a method and apparatus that uses a session management function (SMF) network element to receive a target relocation message with traffic routing information, generating a packet processing rule that includes Network Address Translation (NAT) rules to reroute uplink and downlink packets, ensuring seamless communication between the UE and the AS by translating addresses and forwarding packets through a target network device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing mechanisms are used for traffic routing during UE movement or AS migration, then service continuity may be maintained, but communication delays increase and routing efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The SMF network element generates packet processing rules including NAT rules in advance before UE movement or AS migration occurs. The target network device is pre-configured with translation rules that map the first AS network address to the second AS network address, enabling immediate packet forwarding without delay when migration happens.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a NAT translation mechanism as an intermediary layer between the UE and the AS. The target network device acts as a mediator that translates packet addresses, allowing seamless redirection of traffic from the first AS to the second AS without requiring changes to the UE or direct AS involvement in the migration process.
2Reliability
If traffic routing is changed during AS migration, then service continuity is maintained, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The SMF network element serves as a centralized intermediary that manages all routing decisions and NAT rule generation. By consolidating routing management functionality in the SMF rather than distributing it across multiple network elements, the system maintains service continuity while centralizing complexity in a single manageable component.
Solution Approach 2:
The packet processing rule generated by the SMF serves multiple functions simultaneously: it performs NAT address translation, directs traffic routing to the new AS location, and maintains session continuity. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate mechanisms for each function, thereby managing overall system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for implementing service continuity, performed by a session management (SM) function (SMF) network element may include receiving a target relocation message, the target relocation message carrying target traffic routing information, the target traffic routing information comprising a target data network (DN) access identifier (DNAI) and network address translation (NAT) information, the NAT information comprising a target user equipment (UE) network address, a first application server (AS) network address, and a second AS network address, wherein a target UE corresponding to the target UE network address has established a target protocol data unit (PDU) session to a first PDU session anchor (PSA) user plane function (UPF) network element and is configured to communicate with a first AS corresponding to the first AS network address.