SMF QoS Flow Grouping for UDP Port Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current 5G wireless communication systems face challenges in accurately measuring data traffic transmission performance across multiple access networks due to limitations in the number of available UDP ports, which can lead to inaccurate performance measurements for quality of service (QoS) flows.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves a method and apparatus where a Session Management Function (SMF) entity classifies QoS flows into groups based on available UDP ports, determines representative QoS flows for each group, and transmits this information to User Equipment (UE) and User Plane Function (UPF) entities, enabling accurate performance measurements through the exchange of Performance Measurement Function (PMF) messages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the number of UDP ports is limited, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments QoS flows into groups based on their characteristics and maps multiple QoS flows to a single UDP port for performance measurement. This segmentation allows the system to measure performance for multiple QoS flows using a limited number of UDP ports, resolving the contradiction between having fewer ports and maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes UDP ports universal by enabling them to serve multiple QoS flows simultaneously. Instead of dedicating one UDP port per QoS flow, the system allows a single UDP port to perform performance measurement for multiple QoS flows within the same group, thereby reducing the total number of ports needed while maintaining comprehensive measurement capability.
2Measurement precision
If multiple QoS flows are measured separately, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple QoS flows into groups and combines their performance measurement into a single UDP port communication. By merging the measurement functions for multiple QoS flows, the system achieves accurate measurement without requiring separate UDP ports for each flow, thus reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces QoS flow groups as an intermediary structure between individual QoS flows and UDP ports. This intermediary allows multiple QoS flows to be collectively represented and measured through a single UDP port, maintaining measurement precision while reducing the number of ports required.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to a 5th Generation (5G) or 6th Generation (6G) communication system for supporting a higher data transmission rate. A method performed by a session management function (SMF) entity in a wireless communication system is provided. The method includes transmitting, to a user plane function (UPF) entity, information indicating a list of quality of service (QoS) flows over which access performance measurements are to be performed, receiving, from the UPF entity, information indicating user datagram protocol (UDP) ports allocated for the QoS flows, and transmitting, to a user equipment (UE), information including the list of QoS flows and the UDP ports.