SMF QoS Parameter Storage for 5G-4G Handover

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional handover procedures between different Radio Access Types (RATs) in 5G and 4G networks require excessive signaling, leading to temporary data flow loss and suboptimal Quality of Service (QoS) due to mismatched bandwidth capabilities, resulting in poor user experience, especially for latency-sensitive applications.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of optimized QoS enforcement logic in the Session Management Function (SMF) that stores and allocates pre-determined QoS parameters during initial user session establishment, allowing for seamless handovers between 5G and 4G networks by automatically provisioning the appropriate QoS parameters, reducing unnecessary signaling and ensuring optimal network resource utilization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional handover procedures are used between different RATs, then handover can be performed, but excessive signaling occurs leading to temporary data flow loss and suboptimal QoS

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata flow continuityVSAvoidhandover time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by obtaining and storing QoS parameters for the second RAT during the initial session establishment phase, before handover is needed. This pre-preparation eliminates the need for time-consuming signaling exchanges during actual handover, thus preventing data flow interruptions and reducing handover time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the QoS parameter acquisition and storage process from the handover procedure itself. By separating these functions and performing them in advance during session establishment, the handover process is simplified and accelerated, avoiding excessive signaling and data flow loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Adaptability or versatility

If QoS parameters are obtained during handover, then appropriate QoS can be allocated, but excessive signaling occurs causing performance degradation

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveQoS parameter matchingVSAvoidhandover efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs the QoS parameter acquisition action in advance during session establishment rather than during handover. The SMF stores QoS parameters for both first and second RATs beforehand, enabling immediate allocation during handover without triggering excessive signaling, thus maintaining both adaptability and productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If bandwidth parameters are mismatched during handover, then handover can proceed, but suboptimal QoS results especially for latency-sensitive applications

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehandover simplicityVSAvoidQoS quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent obtains and stores QoS parameters for the target RAT (second RAT) during initial session establishment, before handover occurs. This pre-preparation ensures that when handover happens, the appropriate bandwidth parameters are already available, eliminating QoS mismatches and ensuring optimal performance for latency-sensitive applications without complicating the handover process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Device complexity

If QoS parameters are not pre-stored, then system complexity remains low, but signaling overhead increases during handover

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveQoS management complexityVSAvoidsignaling overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by storing QoS parameters for multiple RATs during session establishment. This increases initial processing but eliminates the need for repeated signaling exchanges during handover, reducing overall signaling overhead and energy consumption across the system lifecycle.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The SMF creates and stores copies of QoS parameters for different RATs in advance. These parameter copies are readily available during handover, eliminating the need for real-time parameter negotiation and reducing signaling overhead without significantly increasing system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS11350319B2Optimized quality of service enforcement for handover between different radio access types

Publication Date: 2022.05.31 CISCO TECHNOLOGY INC

AI summary

Techniques are described herein for optimizing Quality of Service (QoS) enforcement for handover between different Radio Access Types (RATs). In one example, during an initial user session establishment procedure involving a first RAT, one or more QoS parameters corresponding to a second RAT are obtained. The one or more QoS parameters corresponding to the second RAT are stored to generate one or more stored QoS parameters corresponding to the second RAT. During a handover procedure from the first RAT to the second RAT, the one or more stored QoS parameters corresponding to the second RAT are allocated.