SRv6 Handover Packet Marking for Ordered Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
In the context of segment routing for IPv6 (SRv6), existing solutions fail to ensure ordered data transmission during a mobile handover process, as target devices cannot distinguish between in-transit and new path data packets, leading to potential data packet misordering.
Innovation Solution
The proposed method involves adding specific marks to data packets to indicate their source and status, allowing nodes to determine the correct sequence and routing of packets after a handover, using modified routing information and marks within the packet headers to differentiate between in-transit and new path data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If SRv6 is used for data transmission during handover, then data transmission can be simplified, but the target device cannot distinguish between in-transit and new path data packets, leading to data misordering
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses mark information (analogous to color changes) to differentiate between in-transit data packets and new path data packets. By adding a first mark to in-transit packets and a second mark to new path packets, the target device can visually distinguish and properly sequence the packets, resolving the ordering issue while maintaining SRv6 simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces mark information as an intermediary element that mediates between the simplified SRv6 routing and the need for packet sequencing. The mark acts as a identifier that enables the target device to correctly order packets without complicating the underlying SRv6 transmission mechanism
2Reliability
If mark information is added to data packets to indicate source and status, then nodes can determine correct sequence and routing, but packet header complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mark information field serves multiple functions: it identifies the data source (original device or user plane network element) and indicates the packet status (in-transit or new path). This multi-functionality allows comprehensive packet identification without adding multiple separate fields, thereby limiting the increase in header complexity
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention provide a data transmission method and a related device. According to the method, a mark is added to a data packet. After user equipment is handed over from an original device to a target device, and before a user plane network element receives a handover notification, the user plane network element sends, through a path used before handover, a data packet that carries a first mark to the original device. The original device modifies the first mark in the data packet to a second mark, and then forwards, to the target device, a data packet whose mark is modified and that carries the second mark. After receiving the handover notification, the user plane network element sends, to the target device, a data packet that carries a fourth mark. The target device can distinguish between sources of the received data packets based on different marks in the received data packets. The target device first sends the data packet that carries the second mark to the user equipment, and then sends the data packet that carries the fourth mark to the user equipment, so as to ensure ordered data transmission.