Stateless Core Network Architecture With UE Context Repository
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cellular network architectures struggle to integrate emerging technologies and trends, such as AI-native end-to-end intelligence, while maintaining seamless communication across air, ground, and space, and require re-examination of RAN-CN boundaries for improved computing, perception, intelligence, coordination, and security.
Innovation Solution
Integrating the control plane of the RAN into the core network's Service-Based Architecture (SBA) framework, incorporating a UE Context Repository Function (UCRF) for stateless design to store UE contexts, reducing latency and enhancing network robustness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the control plane of the RAN is integrated into the core network's Service-Based Architecture, then network robustness and signaling efficiency are improved, but device complexity and architecture reconfiguration requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the control plane functions of the RAN into the core network's Service-Based Architecture by merging the Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) with the Unified Data Management (UDM) functions. This consolidation creates a unified network function that handles both access control and user data management, thereby improving network robustness through centralized control while managing architectural complexity through functional integration.
2Loss of time
If a UE Context Repository Function is introduced for stateless design, then latency is reduced and network transitions become more robust, but device complexity and implementation complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a UE Context Repository Function (UCRF) that segments the storage and management of user equipment contexts from the control plane operations. By separating context data storage from signaling processing, the system achieves stateless design where the AMF can quickly retrieve or release UE contexts without maintaining persistent state, thereby reducing latency during network transitions while managing implementation complexity through clear functional separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The UE Context Repository Function acts as an intermediary between the Access and Mobility Management Function and the Unified Data Management function. This mediator component provides centralized context storage and retrieval services, enabling fast context access during handovers and network transitions without requiring the AMF to maintain complex internal state, thus reducing latency while managing implementation complexity through a dedicated intermediary component.
3Adaptability or versatility
If RAN-CN boundaries are re-examined for improved computing and intelligence, then adaptability and AI-native capabilities are improved, but device complexity and boundary definition complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent re-examines and redefines the RAN-CN boundaries by creating a unified Service-Based Architecture where the Access and Mobility Management Function performs multiple functions including access control, mobility management, and user context management. This multi-functional approach improves adaptability and enables AI-native capabilities by consolidating control functions in a flexible, service-oriented framework that can dynamically adapt to emerging technologies while managing boundary complexity through functional integration.
Data Source
AI summary
A network function of a core network configured to store a plurality of contexts for a user equipment (UE) and perform an operation with another network function associated with a procedure related to the UE being performed by the core network, wherein the operation is related to at least one of the plurality of contexts.