Transit Device Reduces N19 Tunnel Count in 5G Virtual Networks
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In a 5G virtual network, the large number of user plane function (UPF) network elements requires the establishment of numerous N19 tunnels, leading to increased network complexity and complexity in forwarding information synchronization.
Innovation Solution
A communication system is introduced that includes a session management network element, a user plane network element, and a transit device. The system uses a star topology architecture, where the session management network element determines the transit device and sends forwarding rules to it and the user plane network element, allowing the transit device to forward data between any two user plane network elements, thereby reducing the number of N19 tunnels needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If every two UPFs establish direct N19 tunnels for data transmission, then data transmission between terminals served by different UPFs is enabled, but the quantity of N19 tunnels increases significantly and network complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a transit UPF as an intermediary device between source UPF and destination UPF. Instead of establishing direct N19 tunnels between every pair of UPFs, data packets are routed through the transit UPF which forwards packets between different UPFs. This mediator approach reduces the number of direct connections required while maintaining full mesh connectivity capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the direct UPF-to-UPF tunnel establishment into two separate connection segments: source UPF to transit UPF, and transit UPF to destination UPF. This segmentation transforms a single complex full-mesh tunnel structure into multiple simpler star-topology connections, reducing overall network complexity while preserving data transmission functionality.
2Reliability
If every UPF maintains forwarding information of terminals served by all other UPFs, then data forwarding between different UPFs is enabled, but the complexity of forwarding information synchronization increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the forwarding information maintenance function from all UPFs and concentrates it in the transit UPF. The transit UPF is the only device that maintains forwarding information of terminals served by all UPFs. Other UPFs only maintain local terminal forwarding information, which significantly reduces the synchronization complexity across the network.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the forwarding information database of all UPFs into a single centralized database located at the transit UPF. Instead of each UPF maintaining separate copies of all terminal forwarding information, the transit UPF consolidates all forwarding information and provides centralized management, eliminating the need for complex inter-UPF synchronization protocols.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
This application provides a communication method, apparatus, and system. In the method, a session management network element determines, in a process of creating a session for a terminal in a group, a transit device that provides a 5GVN service for the group, and send a first forwarding rule to the transit device. The transit device is configured to forward data between any two user plane network elements that provide the 5GVN service for the group. The first forwarding rule includes forwarding information of at least one user plane network element and forwarding information of at least one terminal served by the at least one user plane network element, and is used by the transit device to forward, to the user plane network element that serves a terminal, a data packet whose destination address is an address of the terminal. Forwarding data between two UPFs by the transit device can reduce a quantity of N19 tunnels and decrease complexity of forwarding information synchronization.