User Plane Gateway Selection via Control Plane Load Balancing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for selecting a User Plane Gateway (UP-GW) for User Equipment (UE) in communication networks often lead to an imbalance of User Plane load, causing inefficiencies in data transmission due to inadequate adaptation to network topology changes.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that utilize a control plane function to select and manage UP-GWs based on subscription information, location, type, load, and network topology, allowing for dynamic selection and reselection of UP-GWs to optimize data transmission paths and adapt to changing network conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the network selects an UP-GW for the UE when the UE requests an attachment, then the UP-GW is assigned for data transmission, but the UP load becomes imbalanced and the UE does not adapt to network topology changes, affecting data transmission rate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic UP-GW selection by introducing a timer mechanism that periodically triggers reselection. The CP function selects a new UP-GW when the timer expires, allowing the system to adapt to changing network conditions and topology dynamically rather than maintaining a static assignment throughout the attachment period.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs feedback mechanisms where the CP function monitors UP load status and network topology changes. Based on this feedback information, the system determines whether to maintain the current UP-GW assignment or select a new one, enabling adaptive load balancing and topology adaptation.
2Ease of operation
If the UP-GW is selected at attachment time, then the attachment procedure is simplified, but the UP load distribution becomes unbalanced across different gateways
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary UP-GW selection during the attachment procedure, establishing an initial assignment quickly. However, it complements this with subsequent periodic reselection triggered by timer expiration, combining the benefits of simple initial setup with ongoing load balancing to resolve the contradiction between procedural simplicity and load distribution efficiency.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method of selecting a user plane gateway and a device of selecting a user plane gateway are provided. The method includes: receiving, by a CP function, a first data packet sent by a UE; selecting, by the CP function, based on the first data packet, a first target UP-GW for the UE. An UP-GW is selected for the UE when receiving the data packet sent by the UE, so as to enable the data transmission to better adapt to changes of the UP load and the network topology, thereby improving the data transmission efficiency.