UPF Allocation via PDU Priority and Pre-emption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current UPF allocation methods in communication systems, such as those standardized by 3GPP, do not efficiently address capacity issues and service-specific requirements, leading to increased latency and reduced bandwidth, as they rely on Quality of Service (QoS) profiles that do not differentiate between services with varying vulnerabilities.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method for UPF allocation that utilize control information associated with logical PDU entities, including priority and pre-emption information, to dynamically allocate UPFs based on priority levels and resource availability, allowing for conditional allocation to optimize resource utilization and service isolation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If UPF allocation is based on QoS profile parameters, then basic service requirements are met, but services with different vulnerabilities cannot be properly differentiated leading to increased latency and reduced bandwidth
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces new control parameters (priority information and pre-emption information) beyond traditional QoS profiles to differentiate services. Priority information enables ranking of PDU entities, while pre-emption information (capable/vulnerable flags) allows dynamic adjustment of resource allocation during congestion, directly addressing the inability to differentiate services with varying vulnerabilities under conventional QoS-based allocation.
2Productivity
If multiple PDU entities are allocated to the same UPF, then resource utilization is improved, but capacity problems occur leading to negative effects on service performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic UPF allocation through pre-emption mechanisms. When a UPF experiences capacity issues, the SMF can re-evaluate allocations based on current pre-emption information and priority levels, allowing high-priority PDU entities to pre-empt lower-priority ones. This dynamic adjustment maintains service performance stability while allowing flexible resource utilization under varying load conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback loops where the SMF monitors UPF resource status and service performance, then adjusts allocations accordingly. The pre-emption information and priority information provide the feedback mechanism needed to respond to capacity problems, enabling the system to maintain reliability while optimizing resource utilization through continuous evaluation and reallocation.
3Reliability
If dedicated UPF resources are allocated to specific services or subscribers, then service independence and isolation are achieved, but resource flexibility and scalability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments UPF resources into dedicated and shared portions through the pre-emption mechanism. High-priority PDU entities with pre-emption capability effectively obtain dedicated resources when needed, while lower-priority entities share resources during normal operation. This segmentation approach ensures service independence for critical applications while maintaining overall resource flexibility and scalability through the priority-based allocation framework.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for user plane function, UPF, allocation is described. The UPF is configured to provide a Protocol Data Unit, PDU, connectivity service between a terminal device and a data network on a user plane, and the allocation is based on control information associated with an individual logical PDU entity. The control information defines priority information indicative of a priority of the PDU entity relative to other PDU entities and pre-emption information indicative of at least one of whether the PDU entity is capable of being pre-emptively allocated to a UPF over other PDU entities served by that UPF, and whether the PDU entity when served by a UPF is vulnerable to being re-allocated for pre-emptively allocating other PDU entities to that UPF. The apparatus is configured to detect an event that requires UPF allocation to a first PDU entity, to select a first UPF, wherein the first UPF is serving one or more second PDU entities, and to determine, for the selected UPF, insufficient resources for serving the first PDU entity. The apparatus is also configured to perform, responsive to determining the insufficient resources of the selected UPF, an evaluation of first priority information associated with the first PDU entity relative to second priority information associated with the one or more second PDU entities and at least one of first pre-emption information associated with the first PDU entity and second pre-emption information associated with the one or more second PDU entities. The apparatus is further configured to trigger, dependent on the result of the evaluation, allocation of the first PDU entity to either the first UPF or a second UPF.