UPF Audit Report for TSN Survival Time Calculation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In 5G networks, there is a need for accurate calculation of 'survival time' during data traffic stoppages or failovers in Time Sensitive Networks (TSN) due to unsynchronized time drifts and lack of audit mechanisms in User Plane Function (UPF) that can notify the Control Plane about connection resets or fluctuations, leading to miscalculations.
Innovation Solution
The User Plane Function (UPF) generates and sends an audit report to the Control Plane (CP) without waiting for communication, including details such as operation status, IP address, and duration of downtime, to enable correct calculation of survival time, especially during connection fluctuations or switch-overs to backup systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the UPF waits for communication from the CP to report connection status, then the system follows standard protocol procedures, but the survival time calculation becomes inaccurate due to delayed reporting
Solution Approach 1:
The UPF performs preliminary action by proactively generating and sending audit reports about connection status changes before the CP requests this information. This ensures the CP receives timely notification of connection resets or fluctuations, enabling accurate survival time calculation without waiting for CP communication.
2Measurement precision
If the UPF proactively sends audit reports without waiting for CP communication, then the survival time calculation becomes accurate, but the system complexity increases due to unsolicited reporting mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The UPF implements a feedback mechanism by continuously monitoring connection status and automatically sending audit reports to the CP when changes occur. This feedback loop ensures the CP is always informed of the current connection state, enabling accurate survival time calculation while maintaining manageable system complexity through event-driven reporting.
3Reliability
If the UPF monitors and reports all connection fluctuations, then the network operator can accurately assess communication channel availability, but the signaling overhead between UPF and CP increases
Solution Approach 1:
The UPF extracts and reports only the essential information needed for survival time calculation - specifically connection status changes, reset events, and downtime duration - rather than transmitting all connection details. This selective reporting maintains reliable communication channel availability assessment while minimizing unnecessary signaling overhead between UPF and CP.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for time sensitive network (TSN) operation includes: in the case of data traffic stoppage in a communication channel of TSN due to at least one of down time of a user plane (UP) connection and a reset of the UP connection, performing the following: generating, by a user plane function (UPF), an audit report about the at least one of the down time and the reset; sending, by the UPF, the audit report to a first element in control plane (CP), without waiting for communication from the CP; and determining, by one of the first element or a second element in the CP, survival time of the communication channel. The audit report is sent along with a report type indicating the down time of the UP connection due to connection fluctuation or a switch-over of the UP connection from a primary UPF to a back-up UPF.