UPF Event Exposure for Direct TSC Management Forwarding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing 3GPP 5G systems lack direct forwarding mechanisms for time-sensitive communication (TSC) management information between a TSN AF/TSCTSF and UPF/NW-TT, necessitating transmission through intermediate functions like PCF and SMF, leading to inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
Implement a UPF event exposure service to directly forward TSC management information between TSN AF/TSCTSF and UPF/NW-TT, utilizing operations such as Nupf_EventExposure_Subscribe, Nupf_EventExposure_UnSubscribe, and Nupf_EventExposure_Notify, including PMIC, UMIC, and NW-TT port number.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If TSC management information is forwarded through intermediate functions (PCF, SMF), then system compatibility and standardized interfaces are maintained, but communication efficiency decreases and unnecessary transmission occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the TSC management information forwarding function from the intermediate network functions (PCF, SMF) and directly connects the UPF to the TSN AF/TSCTSF. This extraction eliminates unnecessary intermediate transmission steps while maintaining the essential forwarding capability, thereby improving communication efficiency without requiring complex modifications to the core network architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a direct interface between UPF and TSN AF/TSCTSF as a new intermediary pathway for TSC management information. This direct interface acts as a specialized mediator that bypasses the general-purpose intermediate functions (PCF, SMF), reducing transmission overhead while maintaining system interoperability through standardized service operations.
2Loss of time
If direct forwarding between UPF and TSN AF/TSCTSF is implemented, then communication efficiency improves, but system complexity and interface standardization challenges increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal event exposure service interface that can handle multiple types of information (QoS monitoring reports, TSC management information, analytic information) through the same standardized mechanism. This multi-functional interface design allows direct UPF-to-TSN AF/TSCTSF forwarding without creating specialized complex interfaces for each information type, thereby reducing time loss while controlling interface complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the interface parameters by introducing standardized service operation names (Nupf_EventExposure_Subscribe, Nupf_EventExposure_Notify, Nupf_EventExposure_UnSubscribe) and event type identifiers. These parameter standardizations enable direct forwarding with simplified interface management, reducing both transmission time and interface complexity through consistent parameter structures.
3Productivity
If intermediate functions are used for forwarding, then system reliability and error handling are improved, but communication overhead and transmission delays increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the UPF to directly provide TSC management information forwarding services to TSN AF/TSCTSF without relying on intermediate functions. The UPF performs self-service by implementing the event exposure service interface natively, which improves forwarding efficiency. Reliability is maintained through standardized error handling procedures defined in the service operation specifications, allowing the system to achieve both high efficiency and adequate reliability without intermediate functions.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an operation method of a user plane function (UPF) apparatus in a wireless communication system, the operation method including: obtaining a subscription request message from either a TSN AF or a TSCTSF or both on the basis of an exposure service for a UPF event, the subscription request message including TSC management information; performing triggering for subscription to the UPF event on the basis of the TSC management information; and providing a notification message to either the TSN AF or the TSCTSF or both, the notification message including the TSC management information.