UPF Internal Multicast Interfaces for 5G VN Group Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
The 5G virtual network group (5G VN group) in existing technologies cannot implement one-to-multiple communication solutions, limiting the ability to transmit multicast data packets to multiple recipients efficiently.
Innovation Solution
Implementing at least two internal multicast interfaces in the user plane function (UPF) to transmit multicast data packets to all members of a multicast group, utilizing various reference points (N3, N6, N9, and N19) to optimize data distribution within the virtual network group.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a one-to-one communication method based on UPF network interface is used, then communication reliability is improved, but communication versatility deteriorates because one-to-multiple communication cannot be implemented
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the UPF's network interface into multiple internal multicast interfaces (first internal multicast interface and second internal multicast interface). This segmentation allows the system to distinguish between unicast communication (using the network interface) and multicast communication (using the internal multicast interfaces), thereby enabling one-to-multiple communication while maintaining the reliability of the original one-to-one communication method.
Solution Approach 2:
The UPF is enhanced with multi-functionality by adding multicast forwarding capabilities through the internal multicast interfaces while retaining the original unicast forwarding capability through the network interface. This allows the UPF to handle both one-to-one and one-to-multiple communication types, resolving the contradiction between communication reliability and communication versatility.
2Device complexity
If traditional unicast forwarding is used for multicast data, then device complexity is reduced, but network resource efficiency deteriorates due to unnecessary traffic forwarding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the multicast forwarding function from the traditional unicast forwarding path by introducing dedicated internal multicast interfaces. This separation allows multicast data packets to be forwarded through specialized interfaces that understand multicast groups, preventing unnecessary forwarding to recipients who do not belong to the multicast group, thereby improving network resource efficiency without significantly increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the forwarding parameter by introducing multicast group information as a new dimension for data packet routing decisions. Instead of forwarding based solely on unicast addresses, the system now uses multicast group membership information to determine forwarding paths, which optimizes network resource utilization by directing traffic only to appropriate recipients.
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed by the present application are a multicast method, apparatus, device and system for a multicast group of a virtual network group, which are connected to the field of communications. The method comprises: receiving a multicast data packet sent by a member of the virtual network group, the destination address of the multicast data packet being a multicast address; sending the multicast data packet to a target multicast internal interface among at least two multicast internal interfaces; and sending the multicast data packet to all members of the virtual network group or all local multicast group members by means of the target multicast internal interface. The present application achieves multicast communication in a 5G VN