UPF Programming via Enhanced N9 Interface for 5G Session Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
In 5G telecommunications networks, the communication between User Plane Functions (UPFs) connected to different Session Management Functions (SMFs) is time-consuming and inefficient, especially when user equipment (UE) moves across geographic areas, leading to complex signaling and potential IP address preservation issues.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method that uses enhanced N9 interfaces for gateway controlling, including lightweight N4 signaling (N4') between Anchor UPF (A-UPF) and Intermediate UPF (I-UPF) using segment routing, such as SRv6, to optimize signaling and ensure efficient session establishment and quality of service across UPFs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If complex signaling using Service Based Architecture (SBA) is used for SMF to retrieve UE context, then session management can be performed, but communication becomes time-consuming and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the control plane functions by introducing a dedicated control plane interface (N4') between UPFs, separating it from the data plane. This allows control signaling to occur directly between UPFs without involving SMF, reducing communication time while maintaining session management reliability through the preserved N4 interface for critical operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary control plane message exchange mechanism between UPFs that acts as a mediator for session context information. This intermediary channel enables direct UPF-to-UPF communication for handover scenarios, eliminating the need for SMF to retrieve UE context through complex SBA signaling, thus reducing communication time while maintaining session management integrity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple UPFs are connected to different SMFs, then network coverage and flexibility are improved, but communication between UPFs becomes complex and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the control plane capabilities directly into the UPF by introducing a control plane interface (N4') between UPFs. This combining of control and data plane functions at the UPF level eliminates the need for complex multi-SMF signaling paths, reducing signaling complexity while preserving network coverage flexibility through direct UPF-to-UPF communication paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the UPF multi-functional by enabling it to both process user data and handle control plane signaling for session management. This universal capability allows any UPF to act as a temporary anchor or provide session context to other UPFs, simplifying the overall network architecture and reducing signaling complexity while maintaining adaptability for various deployment scenarios.
3Reliability
If standard N4 signaling is used between UPFs, then session management is maintained, but IP address preservation and seamless handover are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having the target UPF pre-establish a control plane connection and retrieve session context information before the actual handover occurs. This advance preparation ensures IP address preservation and seamless handover by having all necessary session parameters ready beforehand, while maintaining session management reliability through the established N4' control interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the mechanical SBA signaling mechanism with a more efficient direct control plane interface (N4') between UPFs. This replacement eliminates the cumbersome multi-hop signaling path through SMF and replaces it with a direct UPF-to-UPF control channel, improving handover efficiency while maintaining session management reliability through the preserved N4 interface for critical operations.
Data Source
AI summary
Various implementations disclosed herein enable programming user plane gateway controllers over enhanced N9 interfaces. In various implementations, a method of gateway controlling is performed by a computing device including one or more processors, and a non-transitory memory. In various implementations the method includes determining, by a first packet gateway controller connected to a first session manager device, that a user equipment moved to a geographical area that is served by a second session manager device. In some implementations, the method includes receiving, by the first packet gateway device, a set of information for a second packet gateway device. In some implementations, the method includes transmitting, by the first packet gateway device, a session establishment request via a first network interface to the second packet gateway controller using segment routing via a second network interface.