5G User Plane Function Selection for Low Latency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current telecommunications systems lack efficient mechanisms for selecting user-plane functions (UPFs) based on user equipment (UE) location, leading to increased latency and inadequate seamless handover of subscriber sessions across multiple UPFs during mobility events.
Innovation Solution
Implementing techniques to select the nearest UPF based on UE location, using location information and data such as cell-IDs, available bandwidth, and usage statistics to optimize packet delivery and handover processes within 5G networks, allowing for intelligent routing and seamless session transfer between edge locations and centralized data centers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If the nearest UPF is selected based on UE location, then latency is reduced and network performance is improved, but device complexity and selection mechanism complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automatic UPF selection based on UE location without requiring manual configuration or complex external intervention. The network elements (AMF, SMF, UPF) autonomously exchange location information and perform selection decisions, reducing the need for complex external management mechanisms while achieving low-latency connectivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary location information collection and UPF identification before actual data transmission begins. By pre-determining the optimal UPF based on UE location during session establishment or mobility events, the system avoids real-time calculation complexity during active transmission while ensuring low latency.
2Reliability
If seamless handover of subscriber sessions across multiple UPFs is implemented, then network reliability and service continuity are improved, but device complexity and handover mechanism complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces the SMF (Session Management Function) as an intermediary that coordinates handover between UPFs. The SMF receives location information from AMF, identifies appropriate target UPFs, and manages the session transfer process, thereby simplifying the overall handover mechanism while ensuring service continuity across multiple UPFs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements dynamic UPF selection and handover capabilities that adapt to changing UE locations and network conditions. The handover mechanism automatically activates based on mobility events or session requirements, providing service continuity only when needed rather than maintaining complex static handover configurations.
3Measurement precision
If location information and usage statistics are collected and processed, then UPF selection accuracy is improved, but loss of information processing and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements location-based UPF selection where the decision process is distributed to network elements closest to the UE (AMF, SMF). By making selection decisions locally at the network edge rather than centralizing all processing, the system reduces information transmission overhead while maintaining accurate location-based selection through local context awareness.
Data Source
AI summary
A telecommunication network associated with a wireless telecommunication provider can be configured to select user-plane functions (UPFs) for a user equipment (UE) in a network, and the handover of subscriber sessions. According to some configurations, a nearest UPF to the UE can be picked to service the UE. Choosing the nearest UPF may reduce latency to the UE when sending and receiving packets through a cellular network, such as a 5G network. Subscriber sessions can be handed over across multiple UPFs based on mobility of the UE. Subscriber sessions may be anchored on UPFs located either on edge locations or centralized data centers. Because of mobility of subscribers from a first location (e.g., x) to a second location (e.g., y), a subscriber's session can be moved from one user plane node to another user plane node seamlessly.