Network Initiated UPF Session Transfer Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current 5G core network signaling mechanisms face challenges in efficiently managing UPF congestion and reducing signaling overhead during traffic management, leading to potential service quality degradation and increased packet dropping rates.
Innovation Solution
Implement enhanced 5G core signaling mechanisms that enable network-initiated batch session transfer and reallocation of UPF sessions based on traffic conditions, load status, and operator policies, allowing for the selection of sessions by service, QoS, or destination DNNs, thereby reducing congestion and improving service quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If network-initiated batch session transfer is implemented, then UPF congestion is alleviated and service quality is improved, but signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The network performs session transfer preparation in advance by identifying sessions suitable for transfer, selecting target UPFs, and establishing transfer conditions before actual traffic congestion occurs. This preliminary action allows the network to proactively manage UPF load distribution and prevent congestion, thereby improving service quality while controlling signaling overhead through batch operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The SMF autonomously monitors UPF load conditions, identifies sessions requiring transfer, and executes session transfer decisions without requiring manual intervention or complex external coordination. This self-service mechanism enables efficient congestion management by allowing the network function to automatically adapt to changing traffic conditions and optimize session distribution across UPFs.
2Productivity
If sessions are transferred between UPFs, then load balancing is improved and congestion is reduced, but session continuity may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The network establishes session transfer conditions and selects target UPFs before actually transferring sessions, ensuring that transfer operations are performed only when appropriate conditions are met. This preliminary preparation maintains session stability by avoiding unnecessary transfers and ensuring that target UPFs are properly selected to maintain service continuity.
Solution Approach 2:
The SMF monitors session status and UPF performance metrics continuously, using this feedback information to make informed decisions about session transfers. The feedback mechanism ensures that sessions are transferred only when it improves load balancing without compromising continuity, and allows the network to adjust transfer decisions based on real-time conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
A SMF receives from a first UPF, first message(s) indicating a status of the first UPF. The SMF determines, based on the status, to transfer sessions for a group of wireless devices from the first UPF to a second UPF. The SMF sends to the second UPF, a second message indicating an establishment request of sessions for the group of wireless devices. The second message comprises session identifiers of the sessions. The SMF receives from the second UPF, a third message indicating a result of the establishment request. The SMF sends to the first UPF, based on the result, a fourth message indicating release of session(s) of the sessions. The fourth message comprises session identifier(s) of the session(s).