UPF Session Preconfiguration for Predictive UE Mobility Handover
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless networks, the change of User Plane Function (UPF) nodes due to user equipment (UE) mobility leads to interruptions or delays in data sessions, particularly in low-latency scenarios where UE moves between different geographical areas.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a control node that receives predicted geographical area mobility notifications from a service node, processes them, and requests data session modifications to target wireless access nodes, enabling seamless transitions through dual or single connectivity, using a trained model to predict potential target access nodes and optimize UPF selection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If UPF node re-selection is performed when UE moves between geographical areas, then the data session can be maintained in the new area, but data flow interruption or delay occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by establishing a second data session through the target wireless access node before the UE actually moves to that area. The network proactively configures the second data session in advance based on predicted mobility, so when handover occurs, the data flow can immediately switch to the pre-established session without interruption or delay.
2Reliability
If traditional UPF re-selection is performed after UE moves to new area, then data session can be updated, but resources are wasted establishing incorrect user plane allocation
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a trained model to predict the UE's future geographical area and proactively establishes the second data session through the correct target UPF node before the move occurs. This preliminary configuration ensures the correct user plane allocation is in place ahead of time, avoiding the waste of establishing and then revoking incorrect sessions that occurs with traditional reactive re-selection methods.
3Reliability
If data session modification is requested before actual handover, then seamless transition is achieved, but complex coordination between network nodes is required
Solution Approach 1:
The control node acts as an intermediary that coordinates between the service node (which provides mobility predictions) and the wireless access nodes. It receives predicted mobility information, processes it to determine appropriate target nodes, and manages the establishment of both first and second data sessions. This centralized coordination enables seamless transition while distributing the complexity management across a dedicated control entity.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to method performed by a control node (SMF) configured to configure data sessions for a user equipment, UE, wherein at least one first data session is established by a first User Plane Function, UPF, node (UPF1) and the first data session (DS1) is connected via a first wireless access node (gNB_Source) associated to a first geographical area (UPF_area1) of the first UPF node (UPF1), the method comprising receiving, from a service node (NWDAF), a first notification (508) of predicted geographical area mobility of the UE, the first notification (508) being directly or indirectly indicative of a plurality of predicted target wireless access nodes (WN3, WN4) indicated as potential target access nodes for the UE, processing the first notification (509), and determining if connecting the UE to any one of the plurality of predicted target wireless access nodes (WN3, WN4) comprises a change to an associated geographical area (UPF_area2) different to the first geographical area (UPF_area1), transmitting, to the first wireless access node (gNB_Source), a data session modification request (512) comprising the processed first notification, the data session modification request being indicative of a request to transfer the at least one first data session (DS1) to any one of the plurality of predicted target wireless access nodes (WN3, WN4), receiving, from the first wireless access node (gNB_Source), a data session establishment response (516) comprising a selected wireless access node (gNB_Target) of the plurality of predicted target wireless access nodes, the selected wireless access node (gNB_Target) being associated to a second geographical area (UPF_area2), configuring at least one second data session (DS2), to be connected via the selected wireless access node (gNB_Target), by sending, to a second User Plane Function, UPF node (UPF2) serving the second geographical area (UPF_area2), a data session establishment request (518), receiving, from the selected wireless access node (gNB_Target), a second notification (530) indicative of a transfer of the UE from the first wireless access node (gNB_Source) to the selected wireless access node (gNB_Target), and releasing (534) the first data session (DS1).