User Plane Connection Granularity in 5G Interworking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Establishing a user plane connection between a broadband network gateway and a fixed mobile interworking function in a 5G network architecture is challenging, particularly in ensuring efficient data transmission and authentication processes.
Innovation Solution
The method involves determining granularity information for the user plane connection between an interworking function network element and an access network gateway, which is then used to establish the connection based on terminal identifier and policy information, enabling efficient data packet transmission and authentication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If user plane connection is established between BNG and FMIF in 5G network, then data transmission capability is improved, but device complexity and signaling overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the user plane connection establishment into multiple granularity levels (BNG-level, RG-level, terminal-level). The FMIF can selectively establish connections at different granularities based on network conditions and requirements, thereby improving data transmission capability while controlling device complexity by only establishing necessary connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic connection establishment where the FMIF can adaptively adjust the granularity and number of user plane connections based on real-time network conditions, traffic patterns, and authentication states. This dynamic approach optimizes productivity while preventing excessive complexity by establishing connections only when and where needed.
2Productivity
If user plane connection is established at fine granularity (terminal level), then data transmission efficiency is improved, but signaling overhead and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides user plane connections into hierarchical granularities (BNG-level, RG-level, terminal-level). Instead of establishing connections at all levels simultaneously, the system selectively establishes connections at appropriate granularities, reducing redundant signaling while maintaining transmission efficiency where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different connection granularities to different local conditions. For example, high-priority services or specific terminals may receive fine-grained terminal-level connections for optimal efficiency, while other traffic uses coarser BNG-level connections to minimize signaling overhead, achieving local optimization rather than uniform treatment.
3Productivity
If multiple user plane connections are established for different terminals, then data transmission capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple terminal connections at the BNG level by establishing a single BNG-level user plane connection between FMIF and BNG. This aggregation approach maintains data transmission capability for multiple terminals while significantly reducing device complexity compared to establishing separate connections for each terminal.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically selects between aggregated BNG-level connections and disaggregated terminal-level connections based on network conditions, service requirements, and authentication states. This dynamic merging strategy optimizes the balance between transmission capability and device complexity in real-time.
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments of this application relate to the field of communications technologies, and provide a user plane connection establishment method and apparatus, and a system, to establish a user plane connection between an access network gateway and an interworking function network element-user plane. The method includes: An interworking function network element-control plane determines granularity information of a user plane connection between an interworking function network element-user plane and an access network gateway. The interworking function network element-control plane sends the granularity information of the user plane connection to the interworking function network element-user plane and the access network gateway, where the granularity information of the user plane connection is used to establish the user plane connection between the interworking function network element-user plane and the access network gateway.