User Plane Path Selection Using DNAI for Low-Latency Offloading
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication systems fail to select an optimal user plane path, leading to latency issues for delay-sensitive services and wastage of network resources due to longer data routing paths.
Innovation Solution
A communication method involving network elements that transmit and receive AF requests and messages to select an optimal user plane path, incorporating user plane information, DNAI information, terminal device information, and session information to enable local offloading and reduce transmission delay.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If a traditional user plane path selection method is used, then network coverage and connectivity are maintained, but transmission delay increases and network resources are wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-establishing user plane paths during session setup before actual data transmission. The SMF selects and configures the optimal user plane path in advance based on DNAI information and network conditions, so that when data needs to be transmitted, the path is already ready, eliminating the need for real-time path selection and reducing transmission delay.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces the SMF (Session Management Function) as an intermediary that mediates between the AF (Application Function) and the UPF (User Plane Function). The SMF receives AF requests containing DNAI information, processes this information to determine the optimal path, and configures the appropriate UPF. This intermediary role simplifies the overall system by centralizing path selection logic and preventing direct complex interactions between other network elements.
2Loss of energy
If data is routed through a longer network path, then network coverage is extended, but network resources are wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by enabling local offloading at the edge network based on DNAI (Data Network Access Identifier) information. When the terminal device is near the edge network and the service supports it, data can be processed and transmitted locally without traveling through the entire core network. This creates different transmission qualities for different locations - local processing near the edge versus centralized processing through the core network - thereby reducing overall network resource consumption while maintaining routing flexibility.
3Productivity
If an optimal user plane path is selected, then transmission delay is reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the path selection logic from the general routing mechanism and places it specifically in the SMF during session setup. By taking out this specific function and dedicating it to the SMF, the complexity is isolated and managed in one place rather than being distributed throughout the network. The SMF uses extracted DNAI information from AF requests to make path selection decisions, separating the optimization function from the general-purpose routing infrastructure.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A
AI summary
Provided are communication methods and devices. The communication method includes: a first network element sends an application function (AF) request, the AF request carrying at least one of the following: user plane information of the first network element; data network access identifier (DNAI) information of the first network element; information of a terminal device; and user plane session information corresponding to a user plane perception/positioning service. According to the present disclosure, a user plane path can be selected, thereby saving network resources.