User Plane Higher-Layer Entity Data Packet Mapping in 5G QoS

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing 5G system architecture lacks effective data packet mapping between user plane higher-layer entities and lower-layer entities, which hinders the implementation of new Quality of Service (QoS) architectures and decoupling of the core and access networks.

Innovation Solution

A method where user plane higher-layer entities in the 5G system map data packets to radio bearers (RB) and logical channels (LCH) using specified identifiers, establishing a mapping relationship stored in a table, allowing for efficient data packet transmission and QoS management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the core network and access network are decoupled to improve scalability, then the core network becomes insensitive to different radio access networks, but effective data packet mapping between user plane higher-layer entities and lower-layer entities is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovescalabilityVSAvoiddata packet mapping
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The user plane is segmented into higher-layer entities and lower-layer entities, with the higher-layer entity responsible for data packet mapping decisions. This segmentation allows the core network to be decoupled while maintaining mapping functionality at the access network edge through the higher-layer entity that stores and applies mapping rules locally.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Mapping rules are pre-configured and stored in the higher-layer entity before data transmission occurs. This preliminary action enables the higher-layer entity to perform data packet mapping autonomously without real-time core network intervention, resolving the contradiction between decoupling and maintaining effective mapping.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If bearer-based QoS processing is used to ensure consistent QoS, then QoS management is simplified, but it does not meet the design target of decoupling core network and access network

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveQoS consistencyVSAvoidnetwork decoupling
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The QoS processing function is extracted from the traditional bearer-based core network control and relocated to the higher-layer entity in the access network. This extraction allows the core network to be decoupled while maintaining QoS consistency through the higher-layer entity's autonomous mapping decisions based on stored mapping rules.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The higher-layer entity acts as an intermediary between the core network and lower-layer entities, receiving mapping rules from the core network and applying them locally to data packets. This intermediary role enables network decoupling while maintaining QoS consistency without requiring tight coupling between core and access networks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If per-flow QoS architecture is adopted to enable network decoupling, then scalability is improved, but the access network lacks clear guidance on how to map data flows to user plane lower-layer entities

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork decouplingVSAvoiddata flow mapping
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The higher-layer entity is equipped with autonomous self-service capabilities to perform data packet mapping using locally stored mapping rules. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for complex real-time coordination with the core network, making the decoupled per-flow QoS architecture easy to operate while maintaining scalability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3499922B1Method, device and computer-readable storage medium for applying QOS based on user plane data mapping
Publication Date: 2021.09.15 ZTE CORP
  • EP3499922B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3499922B1 patent drawingFigure 2(a)~2(b)
  • EP3499922B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5

AI summary

Provided are a method, apparatus and system for mapping user plane data and a storage medium. The method includes that: a user plane higher-layer entity of a first network element receives a data packet sent by a second network element and carrying a specified identifier; and the user plane higher-layer entity maps the data packet to at least one of: a user plane lower-layer entity of the first network element, a radio bearer (RB), and a logical channel (LCH) according to the specified identifier. With the solution described above, the problem, in the related art, of lacking data packet mapping between the user plane higher-layer entity and the user plane lower-layer entity in the 5G system architecture is solved, and data packet mapping to the lower-layer entity and/or the RB, and/or the LCH in the 5G system is implemented by the user plane higher layer.