vBNG-UP Bandwidth Migration for Congestion Avoidance

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Solution Overview

Problem

In communications networks, the existing methods for managing bandwidth usage across virtual broadband network gateway user plane (vBNG-UP) elements lead to traffic congestion when the total bandwidth consumed approaches the maximum capacity, causing network traffic to be unable to be transmitted effectively.

Innovation Solution

A network traffic migration method that involves monitoring bandwidth usage across multiple vBNG-UP elements, identifying when a threshold is reached, and migrating network traffic from a congested vBNG-UP element to a less utilized one within a defined group, ensuring that no single element exceeds its total bandwidth capacity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If network traffic is distributed based on device usage balance, then terminal device access is optimized, but bandwidth congestion occurs when high-bandwidth traffic accumulates on certain vBNG-UP elements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveterminal device access efficiencyVSAvoidbandwidth congestion
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the load balancing parameter from device usage count to bandwidth usage amount. The vBNG-CP element monitors the bandwidth usage of each vBNG-UP element and directs new terminal devices to the vBNG-UP element with the lowest current bandwidth usage, thereby preventing bandwidth congestion while maintaining efficient device access

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a backup mechanism where a standby vBNG-UP element is designated for each active vBNG-UP element. When bandwidth congestion is detected or a vBNG-UP element fails, the system copies the service configuration and redirects traffic to the standby element, ensuring continuous operation and preventing congestion impact

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Use of energy by moving object

If vBNG-UP elements operate at maximum capacity, then network resource utilization is maximized, but traffic transmission fails when total bandwidth is reached

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork resource utilizationVSAvoidtraffic transmission reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the vBNG-CP element continuously monitors the bandwidth usage of each vBNG-UP element and receives usage reports. Based on this feedback, the vBNG-CP dynamically adjusts the distribution of new terminal devices, directing them to vBNG-UP elements with available bandwidth capacity, thereby maintaining high resource utilization while ensuring reliable traffic transmission

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent designates standby vBNG-UP elements in advance for each active element. When an active element approaches its bandwidth capacity or experiences failure, the system has already prepared a backup element with pre-configured capabilities, allowing immediate traffic redirection without interruption to service reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4040731B1Network traffic migration method and apparatus
Publication Date: 2024.12.11 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP4040731B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4040731B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP4040731B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

Embodiments of this application disclose a network traffic migration method and apparatus, and belong to the communications field. The method includes: obtaining a bandwidth usage parameter value of each of M vBNG-UP network elements, where M is an integer greater than 1; when a bandwidth usage parameter value of a first vBNG-UP network element reaches a first threshold, determining a second vBNG-UP network element based on a sum of bandwidths occupied by to-be-migrated network traffic of one or more terminal devices in a first device group on the first vBNG-UP network element and a bandwidth usage parameter value of one or more vBNG-UP network elements in a vBNG-UP network element group; and migrating the to-be-migrated network traffic of the terminal devices in the first device group to the second vBNG-UP network element. In this application, it can be avoided that a total occupied bandwidth of a vBNG-UP network element approaches or reaches a total bandwidth of the vBNG-UP network element.