Virtual Control Element for Wireless Core Packet Network Tunnel Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication networks face inefficiencies in virtualizing control plane functions of wireless core packet networks, leading to complexities in managing tunnels and scaling network resources independently.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a virtual control element (VCE) with virtual machines to detect conditions associated with tunnels and propagate commands to forwarding elements (FEs) for installing, removing, or modifying tunnel rules, allowing for independent scaling of control and data plane functions without virtualizing the data plane.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If control plane functions are virtualized using virtual machines, then network resource utilization and scalability are improved, but device complexity and management overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments control plane functions into separate virtual machines (VCEs) that can be independently managed and scaled. Each VCE handles specific control functions, allowing granular resource allocation and reducing the complexity of managing monolithic network elements. This segmentation enables flexible deployment and independent lifecycle management of control plane functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual control elements are designed to perform multiple control plane functions across different network scenarios. The VCE architecture provides universal functionality that can serve various wireless access technologies and network configurations, reducing the need for specialized hardware and simplifying overall network management through standardized virtualized functions.
2Productivity
If tunnel management is centralized in virtual control elements, then network optimization and resource allocation are improved, but signaling transaction volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual control elements pre-establish tunnel rules and forwarding paths based on anticipated traffic patterns and network conditions. By proactively configuring tunnels before data transmission begins, the system reduces the need for reactive signaling transactions during actual data flow, thereby optimizing network performance while minimizing signaling overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where VCEs monitor tunnel performance and dynamically adjust tunnel rules based on observed traffic patterns. This feedback-driven approach optimizes network resource allocation by adapting to changing conditions, reducing the frequency of signaling transactions needed for manual reconfiguration while maintaining optimal network performance.
3Adaptability or versatility
If control and data plane functions are separated, then independent scaling and flexibility are improved, but system complexity and coordination overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent clearly separates control plane functions (VCEs) from data plane functions (FEs), allowing each to be independently scaled, deployed, and managed. This segmentation enables flexible resource allocation where control functions can be virtualized and migrated independently from data forwarding functions, providing operational flexibility while maintaining clear functional boundaries that simplify coordination.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces standardized interfaces and communication protocols as intermediaries between VCEs and FEs. These intermediary mechanisms simplify the coordination complexity by providing well-defined interaction points, allowing control and data planes to communicate efficiently without requiring complex point-to-point integrations, thereby enabling independent scaling while managing system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A capability is provided for virtualizing control plane functions of a wireless core packet network (WCPN). A forwarding element (FE) is configured to provide a set of data plane functions of the WCPN. A virtual control element (VCE) is configured to provide a set of control plane functions of the WCPN. The VCE includes a set of virtual machines (VMs) where at least one of the VMs is configured to detect a condition associated with a tunnel, for a wireless terminal (WT), between the FE and a wireless access device (WAD) configured to serve the WT, and propagate, toward the FE, a message comprising a tunnel command configured to instruct the FE to at least one of install, remove, or modify a tunnel rule associated with the tunnel between the FE and the WAD. The tunnel enables the WT to access a packet data network (PDN).