Virtual Router Bridging Underlay and Overlay in 5G
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing demand for reliable and continuous content transmission in 5G networks, driven by smartphone and IoT device usage, requires efficient bridging of data traffic between underlay and overlay networks to ensure resilient and stable performance, especially in scenarios like network failures where user equipment may need to roam between home and partner networks.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a system where a distributed unit (DU) of a 5G NR RAN, associated with a Next Generation Node B (gNB), is in operable communication with a cloud-native virtualized central unit control plane (CU-CP), providing access to virtual routers that bridge data traffic between the underlay and overlay networks, utilizing User Plane Function (UPFv) for voice functions, and configuring virtual routers to route communications through a public cloud provider.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If virtual routers are used to bridge data traffic between underlay and overlay networks, then network resilience and flexibility are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces virtual routers as intermediary components that bridge the underlay network (physical infrastructure) and overlay network (virtualized network functions). These virtual routers act as mediators that enable seamless traffic routing between the two network layers, improving resilience by providing alternative paths during network failures while managing complexity through standardized virtualization interfaces
Solution Approach 2:
The network architecture is segmented into distinct underlay and overlay layers, with the underlay handling physical infrastructure and the overlay handling virtualized network functions. This segmentation allows independent optimization and management of each layer, improving overall system resilience while containing complexity within defined boundaries
2Adaptability or versatility
If cloud-native virtualized infrastructure is deployed, then deployment agility and flexibility are improved, but initial setup complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements cloud-native virtualized network functions that can be deployed across multiple cloud infrastructure providers using standardized interfaces. The virtual routers and network functions are designed to be provider-agnostic, enabling the same virtualized infrastructure to operate on different cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP, etc.), thereby improving deployment agility while reducing long-term complexity through reuse
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes virtual machine images and container templates that can be rapidly copied and instantiated across multiple environments. These pre-configured virtualized network function templates contain all necessary configurations and software, allowing rapid deployment without manual setup, thus improving agility while containing initial complexity through template standardization
3Ease of manufacture
If network functions are virtualized and disaggregated, then hardware costs are reduced, but network architecture complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional hardware-based network functions (physical routers, firewalls, load balancers) with software-based virtualized network functions running on commodity hardware. This substitution eliminates the need for expensive specialized hardware while managing complexity through virtualization management platforms that abstract the underlying software-hardware interactions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent consolidates multiple discrete hardware network functions into unified virtualized network function instances that can perform multiple roles simultaneously. For example, a single virtual router instance can handle routing, NAT, and firewall functions, reducing hardware requirements while managing complexity through integrated software architectures
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments are directed towards systems and methods for bridging data traffic between an underlay network and an overlay network within a wireless telecommunication network, such as a wireless 5G network. One such method including: providing access to an overlay network that includes virtual routers, wherein the overlay network is built above the underlay network, the underlay network including physical infrastructure that delivers packets; providing a UPFv that acts as an anchor for telephony voice functions; establishing routing protocols to transmit from the UPFv to one or more of the virtual routers; configuring one or more of the virtual routers to bridge an outgoing communication from the UPFv to a public cloud provider; instructing the virtual router to send the outgoing communication through the public cloud provider to the underlay network; and instructing the virtual router to receive an incoming communication from the underlay network through the public cloud provider to the UPFv.