Consolidated Wireless Control Plane Plexus for Mobility Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

The current wireless mobile network architectures, such as 3GPP LTE and UMTS, face challenges in interworking and race conditions during call processing due to the independent definition of nodal functions and strict interface boundaries, which complicates the deployment of high-value services like VoLTE and IMS video.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a consolidated Wireless Control Plane Plexus (WCPP) that integrates multiple nodal functions into a reduced number of network elements, reducing the number of interfaces and consolidating control plane functions to simplify mobility control plane operations and unify UE state contexts, thereby revolutionizing call control functions within the mobility network.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple nodal functions are defined independently with strict interface boundaries, then multi-vendor environment and organizational partitions are promoted, but device complexity and network operation overheads increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemulti-vendor environmentVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent consolidates multiple independent nodal functions (MME, SGSN, SGW, PGW, PCRF) into a single unified network element called the consolidated control plane. This merging eliminates the need for multiple separate devices and interfaces, directly reducing device complexity while maintaining the ability to support multiple vendors through standardized external interfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The consolidated control plane is designed as a universal network element that performs multiple mobility management functions simultaneously. It can handle LTE (EPC) and 2G/3G (GAN) protocols within a single device, providing multi-functionality that replaces several specialized nodal functions while maintaining vendor flexibility through standardized interfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If multiple nodal functions are defined independently with strict interface boundaries, then standardization is promoted, but network operation overheads and processing complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovestandardizationVSAvoidnetwork operation overheads

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

By merging multiple nodal functions into a single consolidated control plane, the patent reduces the number of interfaces and message exchanges required for mobility management. This eliminates redundant processing and signaling overhead while maintaining standardized external interfaces for reliable interworking with other network elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple nodal functions are defined independently with strict interface boundaries, then interworking challenges and race conditions occur, but this complicates deployment of high-value services

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinterworking capabilityVSAvoidrace conditions

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The consolidation of MME, SGSN, and other control functions into a single network element eliminates interworking challenges and race conditions by removing the need for complex inter-device signaling and coordination. The unified architecture processes mobility management events internally without external message exchanges, ensuring reliable service deployment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Ease of operation

If multiple nodal functions are deployed as separate network elements, then organizational partitions are maintained, but mobility management efficiency and latency are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveorganizational partitionsVSAvoidmobility management efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple nodal functions into a single consolidated control plane that processes mobility management events internally without external message exchanges. This eliminates the latency and processing delays associated with inter-device communication, significantly improving mobility management efficiency while allowing organizational partitions to be maintained through logical separation of functions within the unified device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS9832797B2Mobility network function consolidation

Publication Date: 2017.11.28 AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I L P

AI summary

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, control signals are communicated with a base station of a radio access network in communication with a mobile device. The control signals include information associated with one of mobility of the mobile device, bearer management or both. The network node communicates bearer message traffic with the base station and coordinates an exchange of data packets between the base station and an external packet data network by way of the bearer message traffic. Other embodiments are disclosed.