METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ROUTE AGGREGATION HANDLING FOR CONTROL AND USER PLANE SEPARATION

Abstract

A Shared Cell (SC) Controller uses deployment information, radio resource utilization measurements, cell load measurements, signal quality measurement, operator's policies and radio capabilities to make decisions on system configuration, re-configuration, and channel allocation related to the Shared Cell groups. The SC Controller may also use artificial intelligence/machine learning to predict future system state when making decisions on system configuration and channel allocation. The SC Controller can be implemented in the context of using a CBRS system, the ORAN architecture, and the Shared Cell group of Radio Units (RUs). SC Controller can be implemented as part of the Non-Real Time Radio Intelligent Controller (Non-RT RIC). The SC Controller interfaces with the Citizens Broadband Radio Service Device (CBSD) Controller, and the SC Controller sends the Shared Cell group information to the O-RU Controller so that the O-RU Controller can configure the radio components.

Claims

1. A method of route aggregation handling for 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Control Plane and User Plane Separation (CUPS) architecture, comprising: allocating, by a Control Plane (CP) node, an Internet Protocol (IP) Address from an IP pool to a selected User Equipment (UE) for a Packet Data Unit (PDU) session; performing, by a User Plane (UP) node, data traffic routing between an internet service provider (ISP) and the UE; and sending, by the CP node to the UP node during one of a start or update of an association between the CP node and the UP node, one of: i) transmission routes to be used for the data traffic routing between the ISP and the UE; or ii) transmission routes to be deleted for the data traffic routing between the ISP and the UE.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the CP node sends the transmission routes to be used as part of one of an association setup request or an association update request to the UP node.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the transmission routes to be used are provided by the CP node in a route aggregation information element within the one of the association setup request or the association update request sent to the UP node.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the transmission routes to be used are contained in internet protocol (IP) pool route aggregation field within the route aggregation information element.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising: sending, by the UP node to a next hop router, a Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) Update message containing the IP pool route aggregation field.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the CP node sends the transmission routes to be deleted as part of one of an association setup request or an association update request to the UP node.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the transmission routes to be deleted are provided by the CP node in a route aggregation information element within the one of the association setup request or the association update request sent to the UP node.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the transmission routes to be deleted are contained in internet protocol (IP) pool route aggregation field within the route aggregation information element.

9. The method according to claim 7, further comprising: sending, by the UP node to a next hop router, a Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) Update message containing the IP pool route aggregation field.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: in the case of a UP path failure involving the UP node, sending by a standby UP node to the CP node an association update request for the transmission routes to be used for the data traffic routing between the ISP and the UE.

11. A system for route aggregation handling for 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Control Plane and User Plane Separation (CUPS) architecture, comprising: a Control Plane (CP) node configured to allocate an Internet Protocol (IP) Address from an IP pool to a selected User Equipment (UE) for a Packet Data Unit (PDU) session; and a User Plane (UP) node configured to perform data traffic routing between an internet service provider (ISP) and the UE; and wherein the CP node is configured to send to the UP node, during one of a start or update of an association between the CP node and the UP node, one of: i) transmission routes to be used for the data traffic routing between the ISP and the UE; ii) transmission routes to be deleted for the data traffic routing between the ISP and the UE; or iii) transmission routes to be withdrawn for the data traffic routing between the ISP and the UE.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the CP node is configured to send the transmission routes to be used as part of one of an association setup request or an association update request to the UP node.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the transmission routes to be used are provided by the CP node in a route aggregation information element within the one of the association setup request or the association update request sent to the UP node.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the transmission routes to be used are contained in internet protocol (IP) pool route aggregation field within the route aggregation information element.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the UP node is configured to send to a next hop router, a Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) Update message containing the IP pool route aggregation field.

16. The system according to claim 11, wherein the CP node sends the transmission routes to be deleted as part of one of an association setup request or an association update request to the UP node.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein the transmission routes to be deleted are provided by the CP node in a route aggregation information element within the one of the association setup request or the association update request sent to the UP node.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein the transmission routes to be deleted are contained in internet protocol (IP) pool route aggregation field within the route aggregation information element.

19. The system according to claim 17, wherein the UP node is configured to send to a next hop router, a Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) Update message containing the IP pool route aggregation field.

20. The system according to claim 11, further comprising: a standby UP node configured to send to the CP node, in the case of a UP path failure involving the UP node, an association update request for the transmission routes to be used for the data traffic routing between the ISP and the UE.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0013] FIG. 1 shows the CP and UP interworking with a router as the next hop.

[0014] FIG. 2 shows an example of provisioning of routes by the CP to the UP.

[0015] FIG. 3 shows an example signal flow diagram of route-deletion initiated by the CP.

[0016] FIG. 4 shows an example signal flow diagram for UP path failure and recovery.

[0017] FIG. 5 shows an example signal flow diagram for TCP connection reset handling.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] In accordance with an example embodiment of the present disclosure, in the case when the CP is allocating the IP pools and traffic routing is done at the UP, a solution is provided for obtaining the IP pool blocks and providing them to the next hop router for the correct packet routing. As shown in FIG. 2, during the start or update of the CP-UP association, the CP 2001 shall send the routes to be used to the UP 2002 in an information element (IE), e.g., a vendor-specific IE. As referenced by 201, the “first request for the Sub IP Pool” is done at the CP 2001, i.e., the CP executes a procedure in which it allocates the first IP address from an unused sub IP Pool to a UE while allocating it to a Packet Data Unit (PDU) session. Next, as shown in the block 202, an Association Setup Request or Association Update Request is sent by the CP 2001 to the UP 2002, which Association Setup Request or Association Update Request includes the following: node ID; and Route Aggregation IE. The Route Aggregation IE in turn contains and Action IE (in this example, ADD) and ACCESS POINT NAME (APN)/DATA NETWORK NAME (DNN) Route Aggregation IE. The APN/DNN Route Aggregation IE contains the field “IP Pool Route Aggregation” (the routes to be used by the UP 2002). Next, as shown in the block 203, UP 2002 sends a Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) Update message to the next hop router (e.g., on N6 interface), which BGP Update message contains the route received in IP Pool Route Aggregation field. Subsequently, as shown in the block 204, the UP 2002 sends an association setup/update response to the CP 2001. As shown in FIG. 2, the CP 2001 is sending the Route Aggregation IE to ADD a route, which is an operation unsolicited by the UP 2002.

[0019] FIG. 3 shows an example signal flow diagram of route-deletion initiated by the CP. During the update of the Association, the CP can decide to remove certain routes to be used by the UP (e.g., in a vendor-specific IE). As referenced by 301, the CP 2001 wants to delete one or more specified routes belonging to a given pool. Next, as shown in the block 302, an Association Update Request is sent by the CP 2001 to the UP 2002, which Association Update Request includes the following: node ID; and Route Aggregation IE. The Route Aggregation IE in turn contains an Action IE (in this example, DELETE) and APN/DNN Route Aggregation IE. The APN/DNN Route Aggregation IE contains the field “IP Pool Route Aggregation” (the routes to be deleted by the UP 2002). Next, as shown in the block 303, UP 2002 sends a Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) Delete message to the next hop router, which BGP Delete message is BGP Update message with Withdrawn Routes field containing the route received in IP Pool Route Aggregation field. Subsequently, as shown in the block 304, the UP 2002 sends an Association Update Response to the CP 2001. As shown in FIG. 3, the CP 2001 is sending the Route Aggregation IE to DELETE a route, which is an operation unsolicited by the UP 2002.

[0020] In this section, previously mentioned Route Aggregation IE will be discussed in greater detail. As mentioned in connection with FIGS. 2 and 3, the UP 2002 receives from the CP 2001 indication of the relevant routes in a Route Aggregation IEs, e.g., vendor-specific IEs. In the Route Aggregation IE, the specific Action shall be encoded as an integer, i.e., allowed values are: ADD=1; DELETE=2; and GET=3. Number of APN/DNN Route Aggregation Information shall be encoded as an integer, i.e., allowed values are 0-65535. This shall be equal to the number of APN/DNN Route Aggregation Information IE in the message. It should be noted that the value 0 is used when there is no APN/DNN Route Aggregation Information IE in the message for the Action ADD or DELETE.

[0021] APN/DNN Route Aggregation IE shall be specified by including: Network Instance IE; Number of IP Pool Route Aggregation; and IP Pool Route Aggregation IE. Network Instance IE field shall be encoded as 3GPP-defined Network Instance IE (type 22), and it shall contain Network Identifier (NI) and Operator Identifier (OI) field (i.e., APN/DNN Name) and will be provided as a string. Number of IP Pool Route Aggregation shall be encoded as an integer, i.e., allowed values are 1-65535. This shall be the number of IP Pool Route Aggregation IE in the message, which IP Pool Route Aggregation IE can be a vendor-specific IE. IP Pool Route Aggregation IE shall be specified by: IP Pool Route Aggregation shall be encoded as an OctetString. As an example, IP Pool Route Aggregation can be encoded 10.10.1.1/24

[0022] According to an example embodiment of the present disclosure, during the UP path failure and recovery, when the standby UP takes over after the UP path failure and recovery, the standby UP shall send an Association Update Request to obtain the route(s). FIG. 4 shows an example signal flow diagram for this scenario. As referenced by 401, the standby UP 2002a (that has taken over after the UP path failure and recovery) wants to obtain the route. As shown in the block 402, an Association Update Request is sent by the UP 2002a to the CP 2001, which Association Update Request includes the following: node ID; and Route Aggregation IE containing the Action IE (in this example, GET). In response, as shown in the block 403, the CP 2001 sends the Association Update Response with Route Aggregation IE containing the Action IE (ADD) and APN/DNN Route Aggregation IE. The APN/DNN Route Aggregation IE contains the field “IP Pool Route Aggregation” (the routes to be used by the UP 2002a). If there are no routes, then the CP 2001 shall send the Association Update Response with no Route Aggregation IE. The existing session shall not be impacted due to failure of Association Update Request. Upon receiving the routes, the UP 2002a sends a Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) Update message to the next hop router (as shown in the block 404), which BGP Update message contains the route received in IP Pool Route Aggregation field.

[0023] According to an example embodiment of the present disclosure, in a scenario involving a reset of the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) connection between a router and the UP, in order to handle this reset, the UP shall fetch the routes from the respective CP and install the routes to the next hop router. This example scenario is illustrated in FIG. 5, which shows two CPs (CP-1 2001a, and CP-2 2001b), to which the UP 2002 is connected, and Router 2003 is connected to the UP 2002. As shown at 501, a BGP TCP connection with Router 2003 restarts, and the UP 2002 or the Router 2003 initiates the BGP Open message (as shown at 502). Next, as shown at the blocks 503a and 503b, the UP 2002 sends the Packet Forwarding Control Protocol (PFCP) Association Update Request containing Node ID and Route Aggregation IE (which in turn contains IP Pool Action=GET) to CP-2 2001b (as shown in block 503a) and CP-1 2001a (as shown in block 503b) with which the UP 2002 has the Setup. In response, the CP-2 2001b and CP-1 2001a send (in blocks 504a and 504b, respectively) the respective PFCP Association Update Response containing the Route Aggregation IE (which in turn contains Action IE (ADD) and APN/DNN Route Aggregation IE) to the to the UP 2002 if there are routes association for the given UP 2002. The Response shall not contain any Route Aggregation IE in the case there are no routes to be advertised for the UP 2002. Next, as shown at 505, the UP 2002 sends the BGP Update message to the Router 2003 for the route updates.

[0024] In summary, in accordance with an example embodiment of the present disclosure, in the case when CP is allocating the IP Pools and traffic routing is done at the UP, thereby presenting a challenge in the downlink traffic routing, the example embodiment solves the issue of obtaining the IP Pool blocks and providing it to the next hop router for the correct packet routing. In accordance with an example embodiment of the present disclosure, in the case of the UP path failure and recovery of the UP, where the routes are not in the persistent storage at the UP, the IP Pool allocated by the CP is to be retrieved again by the standby UP and propagated to the next hop router, so that the downlink packets can be routed to the correct UP.

[0025] An example method of route aggregation handling for 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Control Plane and User Plane Separation (CUPS) architecture comprises: allocating, by a Control Plane (CP) node, an Internet Protocol (IP) Address from an IP pool to a selected User Equipment (UE) for a Packet Data Unit (PDU) session; performing, by a User Plane (UP) node, data traffic routing between an internet service provider (ISP) and the UE; and sending, by the CP node to the UP node during one of a start or update of an association between the CP node and the UP node, one of: i) transmission routes to be used for the data traffic routing between the ISP and the UE; or ii) transmission routes to be deleted for the data traffic routing between the ISP and the UE. The transmission routes to be used (or alternatively, deleted) are provided by the CP node in a route aggregation information element within one of an association setup request or an association update request sent to the UP node.

[0026] An example system for route aggregation handling for 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Control Plane and User Plane Separation (CUPS) architecture comprises: a Control Plane (CP) node configured to allocate an Internet Protocol (IP) Address from an IP pool to a selected User Equipment (UE) for a Packet Data Unit (PDU) session; and a User Plane (UP) node configured to perform data traffic routing between an internet service provider (ISP) and the UE; and wherein the CP node is configured to send to the UP node, during one of a start or update of an association between the CP node and the UP node, one of: i) transmission routes to be used for the data traffic routing between the ISP and the UE; or ii) transmission routes to be deleted for the data traffic routing between the ISP and the UE. The transmission routes to be used (or alternatively, deleted) are provided by the CP node in a route aggregation information element within one of an association setup request or an association update request sent to the UP node.

ACRONYMS

[0027] 5G 5.sup.th Generation

[0028] 5GC 5G Core Network

[0029] 5GS 5G System

[0030] APN ACCESS POINT NAME

[0031] BGP Border Gateway Protocol

[0032] CP Control Plane

[0033] DHCP Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol

[0034] DL Downlink

[0035] DNN DATA NETWORK NAME

[0036] IE Information Element

[0037] NI Network Identifier

[0038] OI Operator Identifier

[0039] PDU Packet Data Unit

[0040] PGW-C Packet Gate Way—Control

[0041] PGW-U Packet Gate Way—User

[0042] SMF Session Management Function

[0043] TCP Transmission Control Protocol

[0044] UL Uplink

[0045] UP User Plane

[0046] UPF User Plane Function