EP-4740430-A1 - METHOD AND SYSTEM OF IMPLEMENTING A PROXY FOR COMMUNICATION BETWEEN DIFFERENT COMPONENTS IN A 5G CORE NODE

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a system (200) and a method (500) for implementing a proxy (225) between the 5G core nodes The system (200) is configured to introduce the proxy (225) for masking the internal architecture of the User Plane Function (UPF) from other peer nodes. Thereby, the system (200) minimizes vulnerability of the UPF and handles the session management in an efficient manner. The method (500) includes various steps for implementing a proxy (225) between the 5G core nodes executed by the system (200).

Inventors

• BHATNAGAR, AAYUSH
• JHA, ADITYAKAR
• SHAHID, MOHAMMAD
• KUMAR, RAVI
• Sengupta, Swarup
• SHARMA, VISHAL
• VASHISHTH, Yog

Assignees

• Jio Platforms Limited

Dates

Publication Date

20260513

Application Date

20240627

Claims (20)

1. 1. A method (500) of implementing a proxy for communication between different components in a 5G core node, the method comprises the steps of: masking (505), by one or more processors (205), a plurality of Session Management Functions (SMFs) (115) from a plurality of User Plane Function (UPF) (120) data plane instances by including a proxy component (300) between the plurality of SMFs and the plurality of UPF (120) data plane instances, wherein the proxy component (300) includes an active proxy instance (305) and a plurality of standby proxy instances (310); syncing (510), by the one or more processors (205), the active proxy instance (305) with the plurality of standby proxy instances (310); transmitting (515), by the one or more processors (205), at least one session initiated by at least one SMF (115) to the active proxy instance (305); and forwarding (520), by the one or more processors (205), the at least one session from the at least one active proxy instance (305) to the at least one UPF (120) data plane instance to process the at least one session.
2. 2. The method (500) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of masking, the plurality of SMFs (115) from the plurality of UPF (120) data plane instances by including the proxy component (300) between the plurality of SMFs (115) and the plurality of UPF (120) data plane instances, includes the steps of: terminating (605), by the one or more processors (205), a first interface (215a) originating from the plurality of SMFs (115) at the proxy component (300); and terminating (610), by the one or more processors (205), a second interface (215b) originating from the proxy component (300) at the plurality of UPF (120) data plane instances.
3. 3. The method (500) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the step of, syncing, the active proxy instance (305) with the plurality of standby proxy instances (310), includes the step of: updating, by the one or more processors (205), the plurality of standby proxy instances (310) with context of the at least one session initiated by the at least one SMF (115) with the active proxy instance (305); and updating, by the one or more processors (205), the plurality of standby UPF (120) data plane instances with context of the at least one session initiated by the at least one SMF (115) with the active proxy instance (305), to process the at least one session.
4. 4. The method (500) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of SMFs (115) are masked by the plurality of UPF (120) data plane instances and allows horizontal scale up and scale down and transparent failovers of UPF (120) data plane instances.
5. 5. The method (500) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the horizontal scale up includes adding at least one new UPF data plane instance to the existing plurality of UPF (120) data plane instances.
6. 6. The method (500) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the horizontal scale down includes removing at least one UPF data plane instance from the existing plurality of UPF (120) data plane instances.
7. 7. The method (500) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one or more processors (205), assigns an active state to the proxy instance registered first with a cluster manager (220) and assigns a standby state to the remaining plurality of proxy instances registered with the cluster manager (220).
8. 8. The method (500) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting, at least one session initiated by at least one SMF (115) includes the steps of: checking, by the one or more processors (205), information pertaining to whitelisted SMFs from the plurality of SMFs (115); and transmitting, by the one or more processors (205), the at least one session initiated by the at least one whitelisted SMF to the active proxy instance (305).
9. 9. The method (500) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises the step of: replacing in real time, by the one or more processors (205), the active proxy instance (305) with at least one standby proxy instance (310) upon detecting failure of the active proxy instance (310) to complete processing the at least one session.
10. 10. The method (500) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the method further comprises the step of: providing, by the one or more processors (205), one or more control plane rules transmitted by the at least one SMF to the active proxy instance, to the at least one UPF data plane instance.
11. 11. The method (500) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the active proxy instance is replaced with at least one standby proxy instance upon detecting failure of the active proxy instance to complete processing the at least one session, based on synced active proxy instance with the at least one standby proxy instance.
12. 12. The method (500) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of, forwarding, the at least one session from the at least one active proxy instance to the at least one UPF data plane instance to process the at least one session, further includes the step of: forwarding, by the one or more processors (205), the at least one session to the at least one standby UPF data plane instance.
13. 13. The method (500) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the method further comprises at least one of the steps of: pre-allocating, by the one or more processors (205), the at least one session to a unique Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6) address, as per configured IP pools; monitoring, by the one or more processors (205), rate-limit of incoming traffic to the at least one active proxy instance (305) from the at least one whitelisted SMF (115); indicating, by the one or more processors (205), current load/overload level to the whitelisted SMFs (115) via one of a Load Control Information (LCI) and an Overload Control Information (OCI) Information Element (IE); creating or deleting, by the one or more processors (205), associations with one of, active UPF data plane instances (250) and standby data plane instances (255); load balancing, by the one or more processors (205), incoming session establishment requests to the UPF (120) data plane instances; modifying, by the one or more processors (205), local session context upon receiving session modification/session deletion requests from the whitelisted SMFs (115); maintaining, by the one or more processors (205), session context version number pertaining to the UPF (120) data plane instances; and deleting, by the one or more processors (205), local session context and retrieve the session context stored at the whitelisted SMFs (115) deleted via Session Reporting Rules (SRR), in case of version mismatch reported by the UPF (120) data plane instances via a proprietary error cause.
14. 14. The method (500) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the proxy component (300) is at least one of, a Packet Forwarding Control Protocol (PFCP).
15. 15. A system (200) of implementing a proxy for communication between different components in a 5G core node, the system (200) comprising of: a masking module (405) configured to mask, a plurality of Session Management Functions (SMFs) (115) from a plurality of User Plane Function (UPF) (120) data plane instances by including a proxy component (300) between the plurality of SMFs (115) and the plurality of UPF (120) data plane instances, wherein the proxy component (300) including an active proxy instance (305) and a plurality of standby proxy instances (310); a synchronization module (420) configured to sync, the active proxy instance (305) with the plurality of standby proxy instances (310); a transmission module (410) configured to transmit, at least one session initiated by at least one SMF (115) to the active proxy instance (305); and a forwarding module (415) configured to forward, the at least one session from the at least one active proxy instance (305) to the at least one UPF (120) data plane instance to process the at least one session.
16. 16. The system (200) as claimed in claim 15, wherein for masking, the plurality of SMFs (115) from the plurality of UPF (120) data plane instances by including the proxy component (300) between the plurality of SMFs (115) and the plurality of UPF (120) data plane instances, the masking module (405) is configured to: terminate, a first interface (215a) originating from the plurality of SMFs (115) at the proxy component (300); and terminate, a second interface (215b) originating from the proxy component (300) at the plurality of UPF (120) data plane instances.
17. 17. The system (200) as claimed in claim 15, wherein for syncing, the active proxy instance with the plurality of standby proxy instances, the synchronization module (420) is configured to: update, the plurality of standby proxy instances (310) with context of the at least one session initiated by the at least one SMF (115) with the active proxy instance (305); and update, the plurality of standby UPF (120) data plane instances with context of the at least one session initiated by the at least one SMF (115) with the active proxy instance (305), to process the at least one session.
18. 18. The system (200) as claimed in claim 15, wherein the plurality of SMFs (115) are masked by the plurality of UPF (120) data plane instances and allows horizontal scale up and scale down and transparent failovers of UPF (120) data plane instances.
19. 19. The system (200) as claimed in claim 18, wherein the horizontal scale up includes adding at least one new UPF data plane instance to the existing plurality of UPF (120) data plane instances.
20. 20. The system (200) as claimed in claim 18, wherein the horizontal scale down includes removing at least one UPF data plane instance from the existing plurality of UPF (120) data plane instances.

Description

METHOD AND SYSTEM OF IMPLEMENTING A PROXY FOR COMMUNICATION BETWEEN DIFFERENT COMPONENTS IN A 5G CORE NODE FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present disclosure relates to network communication, and more particularly relates to a system and a method for implementing a proxy for communication between different components in a core node of a network. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] With increased consumer numbers, advancements in telecommunication networking are coming rapidly. To cater requirements, the network policies are ever changing. The 5G core node integration to provide better service is a part of this change. The 5G communication network architecture plays a crucial role which is a cluster architecture including a user plane and a control plane. The network architecture is a specific arrangement of various network components, in control plane and user plane, in order to regulate how data-packets from plurality of user devices will flow to the data network (DN) through an access network such as radio access network or a local access network etc. [0003] In modern telecommunication networks, one of the crucial components in user plane is a User Plane Function (UPF) that plays a crucial role in packet processing and traffic management. The UPF is a key component of the Core Network defined by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). The 3GPP (Third Generation Partnership Project) is an international standards organization responsible for developing specifications for mobile communication systems. These specifications define the architecture, protocols, and functionalities of the mobile network infrastructure. [0004] The UPF is responsible for processing user traffic in the Core Network based on signaling received over an N4 interface. As per 3GPP standard, the N4 interface facilitates communication between the UPF and the Session Management Function (SMF). The UPF performs various functions, including traffic classification, forwarding, quality of service enforcement, and usage reporting. Apart from the gateway user-plane functionality, an operator deploys an array of services in the user plane. [0005] For optimal performance and reliable operation, various aspects, such as scalability, fault tolerance, FCAPS (Fault, Configuration, Accounting, Performance, and Security) functionality, as well as load balancing of PFCP (Packet Forwarding Control Protocol) session creation requests, are crucial. [0006] Scale-in/Scale-out of the UPF DP Cluster: Conventionally, scaling the UPF Data Plane (DP) cluster to accommodate changing traffic demands has been a complex and resource-intensive process. The PFCP proxy enables seamless scale-in and scale- out of the UPF DP cluster based on real-time traffic requirements. By dynamically allocating and de-allocating resources, the system ensures optimal resource utilization and improved network performance. [0007] Fault Tolerance of UPF DP Nodes: In the event of node failures within the UPF DP cluster, maintaining uninterrupted service and preventing data loss are paramount. The PFCP Proxy serves as a resilient intermediary that actively monitors the health and availability of UPF DP nodes. By leveraging fault tolerance mechanisms, such as redundancy and failover techniques, the system provides seamless failover and recovery capabilities, ensuring minimal disruption to network operations. [0008] User Equipment (UE) Internet Protocol (IP) Allocation and Tunnel ID Allocation: Efficient and dynamic allocation of IP addresses and tunnel identifiers is crucial for managing network resources effectively. The PFCP Proxy acts as a central authority that facilitates the allocation of unique IP addresses to User Equipment (UE) and assigns tunnel IDs to establish secure communication channels between the UE and the network infrastructure. This streamlined process enhances scalability and reduces overhead while providing secure and reliable connectivity to end-users. [0009] FCAPS Functionality: The PFCP Proxy incorporates advanced FCAPS functionality, encompassing Fault Management, Configuration Management, Accounting Management, Performance Management, and Security Management. These comprehensive capabilities enable efficient monitoring, configuration, accounting, performance analysis, and security enforcement within the UPF DP cluster. By centralizing these management functions, the system simplifies network administration and enhances the overall performance and security of the network infrastructure. [0010] Eoad Balancing of PFCP Session Creation Requests: To distribute PFCP session creation requests evenly across the UPF DP cluster, load balancing is imperative. The PFCP Proxy dynamically distributes these requests based on factors such as resource availability and load conditions. By optimizing the load distribution, the system ensures efficient resource utilization, minimizes response times, and enhances the overall user experience. The cluster architecture of the UP