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KR-20260067309-A - APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SRv6 TRANSPORT NETWORK INTEGRATION IN WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

KR20260067309AKR 20260067309 AKR20260067309 AKR 20260067309AKR-20260067309-A

Abstract

The present disclosure generally relates to a wireless communication system, and more specifically, to an apparatus and method for integrating a core network and a segment routing IPv6-based transmission network in a wireless communication system. An operation method of an integrated transmission network controller according to one embodiment of the present disclosure receives segment routing node information and link information from a transmission network controller, configures a topology of the transmission network based on the received segment routing node information and link information, calculates an optimal path according to service requirements based on the configured topology to generate a list of segment identifiers, and transmits the generated list of segment identifiers to a user plane function and a wireless access network through a session management function. Through this, effective integration of the core network and the SRv6-based transmission network is possible, and efficient utilization of network resources and flexible service provision can be realized.

Inventors

  • 김경수
  • 강유화
  • 고남석
  • 최승한

Assignees

  • 한국전자통신연구원

Dates

Publication Date
20260512
Application Date
20250924
Priority Date
20241105

Claims (20)

  1. A method of operation of a Unified Transport Network Controller (UTNC) for integrating a core network and a Segment Routing IPv6 (SRv6) based transport network in a wireless communication system, The process of receiving Segment Routing (SR) node information and link information from the Transport Network Controller (TNC), and The process of configuring the topology of the transmission network based on the received SR node information and link information, and A process of generating a list of Segment Identifiers (SIDs) by calculating an optimal path according to service requirements based on the above-configured topology, and A method comprising the process of transmitting the above-mentioned generated SID list to a User Plane Function (UPF) and a Radio Access Network (RAN) through a Session Management Function (SMF).
  2. In claim 1, If the above TNC is a trusted TNC, the process of the above UTNC directly interacting with the above TNC to receive the above SR node information and link information, and A method further comprising the process of the UTNC receiving the SR node information and link information through a Network Exposure Function (NEF) when the above TNC is an Untrusted TNC that does not have reliability.
  3. A method according to claim 2, further comprising the process of extending the Traffic Influence Application Programming Interface (API) of the NEF to transmit the SR node information and link information when interacting with the untrusted TNC.
  4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the process of transmitting the SID list comprises the process of the SMF transmitting the downlink SID list to the UPF through an N4 interface, the process of the SMF transmitting the uplink SID list to the Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) through an N11 interface, and the process of the AMF transmitting the uplink SID list to the RAN through an N2 interface.
  5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the process of calculating the optimal path comprises the process of applying a shortest path algorithm between source-destination node pairs in the configured topology and the process of determining the optimal path by considering QoS (Quality of Service) parameters according to the service requirements.
  6. In a method of operation of a transmission network interconnection application function (UTN Application Function, UTN AF) for integrating a core network and an SRv6-based transmission network in a wireless communication system, The process of receiving Segment Routing (SR) node information and link information from the Transport Network Controller (TNC), and The process of configuring the topology of the transmission network based on the received SR node information and link information, and A process of generating a list of Segment Identifiers (SIDs) by calculating an optimal path according to service requirements based on the above-configured topology, and The process of transmitting the above-mentioned generated SID list as policy information to the Policy Control Function (PCF), and A method comprising the process of transmitting policy rules generated by the above PCF based on the above policy information to a User Plane Function (UPF) and a Radio Access Network (RAN) through a Session Management Function (SMF).
  7. In claim 6, when the TNC is a trusted TNC, the process of the UTN AF directly interacting with the TNC to receive the SR node information and link information, and A method further comprising the process of the UTN AF receiving the SR node information and link information through a Network Exposure Function (NEF) when the above TNC is an untrusted TNC.
  8. A method according to claim 7, further comprising the process of extending the traffic influence API of the NEF to transmit the SR node information and link information when interlocking with the untrusted TNC.
  9. In claim 6, A method comprising the process of transmitting the above policy information, the process of the above UTN AF transmitting routing requirements including the above SID list to the above PCF through a Policy Authorization API, and the process of the above PCF converting the above routing requirements into policy rules and transmitting them to the above SMF.
  10. A method according to claim 6, wherein the process of transmitting the policy rule comprises the process of the SMF transmitting a list of downlink SIDs to the UPF through an N4 interface, the process of the SMF transmitting a list of uplink SIDs to an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) through an N11 interface, and the process of the AMF transmitting the list of uplink SIDs to the RAN through an N2 interface.
  11. In a Unified Transport Network Controller (UTNC) for integrating a core network and a Segment Routing IPv6 (SRv6) based transport network in a wireless communication system, It includes a transceiver; and a processor operably connected to the transceiver, wherein the processor, A device configured to receive Segment Routing (SR) node information and link information from a Transport Network Controller (TNC), configure a topology of a transport network based on the received SR node information and link information, calculate an optimal path according to service requirements based on the configured topology to generate a list of Segment Identifiers (SIDs), and transmit the generated list of SIDs to a User Plane Function (UPF) and a Radio Access Network (RAN) through a Session Management Function (SMF).
  12. A device according to claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to receive SR node information and link information by directly interacting with the TNC when the TNC is a trusted TNC, and to receive SR node information and link information through a Network Exposure Function (NEF) when the TNC is an untrusted TNC.
  13. In claim 12, the processor is configured to receive SR node information and link information by extending the Traffic Influence Application Programming Interface (API) of the NEF when interacting with the untrusted TNC.
  14. A device according to claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to transmit the SID list such that the SMF transmits the downlink SID list to the UPF via an N4 interface, the SMF transmits the uplink SID list to the Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) via an N11 interface, and the AMF transmits the uplink SID list to the RAN via an N2 interface.
  15. A device according to claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to determine the optimal path by applying a shortest path algorithm between source-destination node pairs in the configured topology and considering Quality of Service (QoS) parameters according to the service requirements.
  16. In a transmission network interconnection application function (UTN Application Function, UTN AF) for integrating a core network and a Segment Routing IPv6 (SRv6)-based transmission network in a wireless communication system, It includes a transceiver; and a processor operably connected to the transceiver, and The above processor is a device configured to receive Segment Routing (SR) node information and link information from a Transport Network Controller (TNC), configure a topology of a transport network based on the received SR node information and link information, calculate an optimal path according to service requirements based on the configured topology to generate a list of Segment Identifiers (SIDs), transmit the generated list of SIDs as policy information to a Policy Control Function (PCF), and transmit policy rules generated by the PCF based on the policy information to a User Plane Function (UPF) and a Radio Access Network (RAN) through a Session Management Function (SMF).
  17. A device according to claim 16, wherein the processor is configured to receive SR node information and link information by directly interacting with the TNC when the TNC is a trusted TNC, and to receive SR node information and link information through a Network Exposure Function (NEF) when the TNC is an untrusted TNC.
  18. In claim 17, the processor is configured to receive SR node information and link information by extending the Traffic Influence Application Programming Interface (API) of the NEF when interacting with the untrusted TNC.
  19. A device according to claim 16, wherein the processor transmits a routing requirement including the SID list to the PCF via a Policy Authorization API, and the PCF converts the routing requirement into a policy rule and transmits it to the SMF.
  20. A device according to claim 16, wherein the processor is configured to transmit the policy rule such that the SMF transmits a list of downlink SIDs to the UPF via an N4 interface, the SMF transmits a list of uplink SIDs to an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) via an N11 interface, and the AMF transmits the list of uplink SIDs to the RAN via an N2 interface.

Description

Apparatus and Method for SRv6 Transport Network Integration in Wireless Communication System The present disclosure generally relates to wireless communication systems, and more specifically to an apparatus and method for integrating a core network and an SRv6 (Segment Routing IPv6) based transmission network in a wireless communication system. One of the key features to note in the development of telecommunications networks is that core networks and transmission networks have long been managed separately. This separate management approach enhanced expertise in each area and enabled independent development. While this fostered technological innovation and optimization within each domain, it simultaneously imposed certain limitations on the integrated operation and optimization of the entire network. Traditionally, core networks have been directly managed by mobile operators and have been responsible for subscriber management, session control, and mobility management. Core networks have evolved through generations, starting from the circuit-switched system of 2G and progressing through 3G and 4G to packet-based all-IP networks. On the other hand, transmission networks are typically managed by a separate team or sometimes by other operators, and have primarily focused on the efficient transmission of data packets. Recent 5G networks have introduced groundbreaking structural changes compared to previous generations of mobile networks. 5G networks are broadly composed of a Radio Access Network (RAN) and a core network. Key components of the 5G core network include the Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), Session Management Function (SMF), and User Plane Function (UPF). In current 5G networks, the GPRS Tunneling Protocol (GTP) is used as the core protocol for transmitting user data within the core network. In terms of transmission network technology, in addition to the widely used Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) technology, Segment Routing (SR) technology has recently been gaining attention. In particular, SRv6, an IPv6-based implementation of SR, has the potential to further enhance scalability and flexibility in large-scale networks. However, the current 5G network structure presents several technical limitations because the core network and the transmission network are managed separately. The separation between the core and the transmission network restricts the consistent application of Quality of Service (QoS) policies, making end-to-end QoS management difficult. Furthermore, the independent management of resources in each area limits efficient resource allocation and utilization at the overall network level. In terms of network slicing, it is difficult to consistently extend slices generated in the core network to the transmission network, which constrains the implementation of true end-to-end slicing. FIG. 1 illustrates a service-based architecture of a wireless communication system according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 shows the structure of an SRv6-based transmission network and a controller according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 shows a structure for linking a UTNC-based core network and a trusted SRv6 transmission network according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 shows a structure for interlocking a UTNC-based core network and an unreliable SRv6 transmission network according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 5 illustrates the internal operation procedure of an integrated network control function (UTNC) according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 6 illustrates a procedure for interlocking a UTNC-based core network and a trusted SRv6 transmission network according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 7 illustrates a procedure for interlocking a UTNC-based core network and an untrusted SRv6 transmission network according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 8a shows a TrafficInfluSub data type definition including SR information according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 8b shows a TrafficInfluSubPatch data type definition including SR information according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 9 illustrates the transmission of SID information through an N4 interface between an SMF and a UPF according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 10a illustrates an Nsmf_PDUSession_CreateSMContext procedure including SR information according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 10b illustrates an Nsmf_PDUSession_SMContextStatusNotify procedure including SR information according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 11 illustrates the transmission of SID information from an AMF to a RAN via an N2 interface according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 12 shows a structure for linking a core network and a trusted SRv6 transmission network through a UTN AF according to one embodiment of t