The disclosed embodiments relate generally to wireless communication in 5G networks, and, more particularly, to enhanced PDU SESSION and PDN CONNECTION establishment procedure.
The wireless communications network has grown exponentially over the years. A Long-Term Evolution (LTE) system offers high peak data rates, low latency, improved system capacity, and low operating cost resulting from simplified network architecture. LTE systems, also known as the 4G system, also provide seamless integration to older wireless network, such as GSM, CDMA and Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS). In LTE systems, an evolved universal terrestrial radio access network (E-UTRAN) includes a plurality of evolved Node-Bs (eNodeBs or eNBs) communicating with a plurality of mobile stations, referred to as user equipments (UEs). The 3rd generation partner project (3GPP) network normally includes a hybrid of 2G/3G/4G systems. The Next Generation Mobile Network (NGMN) board has decided to focus the future NGMN activities on defining the end-to-end requirements for 5G new radio (NR) systems (5GS).
In 4G evolved packet system (EPS), a Packet Data Network (PDN) connectivity procedure is an important process when LTE communication system accesses to the packet data network. The purpose of PDN connectivity procedure is to setup a default EPS bearer between a UE and the packet data network. In 5G, a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session establishment is a parallel procedure of the PDN connectivity procedure in 4G. A PDU session defines the association between the UE and the data network that provides a PDU connectivity service. Each PDU session is identified by a PDU session ID (PSI), and may include multiple QoS flows and QoS rules.
Under intersystem change, a PDU session in 5G can be transferred to a PDN connection in 4G, and vice versa. In one example, a PDU session of “Ethernet” or “Unstructured” PDU session type can be transferred to a PDN connection of “non-IP” PDN type after interworking from N1 mode to S1 mode. A UE is aware of the MTU of Ethernet link and Unstructured link, but not aware of the MTU of non-IP link. Similarly, a PDN connection of “non-IP” PDN type can be transferred to a PDU session of “Unstructured” PDU session type after interworking from S1 mode to N1 mode. The UE is aware of the MTU of non-IP link but not aware of the MTU of Unstructured link. Further, the upper layer of the UE is does not know the PDU/PDN type change.
A solution is sought.
An enhanced session establishment procedure is proposed for Maximum Transmission Unit (MTU) parameter handling under intersystem change between 5GS and EPS. A PDU session of “Ethernet” or “Unstructured” PDU session type can be transferred to a PDN connection of “non-IP” PDN type, thus the UE can request the non-IP link MTU parameter in the PDU session establishment procedure. The non-IP link MTU size corresponds to the maximum length of user data that can be sent either in the user data container in the ESM DATA TRANSPORT message or via S1-U interface. A PDN connection of “non-IP” PDN type can be transferred to a PDU session of “Unstructured” PDU session type, thus the UE can request the Unstructured link MTU parameter in the UE-requested PDN connectivity procedure. The Unstructured link MTU size correspond to the maximum length of user data packet that can be sent either via the control plane or via N3 interface for a PDU session of the Unstructured PDU session type.
In one embodiment, a UE transmits a PDU session establishment request to establish a PDU session in N1 mode in a mobile communication network. The PDU session establishment request comprises a request for a maximum transmission unit (MTU) parameter for an Ethernet or an Unstructured link in N1 mode and an MTU parameter for a non-IP link in S1 mode. The UE receives the MTU parameter for the Ethernet or Unstructured link and the MTU parameter for the non-IP link from the network. The UE performs an intersystem change from N1 mode to S1 mode. The PDU session is transferred to a corresponding PDN connection in S1 mode. The UE sends non-IP packets over the PDN connection based on the MTU parameter for the non-IP link in S1 mode of the PDN connection.
In another embodiment, a UE transmits a PDN connection establishment request to establish a PDN connection in S1 mode in a mobile communication network. The PDN connection establishment request comprises a request for a maximum transmission unit (MTU) parameter for a non-IP link in S1 mode and an MTU parameter for an unstructured link in N1 mode. The UE receives the MTU parameter for the non-IP link and the MTU parameter for the Unstructured link and from the network. The UE performs an intersystem change from S1 mode to N1 mode. The PDN connection is transferred to a corresponding PDU session in N1 mode. The UE sends unstructured packets over the PDU session based on the MTU parameter for the Unstructured link of the PDU session in N1 mode.
Other embodiments and advantages are described in the detailed description below. This summary does not purport to define the invention. The invention is defined by the claims.
The accompanying drawings, where like numerals indicate like components, illustrate embodiments of the invention.
Reference will now be made in detail to some embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
In 4G evolved packet system (EPS), a Packet Data Network (PDN) connectivity procedure is an important process when LTE communication system accesses to the packet data network. The purpose of PDN connectivity procedure is to setup a default EPS bearer between a UE and the packet data network. In 5G, a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session establishment is a parallel procedure of the PDN connectivity procedure in 4G. A PDU session defines the association between the UE and the data network that provides a PDU connectivity service. Each PDU session is identified by a PDU session ID (PSI), and may include multiple QoS flows and QoS rules.
Under intersystem change, a PDU session in 5G can be transferred to a PDN connection to 4G, and vice versa (e.g., PDU session/PDN connection 130). In one example, a PDU session of “Ethernet” or “Unstructured” PDU session type can be transferred to a PDN connection of “non-IP” PDN type after interworking. A UE is aware of the MTU of Ethernet link and Unstructured link, but not aware of the MTU of non-IP link. Similarly, a PDN connection of “non-IP” PDN type can be transferred to a PDU session of “Unstructured” PDU session type after interworking from S1 mode to N1 mode. The UE is aware of the MTU of non-IP link but not aware of the MTU of Unstructured link. Without knowing the actual MTU size, if a data packet size exceeds the MTU, then the data packet will either be segmented or dropped. Further, the upper layer of the UE is not able to know the PDP type change of the type of packet data protocol upon intersystem change without indication from lower layer of the UE.
In accordance with one novel aspect, an enhanced session establishment procedure (140) is proposed for MTU parameter handling under intersystem change between 5GS and EPS. When establishing the PDN connection/PDU session 130, UE 101 should also request the MTU size value for the target PDN/PDU type after inter-system change. In 5GS, a PDU session of “Ethernet” or “Unstructured” PDU session type can be transferred to a PDN connection of “non-IP” PDN type, thus the UE can request the non-IP link MTU parameter in the PDU session establishment procedure. In EPS, a PDN connection of “non-IP” PDN type can be transferred to a PDU session of “Unstructured” PDU session type, thus the UE can request the Unstructured link MTU parameter in the PDN connectivity procedure.
Further, the upper layer of UE 101 can query for the current PDU/PDN type via an AT command. AT commands are used for controlling Mobile Termination (MT) functions and GSM/UMTS network services from a Terminal Equipment (TE) through Terminal Adaptor (TA). The AT commands can be a notification of an unsolicited result code, or a configuration command. Specifically, the AT command can be a notification of an unsolicited result code (URC) for indicating the change of PDU/PDN type. In
MT 250 has an antenna 256, which transmits and receives radio signals. An RF transceiver module 254, coupled with the antenna, receives RF signals from antenna 256, converts them to baseband signals and sends them to processor 251 via baseband module 255. RF transceiver 254 also converts received baseband signals from processor 251 via baseband module 255, converts them to RF signals, and sends out to antenna 256. Processor 251 processes the received baseband signals and invokes different functional modules to perform features in MT 250. Memory 252 stores program instructions and data 253 to control the operations of MT 250. MT 250 also comprises a set of protocol stacks 260 and control circuits including various system modules 270 to carry out functional tasks of MT 250. Protocol stacks 260 includes Non-Access-Stratum (NAS) layer, Radio Resource Control (RRC) layer, Packet Data Convergence Protocol/Radio Link Control (PDCP/RLC) layer, Media Access Control (MAC) layer, and Physical (PHY) layer. System modules 270 includes a configuration module, a control module, a PDU session handler, a QoS flow handler, and a QoS rule handler. Note that MT 250 may also be referred to as a modem. In the example of
In one novel aspect, UE 301 also requests the non-IP link MTU parameter for a corresponding PDN connection in the PDU session establishment procedure, e.g., carried by the same PDU session establishment request message in step 311. In step 312, in response, the 5GC sends a PDU session establishment accept message back to UE 301, with the requested MTU parameters for an Ethernet or Unstructured link in N1 mode and MTU parameters for a non-IP link in S1 mode. In step 313, a PDU session with Unstructured PDU session type is established. UE 301 knows the MTU size for the Unstructured link type of the PDU session and can send Unstructured packets under the MTU size accordingly. The Unstructured link MTU size correspond to the maximum length of user data packet that can be sent either via the control plane or via N3 interface for the PDU session of the Unstructured PDU session type.
In step 321, UE 301 performs an intersystem change from N1 mode in 5GS to S1 mode in EPS. As a result, the PDU session is transferred to a corresponding PDN connection with a non-IP PDN type (step 322). In step 331, modem 303 sends a URC +CGEV to AP 302 indicating the change of PDP type. In step 332, modem 303 receives an AT command +CGCONTRDP from AP 302 for querying the PDU/PDN type. In response, modem 303 sends an MT status back to AP 302 for providing the PDU/PDN type. When UE knows that PDN/PDU type has changed to non-IP link, UE can then consider the corresponding non-IP MTU. Since UE 301 already obtained the non-IP link MTU parameter for the PDN connection in step 312, UE 301 can send non-IP packets considering the non-IP link MTU parameter (341).
In one novel aspect, UE 401 also requests the Unstructured link MTU parameter for a corresponding PDU session in the PDN connectivity establishment procedure, e.g., carried by the same PDN connectivity request message in step 411. In step 412, in response, the EPC sends a PDU connectivity accept message back to UE 401, with the requested MTU parameters for a non-IP link in S1 mode and MTU parameters for an Unstructured link in N1 mode. In step 413, a PDN connection with non-IP PDN type is established. UE 401 knows the MTU size for the non-IP link type of the PDN connection and can send non-IP packets under the MTU size accordingly. The non-IP link MTU size corresponds to the maximum length of user data that can be sent either in the user data container in the ESM DATA TRANSPORT message or via S1-U interface.
In step 421, UE 401 performs an intersystem change from S1 mode in EPS to N1 mode in 5GS. As a result, the PDN connection is transferred to a corresponding PDU session with an Unstructured PDU session type (step 422). In step 431, modem 403 of UE 401 sends a URC +CGEV to AP 402 of UE 401 indicating the change of PDP type. In step 432, modem 403 receives an AT command +CGCONTRDP from AP 402 for querying the PDU/PDN type. In response, modem 403 sends an MT status back to AP 402 for providing the PDU/PDN type. When UE knows that PDN/PDU type has changed to Unstructured link, UE can then consider the corresponding Unstructured link MTU. Since UE 401 already obtained the Unstructured link MTU parameter for the PDU session in step 412, UE 401 can send Unstructured packets considering the Unstructured link MTU parameter (441).
In an alternative embodiment, after inter-system change, if the PDN/PDU type is changed, the UE should request for the corresponding MTU size via proper NAS procedures, e.g., 5GSM/ESM modification procedure with PCO/ePCO IE, or 5GSM/ESM status message. In another alternative embodiment, UE can re-use the original PDN/PDU type MTU after intersystem change. For example, from N1 to S1 mode, UE can use Ethernet MTU in N1 mode upon performing intersystem change to S1 mode; from S1 to N1 mode, UE can use non-IP MTU in S1 mode upon performing inter-system change to N1 mode.
For external applications, the session management functionality may be provided through an AT command API in accordance with 3GPP TS 27.007 “AT command set for User Equipment (UE)”. AT commands are used for controlling Mobile Termination (MT) functions and GSM/UMTS network services from a Terminal Equipment (TE) through Terminal Adaptor (TA). In one example, the AT command can be a notification of an unsolicited result code (URC) for indicating the change of PDU/PDN type. For example, a URC +CGEV can be used to indicate the change of PDU/PDN type. After intersystem change from 5GS to EPS or vice versa, the upper layer of the UE does not know the PDP context modification and the actual PDU/PDN type. The lower layer can use URC +CGEV with <change reason> set to “PDP address or PDP type changed” sent from the lower layer to the upper layer of the UE. Upon receiving the URC, the upper layer then uses an AT command +CGCONTRDP to query the PDU/PDN type. As depicted in table 500, the AT command +CGCONTRDP is amended to indicate the <PDP_type> that includes the packet data protocol type.
Although the present invention has been described in connection with certain specific embodiments for instructional purposes, the present invention is not limited thereto. Accordingly, various modifications, adaptations, and combinations of various features of the described embodiments can be practiced without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.
This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 from U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/232,286, entitled “Enhanced 3GPP Session Establishment Procedure,” filed on Aug. 12, 2021, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63232286 | Aug 2021 | US |