Service-driven User Plane Architecture for Future Cellular Networks and Multi-access Edge Computing

The proliferation of 5G applications that are delay sensitive has increased demand for computing and storage capability at the network edge. User mobility results in frequent reallocation of application state between edge servers and the UP paths. Currently, there is a complicated interaction between the Control Plane (CP) and User Plane (UP) that reduces the effective utilisation of network and computation resources, and degrades the Quality of Service (QoS). A service-driven UP selection mechanism plays a key role in fulfilling the heteroge-neous service requirements, such as low latency and high speed, and the trade-off between cost and performance. This paper focuses on optimizing Xn-based post-handover UP management in 5G/6G networks by enabling the Uplink Classifier (ULCL) function and Application Function (AF) with refined QoS flow in the integration of 5G/6G with a multi-access edge computing environment. A service-driven UP path reallocation mechanism and architecture are proposed for dynamic UP path management to balance resource cost and performance.

I. Introduction

To meet the needs of service delivery in diverse mobile cellular network scenarios, enablers have been a focus of current research, including Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC), Software Defined Networking (SDN), and Network Function Virtualization (NFV). The goal is to implement a flexible, reliable, programmable, and low-latency network. The 5G Core (5GC) networks have been revolutionised by adopting a Service-Based Architecture (SBA), which enables the core network functions in the Control Plane (CP) to communicate with each other over the HTTP protocol via a Service-Based Interface (SBI) in a loosely-coupled approach. Compared with the previous core network design, 5GC radically decouples the CP and the User Plane (UP), enabling independent and flexible deployment of CP and UP. However, the proliferation of access scenarios and the introduction of 5G base stations with high power servicing small cells means frequent handover occurs. The increase in the number of UP nodes and the increase in UP path reallocation (UP path reallocation is about user plane function reallocation with MEC) makes the message exchange between CP and UP more complicated, resulting in high cost and lower Quality of Service (QoS). UP optimization is bound to become a significant factor for cost -savings and improving user experience in future mobile networks.