System and method for managing central unit-user plane locations
A first component may receive a message from a anchor selection component in a network. The message may include information that identifies a session anchor in the network and indicates a location of the session anchor. The first component may identify a managing component in the network based on the information and signal the managing component. The signaling may cause the managing component to be configured to forward data, from a mobile terminal attached to the network over a wireless link, to the session anchor.
1. A component comprising:
a processor configured to:
receive a message from an anchor selection component in a network, wherein the message includes information that identifies a session anchor in the network and indicates a first geographical location of the session anchor;
identify a managing component for user plane functions of a physical layer of the network based on the information and a second geographical location of a mobile terminal; and
signal the managing component, wherein the signaling causes the managing component to be configured to forward data, from the mobile terminal attached to the network over a wireless link, to the session anchor.
2. The component of claim 1 , wherein the component comprises a Central Unit-Control Plane (CU-CP), wherein the managing component comprises a Central Unit-User Plane (CU-UP), and wherein the session anchor comprises a User Plane Function (UPF).
3. The component of claim 1 , wherein the information includes one or more of:
an information element that includes an Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) address of the session anchor; or
an information element that indicates the first geographical location of the session anchor.
4. The component of claim 3 , wherein the IPv6 address includes:
a field identifying the session anchor as a type of network function; and
another field that includes an identifier (ID) for the first geographical location of the session anchor.
5. The component of claim 1 , wherein the message includes a request to modify session resources.
6. The component of claim 1 , wherein the information is provided to the anchor selection component in a prior message sent from a Session Management Function (SMF) to the anchor selection component.
7. The component of claim 1 , wherein when the processor identifies the managing component based on the information, the processor is configured to:
identify the first geographical location of the session anchor; and
identify a Central Unit-User Plane (CU-UP) as the managing component, wherein the CU-UP is located closest to at least one of:
the session anchor; or
a distributed unit (DU) through which the mobile terminal is attached to the network.
8. The component of claim 1 , wherein when the processor identifies the managing component based on the information, the processor is configured to:
identify, as the managing component, a default Central Unit-User Plane (CU-UP) associated with the session anchor.
9. A method comprising:
receiving, at a first component, a message from an anchor selection component in a network, wherein the message includes information that identifies a session anchor in the network and indicates a first geographical location of the session anchor;
identifying a managing component for user plane functions of a physical layer of the network based on the information and a second geographical location of a mobile terminal; and
signaling the managing component, wherein the signaling causes the managing component to be configured to forward data, from the mobile terminal attached to the network over a wireless link, to the session anchor.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first component comprises a Central Unit-Control Plane (CU-CP), wherein the managing component comprises a Central Unit-User Plane (CU-UP), and wherein the session anchor comprises a User Plane Function (UPF).
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the information includes one or more of:
an information element that includes an Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) address of the session anchor; or
an information element that indicates the first geographical location of the session anchor.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the IPv6 address includes:
a field identifying the session anchor as a type of network function; and
another field that includes an identifier (ID) for the first geographical location of the session anchor.
13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the message includes a request to modify session resources.
14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the information is provided to the anchor selection component in a prior message sent from a Session Management Function (SMF) to the anchor selection component.
15. The method of claim 9 , wherein identifying the managing component based on the information comprises:
identifying the first geographical location of the session anchor; and
identifying a Central Unit-User Plane (CU-UP) as the managing component, wherein the CU-UP is located closest to at least one of:
the session anchor; or
a distributed unit (DU) through which the mobile terminal is attached to the network.
16. The method of claim 9 , wherein identifying the managing component based on the information comprises:
identifying, as the managing component, a default Central Unit-User Plane (CU-UP) associated with the session anchor.
17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising processor-executable instructions, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to:
receive a message, at a first component, from an anchor selection component in a network, wherein the message includes information that identifies a session anchor in the network and indicates a first geographical location of the session anchor;
identify a managing component for user plane functions of a physical layer of the network based on the information and a second geographical location of a mobile terminal; and
signal the managing component, wherein the signaling causes the managing component to be configured to forward data, from the mobile terminal attached to the network over a wireless link, to the session anchor.
18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the first component comprises a Central Unit-Control Plane (CU-CP), wherein the managing component comprises a Central Unit-User Plane (CU-UP), and wherein the session anchor comprises a User Plane Function (UPF).
19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the information includes one or more of:
an information element that includes an Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) address of the session anchor; or
an information element that indicates the first geographical location of the session anchor.
20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19 , wherein the IPv6 address includes:
a field identifying the session anchor as a type of network function; and
another field that includes an identifier (ID) for the first geographical location of the session anchor.