IP Library Granted Patent US 12,341,648
Granted Patent B2
US 12,341,648 · App. 18/343,418 · Granted Jun 24, 2025

Master/backup negotiation method and device

Inventors: Li Deng (Beijing, CN); Jingjing Bao (Beijing, CN)
Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
H04L41/0663
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,341,648
App. No.
18/343,418
Granted
Jun 24, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A network system comprises a first control unit, a second control unit, and a subscriber unit. The first control unit periodically sends a heartbeat message to the subscriber unit. the subscriber unit forwards received heartbeat messages to a second control unit. The second control unit makes a master/backup decision based on the heartbeat messages and whether a heartbeat message is received in a respective period.

Claims (33)

1. A subscriber unit in a network system, the subscriber unit comprising:

one or more memories configured to store instructions; and

one or more processors coupled to the one or more memories and configured to execute the instructions to cause the subscriber unit to:

periodically receive a heartbeat message from a first control unit in the network system according to a preset period; and

send each heartbeat message received from the first control unit to a second control unit in the network system, wherein the heartbeat messages are used by the second control unit to make a master/backup decision relating to the first control unit and the second control unit based on whether a heartbeat message is received by the second control unit in a corresponding period; and

wherein the first control unit has a first communication connection to at least one subscriber unit including the subscriber unit, and the second control unit has a second communication connection to the at least one subscriber unit;

wherein the first control unit and the second control unit each comprise at least one of a control plane (CP), a virtual control plane (VCP), or a virtual broadband network gateway control plane (VBNG-CP), and the subscriber unit comprises at least one of a user plane (UP), a virtual user plane (VUP), or a virtual broadband network gateway user plane (VBNG-UP);

wherein each heartbeat message is a control plane and user plane separation protocol (CUSP) message;

wherein each CUSP message corresponding to the heartbeat messages comprises: a first field and a second field, wherein the first field of each CUSP message corresponding to the heartbeat messages indicates that a message type of the corresponding CUSP message is the heartbeat message type, and the second field of each CUSP message corresponding to the heartbeat messages indicates master/backup states of the first control unit and the second control unit; and

wherein each CUSP message corresponding to the heartbeat messages further comprises a third field, wherein the third field of each CUSP message corresponding to the heartbeat messages indicates a user group corresponding to the master/backup states.

2. The subscriber unit according to claim 1 , wherein the second field of each CUSP message corresponding to the heartbeat messages carries a priority of the first control unit.

3. The subscriber unit according to claim 1 , wherein the third field of each CUSP message corresponding to the heartbeat messages carries an identifier of the user group.

4. A method, applied to at least one subscriber unit in a network system, the method comprising:

periodically receiving, by the at least one subscriber unit, a heartbeat message according to a preset period from a first control unit in the network system; and

sending, by the at least one subscriber unit, each heartbeat message received from the first control unit to a second control unit in the network system, wherein the heartbeat messages are used by the second control unit to make a master/backup decision relating to the first control unit and the second control unit based on whether a heartbeat message is received by the second control unit in a corresponding period; and

wherein the first control unit has a first communication connection to the at least one subscriber unit, and the second control unit has a second communication connection to the at least one subscriber unit;

wherein each heartbeat message is a control plane and user plane separation protocol (CUSP) message;

wherein each CUSP message corresponding to the heartbeat messages comprises: a first field and a second field, wherein the first field of each CUSP message corresponding to the heartbeat messages indicates that a message type of the corresponding CUSP message is the heartbeat message type, and the second field of each CUSP message corresponding to the heartbeat messages indicates master/backup states of the first control unit and the second control unit; and

wherein each CUSP message corresponding to the heartbeat messages further comprises a third field, wherein the third field of each CUSP message corresponding to the heartbeat messages indicates a user group corresponding to the master/backup states.

5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the first control unit and the second control unit each comprise at least one of a control plane (CP), a virtual control plane (VCP), or a virtual broadband network gateway control plane (VBNG-CP); and the subscriber unit comprises at least one of a user plane (UP), a virtual user plane (VUP), or a virtual broadband network gateway user plane (VBNG-UP).

6. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the second field of each CUSP message corresponding to the heartbeat messages carries a priority of the first control unit.

7. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the third field of each CUSP message corresponding to the heartbeat messages carries an identifier of the user group.

8. A method, applied to a second control unit in a network system, the method comprising:

periodically receiving, by the second control unit, a heartbeat message from a subscriber unit in the network system according to a preset period, wherein the heartbeat messages are sent to the subscriber unit from a first control unit in the network system; and

making, by the second control unit, a master/backup decision relating to the first control unit and the second control unit based on whether a heartbeat message is received in a corresponding period; and

wherein the first control unit has a first communication connection to the subscriber unit, and the second control unit has a second communication connection to the subscriber unit;

wherein the first control unit and the second control unit each comprise at least one of a control plane (CP), a virtual control plane (VCP), or a virtual broadband network gateway control plane (VBNG-CP); and the subscriber unit comprises at least one of a user plane (UP), a virtual user plane (VUP), or a virtual broadband network gateway user plane (VBNG-UP);

wherein each heartbeat message is a control plane and user plane separation protocol (CUSP) message;

wherein each CUSP message corresponding to the heartbeat messages comprises: a first field and a second field, wherein the first field of each CUSP message corresponding to the heartbeat messages indicates that a message type of the CUSP message is the heartbeat message type, and the second field of each CUSP message corresponding to the heartbeat messages indicates master/backup states of the first control unit and the second control unit; and

wherein each CUSP message corresponding to the heartbeat messages further comprises a third field, wherein the third field of each CUSP message corresponding to the heartbeat messages indicates a user group corresponding to the master/backup states.

9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the second field of each CUSP message corresponding to the heartbeat messages carries a priority of the first control unit; and

wherein making, by the second control unit, a master/backup decision based on the heartbeat message comprises:

making, by the second control unit, the master/backup decision based on the priority of the first control unit and a priority of the second control unit.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 12, 2025
From: DENG, LI; BAO, JINGJING
To: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 070490/0053 →
Priority Claims (1)
CN 202011602853.4 · Dec 29, 2020 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTCN2021142062 · Dec 28, 2021
Related Publication 20230344702A1 · Oct 26, 2023
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