T-mobile Innovations LLC

Sprint Communications Comapny L.p.

Sprint Spectrum L.p.

Brian David Waters

Lyle Thomas Bertz

Marouane Balmakhtar

Robert Keith Butler

Austin Knutson

Galip Murat Karabulut

Programmable network devices configured to perform various packet processing functions are further configured to use IPsec to secure control and data packets associated with data sessions traversing the UPF. Field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) and/or graphics processing units (GPUs) coupled with network interfaces are configured to perform user plane functions and secure data packet within a compact and modular hardware unit to minimize excessive communication while maintaining control and user plane separation (CUPS).

Programmable networking device for user plane function with internet protocol security (IPsec)

Systems and methods are provided for duplicate message detection and removal. A method includes receiving a message tagged with a sequence number during one of a first timing window and a second timing window, wherein the first and second timing windows are consecutive recurring timing windows in a network. The method additionally includes sending a response to the message during one of the timing windows and marking the sequence number with the timing window of the response. The method further includes adding the marked sequence number to an exclusion list and after a next timing window expires, deleting the sequence number from the exclusion list.

Duplicate message removal technique for improving retransmission success rate

A communication network receives inbound device context for an inbound wireless communication device from a source network. The communication network detects when the inbound wireless communication device attaches to a target Non Third Generation Partnership Project (non-3GPP) access node, and in response, retrieves the inbound device context for the inbound wireless communication device. The communication network transfers network signaling to serve the inbound wireless communication device over the target non-3GPP access node based on the inbound device context. The communication network determines outbound device context for an outbound wireless communication device for a data session over a source non-3GPP access node. The communication network detects when the outbound wireless communication device detaches from the source non-3GPP access node to handover to a target network, and in response, transfers the outbound device context for the outbound wireless communication device to the target network.

Wireless communication handovers for non-Third Generation Partnership Project (non-3GPP) access nodes

Integrated circuits that perform offset-based memory management using offset values for allocated, de-allocated, and free memory portions. An example method includes receiving a first request for allocating a first portion of a memory module coupled to an integrated circuit, and determining a first address space for allocating the first portion of the memory module based on one or more offset values.

Offset-based memory management for integrated circuits and programmable network devices

Programmable networking devices configured to perform various packet processing functions for packet filtration, control and user plane separation (CUPS), user plane function (UPF), pipeline processing, etc. IPsec is utilized to secure control and data packets traversing the programmable networking device. Field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) are configured with one or more host servers and software-based network interfaces (softMAC).

Programmable networking device for packet processing and security

A wireless communication network comprises a Network Exposure Function (NEF) and an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) to register a User Equipment (UE). The NEF receives a NEF Application Programming Interface (API) call that has a UE instruction. The NEF translates the NEF API call having the UE instruction into an AMF API call that has the UE instruction. The NEF transfers the AMF API call to the AMF. The AMF translates the UE instruction into a registration message that has a registration cause. The AMF transfers the registration message that has the registration cause to the UE. The UE receives the registration message, and in response, identifies networking data based on the registration cause and performs a registration based on the networking data.

Wireless user equipment (UE) registration with networking data responsive to external control

In a wireless communication network, a Domain Name System (DNS) receives an Access Point Identifier (AP ID) for an access point that serves a User Equipment (UE). The DNS converts the AP ID into an Access Gateway Identifier (AGW ID) that comprises a location identifier. The DNS selects an External Gateway Identifier (EGW ID) that comprises the location identifier. The access gateway receives control signals having the AGW ID and exchanges user data between the access point and the external gateway to serve the UE. The co-located external gateway receives additional control signals having the EGW ID and exchanges the user data between the access gateway and an external system to serve the UE.

Wireless communication service delivery over co-located gateway user planes

Programmable networking devices configured to perform various packet processing functions for packet filtration, control and user plane separation (CUPS), user plane function (UPF), pipeline processing, etc. Upon arrival of a user plane packet, a UPF performs a rapid lookup or hash table of the provisioned PDRs associated with a given PFCP session, arrange PDRs in decreasing order of precedence, and process the packet more efficiently than evaluating all PDRs.

Rapid packet processing at user plane function

A method for providing a translating virtual network function by a network element. The method comprises receiving by the network element a first Packet Forwarding Control Protocol (PFCP) message of a plurality of PFCP messages at a first Internet Protocol (IP) address of a plurality of IP addresses of the network element, the first IP address corresponding to a first Session Management Function (SMF) of one or more SMFs, selecting by the network element a translation method based on the first IP address on which the first PFCP message was received, translating by the network element the first PFCP message using the selected translation method into a function-based model representation of the first PFCP message, and configuring by the network element a network interface controller to implement, based on the representation of the first PFCP message, a protocol data unit (PDU) session.

Translating virtual network function

To serve User Equipment (UEs) in a wireless communication network, a control-plane transfers a co-located User Plane Function (UPF) request for a wireless access point ID to a naming system. The naming system detects a co-location translation fault for the wireless access point ID and transfers the wireless access point ID to a controller. The controller determines co-located UPFs for the wireless access node. The controller transfers co-location translation information for the wireless access point ID and co-located UPF IDs to the naming system. The control-plane transfers another co-located UPF request for the wireless access point ID to the naming system. The naming system translates the wireless access point ID into the set of co-located UPF IDs. The naming system transfers the co-located UPF IDs to the control-plane. The control-plane signals the co-located UPFs to serve the UE over the wireless access point.

Domain name system (DNS) translations for co-located gateway user planes in wireless communication networks

Programmable network switches configured to perform various functions including session management, data processing, routing, and pipeline processing functions. Exemplary programmable network switches include pipeline processing components to transport data packets to network nodes, and data processing components to perform management functions including instructing the pipeline processing component how to transport the data packets. Auxiliary processing components can also be included to perform pre and post processing. The pipeline processing and auxiliary processing components can include ASICs, FPGAs, and other processors in any combination within a single rack mountable unit.

Programmable network switch for user plane function

A wireless communication network hands-out a wireless User Equipment (UE) from a non-Third Partnership Project (non-3GPP) access node to a target communication network. An Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) determines UE context for the wireless UE for a data communication session over the non-3GPP access node. The AMF detects when the wireless UE de-attaches from the non-3GPP access node to handover to the target communication network. In response, the AMF transfers the UE context for the wireless UE to a Network Exposure Function (NEF). The NEF receives the UE context for the UE from the AMF and transfer the UE context for the UE to the target communication network.

Wireless communication handovers for non-third generation partnership project (non-3GPP) access nodes

A wireless communication network hands-in inbound User Equipment (UE) from a source communication network to a non-Third Partnership Project (non-3GPP) access node. In the wireless communication network, a Network Exposure Function (NEF) receives inbound UE context from the source communication network. An Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) detects when the inbound UE attaches to the non-3GPP access node to hand-in from the source communication network and responsively transfers a UE context request for the inbound UE to the NEF. The NEF transfers the inbound UE context to the AMF in response to the UE context request. The AMF transfers network signaling to one or more network functions to serve the inbound UE based on the inbound UE context.

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Angel Fire, NM, United States of America

Brian David Waters