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Contents
Abstract..............................................................................................1
1. Introduction....................................................................................1
2. Huaweis SBR Solution for Agile Service Chaining..........................3
2.1. Architecture Overview...............................................................3
2.2. Multi-Dimensional Policy Control................................................4
2.3. Flexible Deployment..................................................................5
3. Evolution to SDN based SBR..........................................................6
4. Benefits of Huawei SBR Solution....................................................7
5. Conclusion.....................................................................................7
6. Annex: Abbreviation......................................................................8
Abstract
Service Based Routing (SBR) is an efficient means for chaining service enablers as a ValueAdded Service (VAS) that are provided for the user data traffic in mobile networks. The
Mobile Service Zone, the part of the mobile network that provides operator specific VAS,
requires continuous enhancement and expansion for keeping pace with the steadily
growing traffic and the change in type of traffic. Deploying service enablers offers new
ways for creating innovative value added services and monetizing mobile network assets.
This paper introduces Huawei's SBR solution that provides a flexible, scalable and future
proof architecture for the mobile service zone. The solution selectively steers traffic to the
desired service enablers in the specific order for composing the VAS. Powerful policies are
described using a multi-dimensional policy control model which is enabled by the 3GPP Policy
Control and Charging (PCC) architecture. Huaweis SBR solution offers different deployment
options enabling operators to customize their Mobile Service Zone according to their needs.
These deployments remain open for future evolution. The Huawei SBR deployments can
smoothly evolve to employ Software-Defined Network (SDN) capabilities thereby protecting
investments in SBR and providing enhanced flexibility and performance for creation and
provision of value added services.
1. Introduction
Mobile networks are typically separated into two zones for the mobile broadband traffic.
One is the Mobile Pipe Zone, which may be described as consisting of radio access and core
networks, providing bearer services for carrying mobile broadband traffic. The other zone
is the Mobile Service Zone, allocated between the bearer services or the Mobile Pipe Zone
and the Internet, with a collection of service enablers for providing Value Added Services
(VAS). These service enablers include, for example, traffic compression, video optimization,
web caching, HTTP header enrichment, firewalls, may greatly improve the user experience
resulting in increased user loyalty, but may also be utilized to lower operational costs or to
monetize the traffic by providing differentiated service handling.
Typical deployments today simply chain all the service enablers for all mobile broadband
traffic for provisioning VAS in the Mobile Service Zone. The service enablers are chained in
a serial manner as shown in Fig. 1. Since all the mobile broadband traffic flows pass every
service enabler, this model has the several deficiencies. It requires considerable effort to insert
new service enablers or to upgrade existing ones. Every change of a single enabler may lead
to a reconfiguration of all service enablers that are chained. A failure of a single enabler may
interrupt the overall service. Each enabler has to process and forward all the traffic flows,
which increases the overall processing, the traffic delay and also service costs.
RAN
------
---
---
---
------------User
---
----
---
---
---
---
O&M
BOSS
PCRF
TCP
Opt.
Service Enablers
Video
Opt.
Ad
Insert
WEB
Others
Opt.
Internet
PGW/GGSN
This paper introduces Huaweis Service Based Routing (SBR) solution that provides a flexible,
scalable and future proof approach for the mobile service zone. The solution selectively steers
traffic to the desired service enablers in the order determined by policies. Powerful policies
are described using a multi-dimensional policy control model.
The Huawei SBR solution offers two deployment options:
Standalone SBR, which works separate from the mobile gateway (GGSN/PGW),
Embedded SBR, which works as part of the mobile gateway (GGSN/PGW).
Both deployment options can evolve smoothly to employ SDN means for traffic steering with
enhanced flexibility and performance. The following describes the deployment options and
their evolution towards an SDN based SBR.
PCRF
Gx
Gx/Sd
PCEF/TDF (SBR)
SBR Controller
User A
Cell1: Congestion
Traffic
Classifier
Cell2: Normal
User B
Traffic
Steering
Internet
GGSN/PGW
LAN Switch
TCP
Opt.
Video
Opt.
Ad
Insert
WEB
Opt.
Service Enablers
User awareness
The SBR holds for every user a user context. The context comprises, amongst others,
the user identity and the service routing policy. The service routing policy is decided
according to the user subscription. So the service routing policy is associated with user
profile. With the user specific service routing policy, the traffic can be classified into
different user categories. For example, the video traffic of VIP user can be steered via a
video optimizer service enabler, while the video traffic of regular user goes directly to
the internet.
PCRF
Cloud
Gx/Sd
SBR Controller
User A
Traffic
Classifier
Cell1: Congestion
Cell2: Normal
Service Enablers
NB
SDN
SB
Controller
GGSN/PGW
User B
TCP
Opt.
Video
Opt.
Ad
Insert
WEB
Opt.
SB
----
PCEF/TDF (SBR)
--
Gx
-----
Internet
5. Conclusion
A need for continued investment in value added services for the mobile service zone may
be envisioned given the rate of traffic growth. Besides improving the resource usage of the
mobile pipe zone deploying value added services can also provide new ways to monetize
mobile network as well as improve mobile user experience. Todays common practice at
mobile service zone lacks efficient service provision mechanisms that can provide agile
service chaining. Huawei offers an SBR solution that provides a flexible, scalable and future
proof approach for the mobile service zone. The solution selectively steers user data traffic
to the required service enablers in the required specific order using a multi-dimensional
policy control. Two deployment options (embedded SBR and standalone SBR) and the SDN
evolution capability are offered to meet various operator requirements. The embedded SBR
solution provides operator with low deployment efforts and most flexible policy control,
while the standalone SBR can be deployed with minimal impact on the existing network.
Both SBR solutions can smoothly evolve to use SDN method with enhanced flexibility and
performance.
6. Annex: Abbreviation
SBR
EPC
MME
GGSN
OTT
PGW
PDN Gateway
PCC
PCEF
TDF
PCRF
SGSN
SDN
TCO
UPCON
VAS