Cellular network optimized for data communication in accordance with a set of parameters

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025062950-A1
Application number	US-202318235222-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 17, 2023
Priority date	Aug 17, 2023
Publication date	Feb 20, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

An illustrative cellular network optimized for data communication in accordance with a set of parameters is described herein. The cellular network may receive a data communication that is to be delivered, in accordance with a set of parameters, from a first communication device to a second communication device. A particular user plane function (UPF) node may process the data communication in accordance with the set of parameters. The particular UPF node may be included in a set of UPF nodes deployed at sites including an edge site associated with a cellular base station and a central site associated with a network core. Based on the processing by the particular UPF node, the cellular network may deliver the data communication from the first communication device to the second communication device in accordance with the set of parameters. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method comprising:
receiving, by a cellular network, a data communication that is to be delivered, in accordance with a set of parameters, from a first communication device to a second communication device; processing, by a particular user plane function (UPF) node of a set of UPF nodes deployed to the cellular network at a plurality of sites including an edge site associated with a cellular base station and a central site associated with a network core, the data communication in accordance with the set of parameters; and delivering, by the cellular network and based on the processing by the particular UPF node, the data communication from the first communication device to the second communication device in accordance with the set of parameters.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the first and second communication devices are direct transfer trip (DTT) controller devices deployed to a power grid; the set of parameters indicates a latency tolerance parameter for the data communication; and the delivering of the data communication in accordance with the set of parameters includes delivering the data communication in accordance with the latency tolerance parameter.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein:
the second communication device is configured to direct an electric circuit to be deenergized in response to detection of an electrical fault on the electric circuit; and the data communication from the first communication device includes an indication that the electrical fault is detected on the electric circuit and an instruction to the second communication device to immediately direct the electric circuit to be deenergized.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
defining, within the cellular network, a network slice to include the second communication device to which the data communication is to be delivered; and selecting, based on the network slice that includes the second communication device, the particular UPF node from the set of UPF nodes to perform the processing of the data communication.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the set of parameters indicates that both the first and second communication devices are connected to the cellular base station and further indicates a latency tolerance parameter for the data communication; and the particular UPF node processes the data communication in accordance with the latency tolerance parameter by being deployed to the cellular base station at the edge site.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the set of parameters indicates:
the first communication device is connected to the cellular base station,
the second communication device is connected to an additional cellular base station communicatively coupled to the cellular base station by way of the network core, and
a latency tolerance parameter for the data communication; and
the particular UPF node processes the data communication in accordance with the latency tolerance parameter by being deployed to the additional cellular base station.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the set of parameters indicates:
the first communication device is connected to the cellular base station,
the second communication device is connected to an additional cellular base station communicatively coupled to the cellular base station by way of the network core, and
a latency tolerance parameter for the data communication; and
the particular UPF node processes the data communication in accordance with the latency tolerance parameter by being deployed to the network core.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the data communication is to be multicast from the first communication device to:
the second communication device, and
a third communication device to which the data communication is to be delivered in accordance with an additional set of parameters;
the processing, by the particular UPF node, of the data communication in accordance with the set of parameters is for delivery of the data communication to the second communication device; and the method further comprises:
processing, by an additional UPF node of the set of UPF nodes, the data communication in accordance with the additional set of parameters for delivery of the data communication to the third communication device, and
delivering, by the cellular network and based on the processing by the additional UPF node, the data communication from the first communication device to the third communication device in accordance with the additional set of parameters.

9 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
defining, within the cellular network, a first network slice to include the second communication device to which the data communication is to be delivered and a second network slice to include the third communication device to which the data communication is to be delivered; selecting, based on the first network slice that includes the second communication device, the particular UPF node from the set of UPF nodes to perform the processing of the data communication for delivery of the data communication to the second communication device; and selecting, based on the second network slice that includes the third communication device, the additional UPF node from the set of UPF nodes to perform the processing of the data communication for delivery of the data communication to the third communication device.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the cellular network is a 5G network; the cellular base station is a gNodeB of the 5G network; the network core is a 5G standalone (SA) core of the 5G network; and the UPF node is a user plane function (UPF) of the 5G network.

11 . A system comprising:
a cellular network; a network core located at a central site of the cellular network; a cellular base station located at an edge site of the cellular network, the cellular base station configured to receive a data communication that is to be delivered, in accordance with a set of parameters, from a first communication device to a second communication device; and a set of user plane function (UPF) nodes deployed to the cellular network at a plurality of sites including the edge site and the central site, the set of UPF nodes including a particular UPF node configured to process the data communication in accordance with the set of parameters; wherein the cellular network is configured to deliver, based on processing by the particular UPF node, the data communication from the first communication device to the second communication device in accordance with the set of parameters.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein:
the first and second communication devices are direct transfer trip (DTT) controller devices deployed to a power grid; the set of parameters indicates a latency tolerance parameter for the data communication; and the cellular network is configured to deliver the data communication in accordance with the set of parameters by delivering the data communication in accordance with the latency tolerance parameter.

13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein:
the second communication device is configured to direct an electric circuit to be deenergized in response to detection of an electrical fault on the electric circuit; and the data communication from the first communication device includes an indication that the electrical fault is detected on the electric circuit and an instruction to the second communication device to immediately direct the electric circuit to be deenergized.

14 . The system of claim 11 , wherein:
the cellular network includes a network slice that inclu

Assignees

• Verizon Patent & Licensing Inc

Inventors

• Haynes Thomas W
• Tatem Diana
• Wang Hao
• Yang Jin
• Sodikumar Mamta
• Chakrabarti Samita
• Verger Jose M
• Joshi Kiritkumar

Classifications

• H04W24/02

  Arrangements for optimising operational condition · CPC title

• H04L41/06 Primary

  Management of faults, events, alarms or notifications · CPC title