Session mapping in 5g and subsequent generation networks

Abstract

The described technology is generally directed towards session mapping in multi-access communication networks. A main session can be established between a mobile edge computing device (MEC) and a core network. The MEC can also establish multiple respective virtual sessions with multiple respective access network computing devices, and the MEC can map the main session to the multiple respective virtual sessions. A user equipment (UE) can connect to any of the respective access network computing devices, thereby communicating via any of the respective virtual sessions.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computing device, comprising:
 a processor; and   a non-transitory memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, facilitate performance of operations, comprising:
 establishing a first network communication session, wherein the first network communication session is with a core network computing device; 
 establishing a group of second network communication sessions, wherein the group of second network communication sessions is established with multiple respective access network computing devices, and wherein establishing the group of second network communication sessions comprises communicating respective virtual network communication session internet protocol addresses to the multiple respective access network computing devices; 
 maintaining session mapping data that maps the group of second network communication sessions and the first network communication session; and 
 bridging the first network communication session and a selected network communication session of the group of second network communication sessions, comprising:
 sending first user equipment communications received in the first network communication session to a user equipment via a selected virtual network communication session internet protocol address associated with the selected network communication session; and 
 sending second user equipment communications received in the selected network communication session to the core network computing device via the first network communication session. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the computing device comprises a mobile edge computing device. 
     
     
         3 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the computing device is included at a base station device of a cellular communications network. 
     
     
         4 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the group of second network communication sessions is established in advance of the user equipment communicating via the selected network communication session. 
     
     
         5 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise using a first internet protocol address in connection with the first network communication session. 
     
     
         6 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise sending the selected virtual network communication session internet protocol address to the user equipment. 
     
     
         7 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein an access network computing device of the multiple access network computing devices comprises a base station device. 
     
     
         8 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the computing device comprises a session manager function. 
     
     
         9 . A non-transitory machine-readable medium, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processor of a computing device, facilitate performance of operations, comprising:
 establishing a first network communication session between the computing device and a core network computing device;   determining multiple respective access network computing devices for use in connection with multiple respective virtual network communication sessions;   establishing the multiple respective virtual network communication sessions with the multiple respective access network computing devices, wherein establishing the multiple respective virtual network communication sessions comprises communicating multiple respective virtual network communication session internet protocol addresses to the multiple respective access network computing devices;   maintaining session mapping data that maps the multiple respective virtual network communication sessions and the first network communication session;   switching a session bridge from a first bridge function to a second bridge function, wherein the first bridge function bridges communications between the first network communication session and a first session of the multiple respective virtual network communication sessions, and wherein the second bridge function bridges communications between the first network communication session and a second session of the multiple respective virtual network communication sessions; and   using a virtual network communication session internet protocol address of the multiple respective virtual network communication session internet protocol addresses in connection with the second bridge function.   
     
     
         10 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 9 , wherein the operations further comprise selecting an access network computing device from among the multiple respective access network computing devices for use during the second session of the multiple respective virtual network communication sessions, the selecting resulting in a selected access network computing device. 
     
     
         11 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 10 , wherein the selecting is in response to a displacement of a user equipment. 
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 10 , wherein the selecting is based on at least one of a service available at the selected access network computing device or a state of the selected access network computing device. 
     
     
         13 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 10 , wherein the computing device comprises a mobile edge computing device that is communicatively coupled with a base station of a cellular communications network. 
     
     
         14 . A method, comprising:
 facilitating, by a computing device comprising a processor, establishing a core network communication session and multiple respective virtual network communication sessions with multiple respective access network computing devices;   identifying, by the computing device, a virtual network communication session of the multiple respective virtual network communication sessions in a mapping data structure, the identifying resulting in an identified virtual network communication session,   wherein the mapping data structure comprises mapping data for the multiple respective virtual network communication sessions, and   wherein the mapping data comprises multiple respective virtual network communication session internet protocol addresses; and   initiating, by the computing device, a bridge between the core network communication session and the identified virtual network communication session, wherein the bridge uses a respective virtual network communication session internet protocol address corresponding to the identified virtual network communication session.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein initiating the bridge between the core network communication session and the identified virtual network communication session is performed in response to a user equipment being determined to be transitioning from first communications with a first access network computing device of the multiple respective access network computing devices to second communications with a second access network computing device of the multiple respective access network computing devices. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the mapping data structure comprises a quality of service specification for the identified virtual network communication session. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the computing device comprises a mobile edge computing device that is communicatively coupled with a base station. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the multiple respective access network computing devices comprise multiple different access network computing device types. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein a device type of the multiple different access network computing device types comprises a cellular communications network base station device. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the bridge between the core network communication session and the identified virtual network communication session enables user equipment communications via the core network communication session and the identified virtual network communication session.