Control-plane protocol interactions in cellular networks

Guan Hua Tu, Yuanjie Li, Chunyi Peng*, Chi-Yu Li, Hongyi Wang, Songwu Lu

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalConference articlepeer-review

22 Scopus citations

Abstract

Control-plane protocols are complex in cellular networks. They communicate with one another along three dimensions of cross layers, cross (circuit-switched and packet-switched) domains, and cross (3G and 4G) systems. In this work, we propose signaling diagnosis tools and uncover six instances of problematic interactions. Such control-plane issues span both design defects in the 3GPP standards and operational slips by carriers. They are more damaging than data-plane failures. In the worst-case scenario, users may be out of service in 4G, or get stuck in 3G. We deduce root causes, propose solutions, and summarize learned lessons.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)223-234
Number of pages12
JournalComputer Communication Review
Volume44
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 25 Feb 2015
EventACM SIGCOMM 2014 Conference - Chicago, United States
Duration: 17 Aug 201422 Aug 2014

Keywords

  • Cellular networks
  • Control-plane
  • Protocol verification

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