Methods, user equipment, systems or telecommunication networks, programs and computer program products for using or applying user equipment routing policy information when operating a user equipment connected to a telecommunication network

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for using or applying user equipment routing policy information when operating a user equipment connected to a telecommunication network, the telecommunication network comprising a core network, wherein the user equipment uses or applies the routing policy information for user plane data consisting of or carried by data packets, wherein the user equipment comprises user equipment routing policy functionality for using or applying the user equipment routing policy information to cause data packets comprising or carrying such user plane data to be processed in accordance with the user equipment routing policy information, wherein the user equipment routing policy information comprises at least one modification and / or handling indication to cause, with respect to a considered data packet to be handled or processed by the user equipment routing policy functionality, one or more of the following actions to be performed: - in a first step, the considered data packet is received by the user equipment routing policy functionality, - in a second step and based on or dependent on the content of the at least one modification and / or handling indication, one or more of the following actions is performed: - the considered data packet is processed to be discarded or buffered, - the considered data packet is modified and processed to be assigned or fed to a specific protocol data unit session of the user equipment, - a notification is transmitted by the user equipment to the core network of the telecommunication network, - the user equipment routing policy information is modified.

Description

Background Technology

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for using or applying user equipment routing policy information when operating user equipment connected to a telecommunications network, the telecommunications network including a core network, wherein the user equipment uses or applies the routing policy information to user plane data composed of or carried by data packets, wherein the user equipment includes user equipment routing policy functionality for using or applying the user equipment routing policy information, such that data packets including or carrying such user plane data are processed according to the user equipment routing policy information.

[0002] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a user equipment for using or applying user equipment routing policy information when operating with a telecommunications network including a core network, wherein the user equipment uses or applies the routing policy information to user plane data composed of or carried by data packets, wherein the user equipment includes user equipment routing policy functionality for using or applying the user equipment routing policy information such that data packets including or carrying such user plane data are processed according to the user equipment routing policy information.

[0003] Additionally, the present invention relates to a system or telecommunications network for using or applying user equipment routing policy information when operating user equipment connected to a telecommunications network, the telecommunications network including a core network, wherein the user equipment is configured to use or apply the routing policy information to user plane data composed of or carried by data packets, wherein the user equipment includes user equipment routing policy functionality for using or applying the user equipment routing policy information, such that data packets including or carrying such user plane data are processed according to the user equipment routing policy information.

[0004] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a program and a computer-readable medium for using or applying user equipment routing policy information according to the method of the present invention.

[0005] In conventional telecommunications networks, when uplink traffic needs to be directed, 5G mobile communication networks or 5G systems also define User Equipment Routing Policy (or UE Routing Policy, i.e., URSP) as defined in TS24.526. This allows the network to instruct the User Equipment on a set of rules regarding how to route data packets. That is, based on the rule set, such rules instruct or direct the User Equipment to direct specific traffic to a given PDU (Protocol Data Unit) session.

[0006] In conventionally known telecommunications networks, such user equipment (UE) routing policy rules allow for the implementation of some restricted routing logic at (or by) the UE. For example, UE routing policy rules are restricted to selecting the matching Protocol Data Unit (PDU) sessions on which corresponding (data) traffic should be transmitted. However, the conventional known use of UE routing policy rules is rather limited or rather static—particularly regarding their structure (traffic detection) and the selection of destination PDU sessions; in particular, the conventional use of UE routing policy rules does not include their flexible use (e.g., regarding the impact on processed traffic, potential modifications to processed traffic) or further enhanced functionality (e.g., providing communication capabilities regarding processed traffic or modifying the rules themselves). Summary of the Invention

[0007] The object of this invention is to provide a technically simple, efficient, and cost-effective solution for flexibly using or applying user equipment (UE) routing policy information when operating UE connected to a telecommunications network, wherein the UE uses or applies the routing policy information to user plane data composed of or carried by data packets, and wherein the UE includes UE routing policy functionality for using or applying the UE routing policy information, such that data packets including or carrying such user plane data are processed according to the UE routing policy information. Another object of this invention is to provide corresponding UE, systems, or telecommunications networks, as well as corresponding programs and computer-readable media.

[0008] The objective of this invention is achieved by a method for using or applying user equipment routing policy information when operating user equipment connected to a telecommunications network, the telecommunications network including a core network.

[0009] The user equipment uses or applies the routing policy information to user plane data composed of or carried by data packets.

[0010] The user equipment includes user equipment routing policy functionality for using or applying user equipment routing policy information, such that data packets including or carrying such user plane data are processed according to the user equipment routing policy information.

[0011] The user equipment routing policy information includes at least one modification and / or disposal instruction to enable the functional disposal or processing of considered data packets by the user equipment routing policy. The method includes the following steps:

[0012] --In the first step, the data packets under consideration are received functionally by the user equipment's routing policy.

[0013] --In the second step, and based on or dependent on the content of at least one modification and / or disposal instruction, one or more of the following actions are performed:

[0014] --The data packets under consideration are either discarded or buffered.

[0015] --The data packets under consideration are modified and processed into specific protocol data unit sessions that are assigned to or fed to the user equipment.

[0016] --The user equipment transmits the notification to the core network of the telecommunications network.

[0017] --The user equipment routing policy information has been modified.

[0018] According to the present invention, it is advantageously possible to overcome the limitations of conventional known use or associated with routing policy information based on user equipment:

[0019] Typically, data to be transmitted by user equipment (connected to a telecommunications network), particularly user plane data, is carried or transmitted via data packets. User equipment routing policy information (or user equipment routing policy rules included in or by the user equipment routing policy information) instructs or specifies how the user equipment will handle such data packets, usually or frequently (but not necessarily) upstream data packets. Conventionally, the handling options for such data packets involve only or primarily determining which protocol data unit session the data packet under consideration should be transmitted via. According to the invention, it is proposed to expand the possible handling options for such data packets. In particular, for example, according to the invention, it is advantageously possible for the user equipment routing policy or user equipment routing policy rules to modify (or more precisely, to specify (user equipment routing policy functionality) modifications) data packets, for example, data packets routed using a given user equipment routing policy rule or a given protocol data unit session (e.g., this may include, for example, modifying the header content or the traffic (or data packet) itself by means of at least some portions of the encrypted data packet, particularly its payload portion).

[0020] Furthermore, according to the present invention, for example, it is advantageously possible that the user equipment routing policy or user equipment routing policy rule can drop or buffer (or more precisely, can specify (user equipment routing policy functionality) drop or buffer) data packets.

[0021] Furthermore, according to the invention, for example, it is advantageously possible that the user equipment routing policy or user equipment routing policy rule can transmit (or more precisely, can specify (user equipment routing policy functionality) transmission) one or more notifications triggered by certain events, such as, for example, the first data packet of a data stream (the data stream of the data packet, i.e., the data stream typically includes multiple different data packets (usually sequential or nearly sequential) with associated payload content (such as, for example, portions of a video or audio stream), or application-related).

[0022] Furthermore, according to the invention, for example, it is advantageously possible that the user equipment routing policy or user equipment routing policy rule can be modified, particularly deleted, or invalidated (or more precisely, can specify (user equipment routing policy functionality) modification, particularly deletion, or invalidation) of user equipment routing policy information, particularly the same user equipment routing policy rule (i.e., the user equipment routing policy rule specifies its own modification, particularly its deletion or invalidation). Such modification, particularly deletion or invalidation, is also triggered by a certain event.

[0023] According to the method of the present invention, when a user equipment is operated and connected to a telecommunications network, the user equipment routing policy information is used or applied by the user equipment in a more flexible manner (or is able to use or apply it). The telecommunications network typically includes a core network that typically transmits the user equipment routing policy information to the user equipment for application by the user equipment (or more precisely, by the user equipment routing policy functionality) (typically applied to user plane data (composed of or carried by data packets)). The user equipment routing policy functionality is typically an instance or function within or as part of the user equipment that ensures the correct use (or interpretation) and / or application of the user equipment routing policy information, i.e., so that data packets including or carrying such user plane data are processed according to the user equipment routing policy information.

[0024] According to the present invention, in order to advantageously provide the possibility of overcoming the limitations associated with the conventional known use of user equipment routing policy information, the user equipment routing policy information includes at least one modification and / or disposal instruction, which corresponds to a portion (or portions) of the user equipment routing policy information (i.e., one or more user equipment routing policy rules) indicating (or specifying) one or more disposal options or actions regarding one or more data packets. Therefore, according to the present invention, a data packet under consideration can be disposed of or processed by the user equipment, or more precisely by the user equipment routing policy functionality, by performing the step of receiving the data packet under consideration (in a manner indicated or specified by at least one modification and / or disposal instruction as part of the user equipment routing policy information), and in a second step, and based on or depending on the content of the at least one modification and / or disposal instruction, one or more of the following actions are performed:

[0025] --The data packets under consideration are either discarded or buffered.

[0026] --The data packets under consideration are modified and processed into specific protocol data unit sessions that are assigned to or fed to the user equipment.

[0027] --The user equipment transmits the notification to the core network of the telecommunications network.

[0028] --User Equipment routing policy information has been modified (e.g., traffic descriptor modification, route descriptor, routing, priority, application descriptor modification, modification / removal of routing verification criteria, removal / disabling of user equipment routing rules).

[0029] Therefore, according to the present invention, it is advantageous to enable user equipment routing policy rules (or in general, user equipment routing policy information) to modify routed data traffic (e.g., by modifying data packet headers (e.g., DSCP headers) and / or by applying or enforcing encryption of data packets (or at least parts thereof)) (e.g., between user equipment and gateways in the core network, or between user equipment and home network (e.g., home public land mobile network), or between user equipment and third parties (e.g., application providers or application server entities, i.e., data packets may be encrypted and traverse not only the access network and / or visited network but also the user equipment's home network).

[0030] Furthermore, user equipment routing policies (or user equipment routing policy rules) can advantageously be used to specify the dropping or buffering of traffic (i.e., data packets).

[0031] Furthermore, according to the invention, it is advantageous to overcome the limitations associated with the conventional known use of user equipment routing policy information by considering not only data packets in a more or less isolated manner, but also by considering data flows (i.e., data packet flows (meaning more than one data packet)). Such data flows or data packet flows also have attributes that cannot be associated with a single data packet of that flow (e.g., its history, data volume, bandwidth requirements, or packet data rate). According to the invention, it is also advantageous to be possible, based on or depending on the content of at least one modification and / or disposal instruction, to perform one or more actions based on one (or more) attributes of the considered data flow, i.e., according to the invention, the user equipment routing policy information includes at least one modification and / or disposal instruction to make the method include the following steps regarding the considered data packets (as part of the considered data flow or considered data packet flow) to be functionally processed or handled by the user equipment routing policy:

[0032] --In the first step, the data packets under consideration are received by the user equipment routing policy functionality as part of the data stream under consideration or the data packet stream under consideration.

[0033] --In the second step, and based on or dependent on the content of at least one modification and / or disposal instruction, one or more of the following actions are performed:

[0034] --The data packets under consideration are either discarded or buffered.

[0035] --The data packets under consideration are modified and processed into specific protocol data unit sessions that are assigned to or fed to the user equipment.

[0036] --The data packets under consideration are processed as a separate, specific protocol data unit session that is assigned to or fed to the user equipment, different from the protocol data unit session used for previous data packets in the data stream under consideration or the data packet stream under consideration.

[0037] --The user equipment transmits the notification to the core network of the telecommunications network.

[0038] --The user equipment routing policy information has been modified.

[0039] According to such embodiments of the invention, instead of considering only one data packet (i.e., "the considered data packet"), a data stream or data packet stream is considered, i.e., at least two data packets, and the user equipment routing policy information includes at least one modification and / or disposal instruction to make the considered prior data packet—the considered data packet and the considered prior data packet particularly belong to the same data stream or the same data stream (or data packet stream), and the considered prior data packet precedes the considered data packet—the method includes a third step prior to the first step, wherein, in the third step, the considered prior data packet is functionally received by the user equipment routing policy, and based on or depending on the content of the at least one modification and / or disposal instruction, the considered prior data packet is disposed of as being assigned or fed to a specific protocol data unit session of the user equipment.

[0040] Therefore, according to such embodiments of the invention, the considered data stream (or data packet stream) has the property that a certain triggering condition has not been met or verified up to the considered preceding data packet (and thus, typically, data packets of such a data stream are assigned or fed to a specific protocol data unit session or a "normal" protocol data unit session), while such triggering conditions are met or verified when received at the user equipment routing policy functionality or when processing the considered data packet (after the considered preceding data packet), thereby causing one or more of the mentioned actions to be performed (including discarding or buffering or modifying the considered data packet, or transmitting notification or modification user equipment routing policy information).

[0041] In this respect, according to the invention, particularly preferably, the data packets under consideration are processed—as an action of the second step or a replacement or accumulation of one or more of the actions defined in the second step—so that they are assigned or fed to a different specific protocol data unit session from the specific (or “normal”) protocol data unit session (i.e., the specific protocol data unit session is the normal (or default or prescribed) protocol data unit session for the data packets of the data stream under consideration) in the user equipment.

[0042] According to the present invention, by means of content that can be based on or depend on at least one modification and / or disposal instruction, based on the attributes (or triggering conditions) of the data packet under consideration or associated with the data packet under consideration and / or based on the attributes (or triggering conditions) of the data flow (or data packet flow) of the prior data packet under consideration and the data packet under consideration (or data packet flow) of the data packet under consideration (or data packet flow), it is advantageously possible to:

[0043] --User Equipment routing policies (or user equipment routing policy rules) can enforce bandwidth constraints (e.g., maximum bandwidth, maximum packet data rate) and / or define what happens to traffic exceeding said constraints;

[0044] --Regarding the implementation of Quality of Service (QoS) parameters at the per-application and / or per-network slice granularity: When QoS flows are permitted in a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session, UE routing policies or UE routing policy rules can operate at the per-application and / or per-slice granularity, which differs from the granularity supported by the PDU session.

[0045] --A more distributed traffic processing architecture is achieved: In conventional known telecommunications networks (or network architectures), all traffic implementation functionality is based on the gateway (in the case of 5G networks, user plane functionality); therefore, in order to better support exponential traffic growth, offloading part of the computation (of traffic implementation functionality) to user equipment results in a more distributed traffic processing architecture.

[0046] --Enabling user equipment routing policies or user equipment routing policy rules to enforce bandwidth-related constraints, particularly enabling user equipment routing policy rules to specify bandwidth throttling and / or to specify traffic dropping and / or—overlapping both—and in general—enabling user equipment routing policy rules to include code processing logic (i.e., a program / script / code specifying how to process traffic), enabling the implementation of all the aforementioned actions (e.g., for handling data packets), and thus not only implementing the corresponding functionality (e.g., modifying, dropping, or buffering data packets), but also implementing logical operations (e.g., conditions, loops, function calls, communication with other modules, etc.)—therefore, according to the invention, providing the possibility of deploying data processing logic (rather than parameters) allows for increased flexibility and effectively allows user equipment to be converted into a programmable part of the telecommunications network;

[0047] -- Allowing user equipment to perform more traffic processing allows for a more distributed (network) architecture, where central nodes (e.g., user plane functions or gateway entities or functionalities) can remain simpler and focused on how aggregated traffic is shaped, while tasks related to individual subscriptions (e.g., maximum bandwidth) can be offloaded to user equipment.

[0048] --The modification and / or disposal instructions can trigger notifications (in the case of a triggering event), which can, for example, make the core network of the (telecommunications network) visible to the actual use of user equipment to user equipment routing policy information (especially user equipment routing policy rules) and / or automate changes based on said use (e.g., notifying the core network based on use and / or limiting the validity of a given user equipment routing policy rule (e.g., when the user equipment routing policy rule is first used, at regular time intervals, after a given amount of data has been processed, when the user equipment is under low / medium / high packet load, when a data packet burst is detected / completed, when data packets with certain characteristics have been processed, when one or more data packets have been dropped / buffered / modified)).

[0049] --As an alternative to offloading functionality to user equipment, notifications can be triggered by modification and / or disposal instructions, allowing the telecommunications network to compare usage reports generated by user equipment with usage reports from the network side and assess whether the user equipment has correctly applied user equipment routing policy rules.

[0050] --Modification and / or disposition instructions include, for example, traffic-based triggering (i.e., depending on the use of a given user equipment routing policy rule) to send a notification to the (core) network, for example, in cases where certain criteria are met and / or the user equipment routing policy rule is modified and / or the user equipment routing policy rule expires automatically (e.g., it is deleted or marked as invalid).

[0051] --A more distributed (network) architecture is made possible by providing more flexible management of user equipment routing policy information or user equipment routing policy rules, particularly through the following means:

[0052] --Implementation of data capping based on user equipment routing policies on the user equipment side, such as "up to X GB can be sent via low-latency slices (user equipment routing policy rule A), followed by the use of default slices (user equipment routing policy rule B)".

[0053] --The generation of user equipment-based notifications to the (core) network regarding traffic matching certain rules, which can be used for, for example, billing purposes and / or allow measurement of service quality parameters of routed data and / or allow data volume measurement (e.g., number of (data) packets, data volume, packet / data rate, packet type) and / or allow measurement of the expiration of the user equipment routing policy time window—therefore, in general, allows the (core) network greater visibility regarding the user equipment's use of user equipment routing policy rules.

[0054] According to the present invention, a telecommunications network typically includes an access network and a core network; however, the present invention also relates to the following situations: strictly speaking, the telecommunications network does not include both the access network and the core network, but rather the telecommunications network is only associated with or assigned to the access network (and particularly includes the core network), or the telecommunications network is only associated with or assigned to the core network (and particularly includes the access network), or the telecommunications network is only associated with or assigned to both the access network and the core network. According to the present invention, the core network specifically provides data connectivity to the data network for user equipment.

[0055] In conventional telecommunications networks and according to the present invention, user equipment (UE) is typically able to connect to a data network via a core network. UE typically communicates with the access network (or radio access network) via an interface (usually a radio interface or air interface). This is used to convey both signaling information and data traffic; however, there is usually a logical separation (logical channel) for the transmission of these two types of traffic. Similarly, signaling information and user data are typically separated between the access network (especially the radio access network, and especially the gNB base station entity) and the core network.

[0056] To establish a data connection enabling User Equipment (UE) to communicate with the data network (or core network), a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session is required. A PDU session is a logical data transmission channel terminated in the core network, providing connectivity to the data network. A PDU session may have one or more associated Quality of Service (QoS) streams (e.g., one or more QoS streams within the PDU session) for the underlying data transmission. PDU session establishment is performed by the UE via the radio interface; the radio access network is aware of the PDU session (it needs this information, for example, for physical resource allocation at the Uu reference point between the base station entity (specifically the gNB) and the UE), but the PDU session is managed by the core network. Currently, different PDU sessions are considered independent; that is, PDU session establishment is not linked to other PDU session establishment requests.

[0057] In currently known telecommunications networks and according to the present invention, user equipment routing policy information or user equipment routing policy rules are used by the telecommunications network to force user equipment to use a set of rules to apply to or guide uplink traffic, i.e., how to route data packets. Specifically, such user equipment routing policy rules instruct or direct user equipment to route specific traffic to a given or predetermined Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session. Specifically, such user equipment routing policy rules or such user equipment routing policy information are set or defined by the core network of the telecommunications network; that is, the telecommunications network (or its core network) sets the user equipment routing policy rules or user equipment routing policy information by transmitting a corresponding message to the user equipment as part of the control data flow exchange between the telecommunications network and the user equipment on the air interface between the user equipment and the corresponding access network element (typically a base station entity, such as, for example, a gB node entity). As a result of the user equipment receiving such user equipment routing policy rules (or multiple rules) or user equipment routing policy information, the user equipment can apply or will apply such rule information, that is, the user equipment routes traffic that matches the corresponding user equipment routing policy rules or user equipment routing policy information, especially application traffic (in the uplink direction toward the telecommunications network), according to the provisions or requirements of the user equipment routing policy rules / information (e.g., "direct specific traffic to a given protocol data unit session"). In the currently known telecommunications networks, this routing corresponds to a protocol data unit session in the sense of "where the user equipment sends traffic".

[0058] In currently known telecommunications networks, the user equipment routing policy rules or user equipment routing policy information itself (i.e., in particular its structure) are defined in 3GPP TS23.503 and are a collection of one or more user equipment routing policy rules, wherein the user equipment routing policy rules generally consist of three parts: a priority value as the first part, a traffic descriptor as the second part, and one or more routing descriptors as the third part.

[0059] The priority value of the URSP rule (as the first part of the UE routing policy rule) indicates the priority of the URSP rule under consideration among all existing URSP rules (either already present at the UE or transmitted as part of the UE routing policy information). The traffic descriptor (as the second part of the UE routing policy rule) includes a full-match traffic descriptor or at least one of the following components: one or more application identifiers; one or more IP 3-tuples as defined in 3GPP TS 23.503, i.e., destination IP address, destination port number, and protocol used on the IP; one or more non-IP descriptors, i.e., destination information for non-IP traffic; one or more DNNs (Data Network Names); one or more connectivity capabilities; and one or more domain descriptors, i.e., destination FQDNs (Fully Qualified Domain Names). Each routing descriptor (as the third part of the user equipment routing policy rules) includes a routing descriptor priority value and a non-seamless non-3GPP offload indication or a PDU session type, and optionally one or more of the following: SSC mode (session and service continuity mode), one or more S-NSSAI (single network slice selection assistance information), one or more DNNs, preferred access type, multiple access preference, time window, and location criteria.

[0060] In this context, the time window indication and location criteria are part of the routing descriptor (or, i.e., the third part of the UE routing policy rules), even though they do not actually describe traffic routes, but correspond to routing validation criteria: a given or considered routing descriptor is considered valid only if it satisfies all provided validation criteria, and controls the validity of said elements. The component describing the actual route corresponds to the routing component. Exemplarily, the UE routing policy rules implement a set of rules at the UE that allows specific traffic to be sent via a specific traffic description (e.g., access type).

[0061] Regarding the application of User Equipment (UE) routing policy rules or UE routing policy information (specified in TS23.503, 6.6.2.3), for each newly detected application (i.e., requiring uplink data flow to be transmitted by the UE), the UE evaluates available (i.e., stored or received) UE routing policy rules in order of rule priority and determines whether the application matches any traffic descriptor of any URSP rule; when a URSP rule is determined to be applicable to a given application (clause 6.6.2.1), the UE shall select a routing descriptor within that URSP rule in order of routing descriptor priority; if the UE determines that there is more than one matching existing Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session (e.g., the selected routing descriptor only specifies network slice selection, while there are multiple existing PDU sessions with different DNNs matching that network slice selection), the UE implementation shall select one of them for use.

[0062] According to the present invention, consider user equipment connected to a telecommunications network, and the telecommunications network includes a core network that includes policy and charging functions. The policy and charging functions are configured to transmit user equipment routing policy information to the user equipment.

[0063] According to the invention, it is further advantageous, and preferably, particularly as part of a routing descriptor or as part of a routing component of user equipment routing policy information, that the modification and / or disposal indication includes or corresponds to a bandwidth (e.g., based on data throughput or packet data rate) limiting indication, or that the user equipment routing policy information includes a bandwidth limiting indication (particularly as a modification and / or disposal indication).

[0064] In particular, when the bandwidth limit is reached in the case of the preceding data packet under consideration or after the preceding data packet under consideration, subsequent traffic, especially the data packet under consideration, is throttled (particularly by means of the data packet under consideration being dropped or buffered or assigned or fed to another specific protocol data unit session instead of the specific protocol data unit session).

[0065] In particular, the bit rate associated with the data stream can be controlled or shaped, especially by implementing or providing a maximum bit rate or a guaranteed bit rate or packet rate.

[0066] Specifically, the bandwidth limiting indication includes instructions that enable the handling of excessive traffic by specifically buffering such excessive traffic and / or dropping such excessive traffic and / or applying predefined user equipment routing policy rules to such excessive traffic.

[0067] Specifically, excessive traffic is dropped using a bandwidth limiting indication, which includes a traffic destination indication as part of a routing descriptor or as part of a routing component in user equipment routing policy information.

[0068] Specifically, in the case of the preceding data packet under consideration or after the preceding data packet under consideration, a bandwidth limitation is reached, resulting in the transmission of notifications or messages from the user equipment toward the core network and / or to the application server entity.

[0069] Therefore, the method of the present invention can be advantageously implemented and carried out in a relatively simple and efficient manner: by using bandwidth limiting indications, bandwidth limiting rules can be advantageously applied as part of the user equipment routing policy rules.

[0070] According to the invention, it is further advantageous, and preferably, particularly as part of a routing descriptor or as part of a routing component of user equipment routing policy information, that modification and / or disposal instructions include or correspond to header modification instructions, or that user equipment routing policy information includes header modification instructions (particularly as modification and / or disposal instructions).

[0071] Specifically, the header modification instruction includes a description of the header parameters to be changed, particularly the differentiated services field code point header parameters on data packets routed using the corresponding user equipment routing policy rules.

[0072] Specifically, the header modification instruction includes the value information to be used and one or more of the following: header identifier, name, position and variable type, particularly string type instruction or integer type instruction.

[0073] Thus, the method of the present invention can be advantageously implemented and carried out in a relatively simple and efficient manner: by means of using header modification instructions, data packets can be modified with respect to their header values.

[0074] Furthermore, according to the invention, advantageously and preferably, particularly as part of a routing descriptor or as part of a routing component of user equipment routing policy information, modification and / or disposal instructions include or correspond to traffic encryption instructions, or user equipment routing policy information includes traffic encryption instructions (particularly as modification and / or disposal instructions).

[0075] Specifically, the call encryption instruction includes encryption parameters, which are:

[0076] --Provided by telecommunications networks, or

[0077] --Provided by another telecommunications network, or

[0078] --Provided by a third party,

[0079] This involves modifying data packets to be transmitted by the user equipment, particularly the data packets under consideration and / or the preceding data packets under consideration, by encrypting such data packets (at least the payload or a portion thereof).

[0080] In particular, the encrypted portion of such data packets can be decrypted by a telecommunications network or by another telecommunications network or by a third party, wherein the other telecommunications network corresponds to the home network of the user equipment and / or wherein the third party corresponds to the application server entity or application provider.

[0081] Therefore, the method of the present invention can be advantageously implemented and carried out efficiently in a relatively simple and efficient manner; and by using traffic encryption instructions, more secure and confidential communication can be advantageously provided.

[0082] Furthermore, according to the invention, advantageously and preferably, particularly as part of a routing descriptor or as part of a routing component of user equipment routing policy information, modification and / or disposal instructions include or correspond to processing logic instructions, or user equipment routing policy information includes processing logic instructions (particularly as modification and / or disposal instructions).

[0083] Specifically, the processing logic instruction includes program elements, which include logic code.

[0084] Specifically, these logical codes or program elements include:

[0085] --Describe call handling commands (especially as interpretable or compilable source code).

[0086] --Logic code metadata that provides verifiable information about the source of the logic code, and / or

[0087] --Machine-readable programs, in particular, interface the processing inputs and / or outputs of user equipment routing strategy functionality as compiled or executable code.

[0088] Therefore, the method of the present invention can be advantageously implemented and carried out in a relatively simple and efficient manner: by using processing logic instructions, the flexibility of using user equipment routing policy rules or user equipment routing policy information can be advantageously increased.

[0089] Furthermore, according to the invention, advantageously and preferably, particularly as part of a routing descriptor or as part of a routing component of user equipment routing policy information, modification and / or disposal instructions include or correspond to notification instructions, or user equipment routing policy information includes notification instructions (particularly as modification and / or disposal instructions).

[0090] Specifically, the user equipment routing strategy functionality includes a key performance indicator (KPI) monitoring function, wherein, upon detecting that a specific KPI has reached or exceeded a KPI threshold, a notification is triggered by the user equipment.

[0091] The specific key performance indicator refers to or relates to the amount (e.g., bytes, number of packets), content (e.g., destination address), characteristics (e.g., inter-packet time), and / or properties (e.g., protocol type) and / or billing data records of data routed by the corresponding user equipment routing policy rules.

[0092] Therefore, the method of the present invention can be advantageously implemented and carried out in a relatively simple and efficient manner: by means of a notification instruction, a notification can be advantageously transmitted to the core network, thereby enabling the core network to understand the uplink traffic management of the user equipment.

[0093] Furthermore, according to the invention, advantageously and preferably, particularly as part of a routing descriptor or as part of a routing component of user equipment routing policy information, modification and / or disposal instructions include or correspond to rule modification instructions, or user equipment routing policy information includes rule modification instructions (particularly as modification and / or disposal instructions).

[0094] Specifically, the user equipment routing policy functionality includes a key performance indicator monitoring function, which, upon detecting that a specific key performance indicator has reached or exceeded a key performance indicator threshold, triggers a modification of the user equipment routing policy rules to be applied.

[0095] Specific key performance indicators include, or involve, the amount of data routed by the corresponding user equipment routing policy rules and / or billing data records.

[0096] Specifically, the validity status of the corresponding user equipment routing policy rule is changed by detecting whether a key performance indicator threshold has been reached or exceeded.

[0097] Therefore, the method of the present invention can be advantageously implemented and carried out in a relatively simple and efficient manner: by using rule modification instructions, the flexibility of using user equipment routing policy rules or user equipment routing policy information can be advantageously increased.

[0098] Furthermore, according to the invention, advantageously and preferably, notifications are transmitted by the user equipment, particularly to the core network of the telecommunications network and / or its home core network, as a result of the application of a specific user equipment routing policy rule, especially as a result of a modification and / or disposal instruction or part thereof of the specific user equipment routing policy rule, or as a result of a modification and / or disposal instruction corresponding to or including one or more of bandwidth limiting instructions, header modification instructions, traffic encryption instructions, notification instructions, and rule modification instructions.

[0099] The notification should include at least the following information:

[0100] --Reference information for generating specific user equipment routing policy rules and / or reference information for generating modification and / or disposal instructions, and / or

[0101] --Trigger event information, which indicates or relates to the triggering event or triggering condition that generated the trigger notification.

[0102] Therefore, the method of the invention can be advantageously implemented and carried out in a relatively simple and efficient manner according to the invention, so that notifications generated by user equipment and generally transmitted to the core network or its home core network can be meaningfully processed.

[0103] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a user equipment for using or applying user equipment routing policy information when operating with a telecommunications network including a core network.

[0104] The user equipment uses or applies the routing policy information to user plane data composed of or carried by data packets.

[0105] The user equipment includes user equipment routing policy functionality for using or applying user equipment routing policy information, so that data packets including or carrying such user plane data are processed according to the user equipment routing policy information.

[0106] The user equipment routing policy information includes at least one modification and / or disposal instruction to enable the user equipment to be configured to functionally dispose of or process, with respect to the data packets to be considered by the user equipment routing policy, such that:

[0107] --The data packets under consideration are received functionally by the user equipment's routing policy.

[0108] --Based on or dependent on the content of at least one modification and / or disposal instruction, one or more of the following actions are performed:

[0109] --The data packets under consideration are either discarded or buffered.

[0110] --The data packets under consideration are modified and processed into specific protocol data unit sessions that are assigned to or fed to the user equipment.

[0111] --The user equipment transmits the notification to the core network of the telecommunications network.

[0112] --The user equipment routing policy information has been modified.

[0113] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a system or telecommunications network for using or applying user equipment routing policy information when operating user equipment connected to a telecommunications network, the telecommunications network including a core network.

[0114] The user equipment is configured to use or apply the routing policy information to user plane data composed of or carried by data packets.

[0115] The user equipment includes user equipment routing policy functionality for using or applying user equipment routing policy information, such that data packets including or carrying such user plane data are processed according to the user equipment routing policy information.

[0116] The user equipment routing policy information includes at least one modification and / or disposal instruction to enable the system (including the user equipment and the telecommunications network) or the telecommunications network to be configured such that, regarding the data packets to be functionally disposed of or processed by the user equipment routing policy, the system (including the user equipment and the telecommunications network) is configured to:

[0117] --The data packets under consideration are received functionally by the user equipment's routing policy.

[0118] --Based on or dependent on the content of at least one modification and / or disposal instruction, one or more of the following actions are performed:

[0119] --The data packets under consideration are either discarded or buffered.

[0120] --The data packets under consideration are modified and processed into specific protocol data unit sessions that are assigned to or fed to the user equipment.

[0121] --The user equipment transmits the notification to the core network of the telecommunications network.

[0122] --The user equipment routing policy information has been modified.

[0123] Additionally, the present invention relates to a program comprising computer-readable program code that, when executed on a computer, and / or on a user equipment, and / or on a network node of a telecommunications network, particularly on policy and billing functions, or partially on a user equipment, and / or partially on a network node of a telecommunications network, particularly on policy and billing functions, causes the computer and / or the user equipment and / or the network node of the telecommunications network to execute the method of the present invention.

[0124] Additionally, the present invention relates to a computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed on a computer, and / or on a user equipment, and / or on a network node of a telecommunications network, particularly on policy and billing functions, or partially on a user equipment, and / or partially on a network node of a telecommunications network, particularly on policy and billing functions, cause the computer and / or the user equipment and / or the network node of the telecommunications network to perform the method of the present invention.

[0125] These and other features, characteristics, and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which the principles of the invention are illustrated by way of example. This specification is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Reference is made to the accompanying drawings cited below.

[0126] Brief description of the attached figures

[0127] Figure 1 The illustration depicts a telecommunications network comprising an access network, a core network, and user equipment, wherein the core network typically includes several network functions or services, such as policy and accounting functions, which are usually configured to transmit user equipment routing policy information to the user equipment.

[0128] Figure 2 and Figure 3 Different variations or embodiments of the user equipment routing strategy functionality within or as part of the user equipment are illustrated in more detail, implying its functionality.

[0129] Figure 4 and Figure 5 An example of using bandwidth limitation indication as part of user equipment routing policy rules or as part of user equipment routing policy information is illustrated.

[0130] Figure 6 A communication diagram illustrating the notification logic for handling excessive call traffic is provided.

[0131] Figure 7 and 8Different embodiments of using traffic encryption instructions as modification and / or disposal instructions or as part of modification and / or disposal instructions are illustrated schematically.

[0132] Figure 9 An example of a communication graph related to the use of notifications and / or modifications to user equipment routing policy rules is illustrated. Detailed Implementation

[0133] The invention will be described with reference to specific embodiments and certain accompanying drawings, but the invention is not limited thereto, but is defined only by the claims. The described drawings are merely illustrative and not restrictive. In the drawings, some elements may be enlarged and not drawn to scale for illustrative purposes.

[0134] Use the indefinite or definite article when referring to a singular noun. For example, unless otherwise specified, “one,” “a,” and “the” include the plural form of the noun.

[0135] Furthermore, the terms first, second, third, etc., used in the specification and claims are used to distinguish between similar elements and are not necessarily used to describe order or chronological sequence. It should be understood that such terms are interchangeable where appropriate, and the embodiments of the invention described herein can operate in an order different from that described or illustrated herein.

[0136] exist Figure 1 The diagram schematically illustrates a telecommunications network 100 comprising an access network 110 and a core network 120. The telecommunications network 100, particularly the core network 120, typically includes several network functions or services, such as a policy and charging function 130, which is typically configured to transmit user equipment routing policy information 400 to user equipment 20. The access network 110 includes multiple radio cells 11, 12. Figure 1 In the exemplary situation or scenario shown, a first base station entity 111 generates or is associated with or spans a first radio cell 11, and a second base station entity 112 generates or is associated with or spans a second radio cell 12. User equipment 20 includes user equipment routing policy information 400 and user equipment routing policy functionality 21 to enable the user equipment routing policy information 400—specifically, user equipment routing policy rules—to be correctly applied, i.e., the different upstream traffic flows (i.e., corresponding related data packets) typically transmitted by user equipment 20 to core network 120 can be correctly processed. According to the invention, the user equipment routing policy information 400 includes at least one modification and / or processing instruction 410.

[0137] User equipment 20 is typically, but not necessarily, mobile, i.e., capable of moving relative to the (typically, but not necessarily, static) radio cells 11, 12 or corresponding base station entities 111, 112 of the access network 110. Figure 1 In the exemplary illustration, core network 120 includes or is connected to data network 131. Core network 120 provides user equipment 20 with data connectivity to data network 131.

[0138] Furthermore, the user equipment routing policy repository 125 is accessible at least via the telecommunications network 100, and it is specifically a part of the telecommunications network 100 or its core network 120.

[0139] Figure 1 This mainly illustrates a simplified scenario where user equipment 20 is connected to its home network 100, and in particular its home public land mobile network, i.e. Figure 1 The telecommunications network 100 shown corresponds to the home network of the user equipment 20. In any case, the user equipment 20 uses the access network 120 (typically a radio access network) for connection.

[0140] In cases where the access network 120 does not correspond to (or belong to) the home network or home public land mobile network of the user equipment 20 (i.e., where the telecommunications network 100 is not the home network of the user equipment 20), the access network 120 to which the user equipment 20 is connected is referred to as the visited network or visited public land mobile network of the user equipment 20; and in this case, the user equipment 20 is typically also connected to its home network, or to the core network of its home network. This is in Figure 1 The diagram is schematically shown using (another) telecommunications network 100' (i.e., the home network of user equipment 20 in the case where telecommunications network 100 is the visited network) and the corresponding (another) core network 120'.

[0141] exist Figure 2 and 3 The user equipment routing strategy functionality 21 is illustrated in more detail based on different embodiments or variations of the invention. Generally speaking, and referring to... Figure 2 and 3 The user equipment routing policy function 21 provides the handling of different data streams or data packets to be transmitted by the user equipment 20 (typically in the upstream direction to the core network 120 of the telecommunications network 100). The different data streams—that is, the corresponding data packets—are schematically shown as entering the user equipment routing policy function 21 from the bottom side (indicated by the reference numerals A, B, and C, which exemplarily represent three different data streams or data packet streams).

[0142] According to two embodiments or variations of the User Equipment Routing Policy Functionality 21, the User Equipment Routing Policy Functionality 21 includes a Traffic Selection Functionality 22. With the help of Traffic Selection Functionality 22, different data packets from different data flows A, B, and C are typically matched with the corresponding User Equipment Routing Policy Information 400, and in particular, the corresponding User Equipment Routing Policy Rules (as part of the User Equipment Routing Policy Information 400), wherein the User Equipment Routing Policy Rules apply only to matched traffic (i.e., matched data packets).

[0143] Ultimately, data packets from different data streams A, B, and C are specifically directed to a given protocol data unit session. Figure 2 and 3 The diagram schematically illustrates three such protocol data unit sessions (designated by reference numerals 501, 502, and 503). Routing is performed, in particular, using routing descriptors via routing functionality 22', to determine where (i.e., to which protocol data unit sessions 501, 502, and 503) the appropriate traffic, i.e., the data packets under consideration, is sent.

[0144] According to the invention, the modification and / or disposition instruction 410 specifically acts as a “packet processing” routing descriptor. In this sense, according to the invention, the routing descriptor becomes a “general traffic processing descriptor” that routes only a subset of its traffic (to different protocol data unit sessions 501, 502, 503) – for example, it extends the UE routing policy rule 400 to cover traffic manipulation logic, and the proposed functionality extends the UE routing policy functionality 21 by allowing the UE routing policy rule to modify and / or reshape matched traffic. Furthermore, according to the invention, it is advantageous to trigger notifications and / or modifications to the UE routing policy rule 400 toward the core network 120 by means of traffic / usage-related conditions in the UE routing policy information 400 (as part of the modification and / or disposition instruction 410), thereby allowing modification of the UE routing policy rule 400 based on key performance indicators of use, and generation of notifications / reports based on the use of the UE routing policy rule 400.

[0145] according to Figure 2The embodiment of the user equipment routing policy function 21 illustrated in the example includes, in addition to traffic selection function 22 (and routing function 22'), traffic modification function 23 and traffic shaping function 24. The modification function 23 enables the user equipment routing policy function 21 to modify data traffic, i.e., modify data packets, for example, by changing the packet header and / or encrypting data packets (or portions thereof). The traffic shaping function 24 enables the user equipment routing policy function 21 to shape matching traffic to suit a specific traffic profile, for example, by bandwidth shaping.

[0146] according to Figure 3 An exemplary embodiment of the user equipment routing policy functionality 21, as illustrated, includes, in addition to traffic selection functionality 22 (and routing functionality 22'), a traffic function 25, a key performance indicator monitoring function 26, and a key performance indicator-based logic function 27. The key performance indicator monitoring function 26 performs monitoring of various key performance indicators (such as uplink user plane traffic) of the user equipment 20. The key performance indicator-based logic function 27 is triggered based on user equipment routing policy rules using key performance indicators (i.e., user equipment routing policy usage based on key performance indicators). This key performance indicator-based logic function 27 can guide other user equipment routing policy components or functions and / or generate notifications to external entities (particularly the core network 120 of the telecommunications network 100) or internal entities (such as, for example, applications running on the user equipment 20) (see reference numeral N).

[0147] According to the present invention, the limitations associated with the conventional known use of user equipment routing policy information 400 (in particular, such user equipment routing policy rules 400 are only used to select the corresponding (data) traffic (or data stream) A, B, C to be sent or fed to the matching protocol data unit sessions 501, 502, 503) can be advantageously overcome.

[0148] Also according to the invention, user equipment routing policy information (or user equipment routing policy rules included in or included by the user equipment routing policy information) indicates or specifies how the user equipment will handle such data packets (of data flows A, B, C). According to the invention, it is proposed to expand the possible handling options for such considered data packets (of data flows A, B, C). In particular, for example, according to the invention, it is advantageously possible for the user equipment routing policy or user equipment routing policy rules to modify (or more precisely, to specify (user equipment routing policy functionality 21 of user equipment 20) the considered data packets), for example, by using data packets routed using a given user equipment routing policy rule or a given protocol data unit session (e.g., this may include, for example, modifying the header content or the traffic (or the considered data packet itself) by means of encrypting at least a portion of the considered data packet, particularly its payload portion).

[0149] Furthermore, according to the present invention, for example, it is advantageously possible that the user equipment routing policy or user equipment routing policy rule 400 can drop or buffer (or more precisely, can specify (user equipment routing policy functionality 21 of user equipment 20) drop or buffer) the data packets under consideration.

[0150] Furthermore, according to the invention, it is advantageous, for example, that the user equipment routing policy or user equipment routing policy rule 400 can transmit (or more precisely, can specify (user equipment 20's user equipment routing policy functionality 21) transmission) one or more notifications (such as, for example, the first data packet of a data stream) triggered by certain events.

[0151] Furthermore, according to the present invention, for example, it is advantageously possible that the user equipment routing policy or user equipment routing policy rule can be modified, particularly deleted, or invalidated (or more precisely, can specify (user equipment 20 user equipment routing policy functionality 21) modification, particularly deletion, or invalidation) of the user equipment routing policy information 400, particularly the same user equipment routing policy rule (i.e., the user equipment routing policy rule specifies its own modification, particularly its deletion or invalidation). Such modification, particularly deletion or invalidation, is also triggered by an event (e.g., an event related to a key performance indicator).

[0152] Therefore, according to the method of the present invention, when the user equipment 20 is operated to connect to the telecommunications network 100, the user equipment routing policy information 400 is used or applied by the user equipment 20 in a more flexible manner (or is able to use or apply it).

[0153] According to the present invention, in order to advantageously provide the possibility of overcoming the limitations associated with the conventional known use of user equipment routing policy information, the user equipment routing policy information 400 includes at least one modification and / or disposal instruction 410 (in Figure 1 (Illustratively explained below), the modification and / or disposal instruction 410 corresponds to a portion (or multiple portions) of the instruction (or specification) of the user equipment routing policy information 400 (i.e., one or more user equipment routing policy rules 400) regarding one or more disposal options or actions for one or more considered data packets. Therefore, according to the invention, the considered data packet can be disposed of or processed by the user equipment 20, or more precisely, by the user equipment routing policy functionality 21, by performing the step of receiving the considered data packet (as part of one of data flows A, B, C) by the user equipment routing policy functionality 21 (in a manner indicated or specified by at least one modification and / or disposal instruction 410 as part of the user equipment routing policy information 400), and in a second step, and based on or depending on the content of at least one modification and / or disposal instruction, one or more of the following actions are performed:

[0154] --The data packets under consideration are either discarded or buffered.

[0155] --The data packets under consideration are modified and processed into specific protocol data unit sessions that are assigned to or fed to the user equipment.

[0156] --The user equipment transmits the notification to the core network of the telecommunications network.

[0157] --The user equipment routing policy information has been modified.

[0158] However, in addition, according to the invention, it is advantageous to overcome the limitations associated with the conventional known use of user equipment routing policy information by considering not only the data packets under consideration in a more or less isolated manner, but also by considering data flows (A, B, C), i.e., data packet flows (meaning more than one data packet). Such data flows or data packet flows also have attributes associated with the data flows, and therefore not solely with the data packets (e.g., their history, data volume, or bandwidth requirements). According to the invention, it is also advantageously possible that, based on or depending on the content of at least one modification and / or disposal instruction 410, one or more actions are performed based on one (or more) attributes of the considered data flow. That is, according to the invention, the user equipment routing policy information 400 includes at least one modification and / or disposal instruction 410 to cause the considered data packets (as part of the considered data flow or considered data packet stream) to be processed or handled by the user equipment routing policy functionality 21, and the considered data packets (after being received by the user equipment routing policy functionality 21 as part of the considered data flow or considered data packet stream), to be disposed of based on or depending on the content of at least one modification and / or disposal instruction 410 according to one or more of the following actions:

[0159] --The data packets under consideration are either discarded or buffered.

[0160] --The data packets under consideration are modified and processed into specific protocol data unit sessions that are assigned to or fed to the user equipment.

[0161] --The data packets under consideration are processed as a separate, specific protocol data unit session that is assigned to or fed to the user equipment, and is different from the protocol data unit session used for previous data packets of the data stream under consideration or the data packet stream under consideration.

[0162] --The user equipment transmits the notification to the core network of the telecommunications network.

[0163] --The user equipment routing policy information has been modified.

[0164] Therefore, according to such embodiments of the invention, instead of considering only one data packet (i.e., 'the considered data packet'), a data stream or data packet stream is considered, i.e., at least two data packets, and the user equipment routing policy information 400 includes at least one modification and / or disposal instruction 410 such that, regarding the considered preceding data packet—the considered data packet and the considered preceding data packet specifically belong to the same data stream or the same data stream (or data packet stream), and the considered preceding data packet precedes the considered data packet—the method includes a third step prior to the first step, wherein, in the third step, the considered preceding data packet is received by the user equipment routing policy functionality 21, and based on or depending on the content of the at least one modification and / or disposal instruction 410, the considered preceding data packet is disposed as being assigned or fed to a specific protocol data unit session of the user equipment.

[0165] Therefore, according to such embodiments of the invention, the considered data stream (or data packet stream) has the property that a certain triggering condition has not been met or verified up to the considered preceding data packet (and thus, typically, data packets of such a data stream are assigned or fed to a specific protocol data unit session (e.g., 501) or a 'normal' protocol data unit session), while such triggering conditions are met or verified when received at the user equipment routing policy functionality 21 or when processing the considered data packet (after the considered preceding data packet), thereby causing one or more of the mentioned actions to be performed (including discarding or buffering or modifying the considered data packet, or transmitting notification or modification user equipment routing policy information).

[0166] In this respect, according to the invention, particularly preferably, the data packets under consideration are processed—alternatively or cumulatively with respect to the actions of the second step or one or more of the actions defined in the second step—so that they are assigned or fed to a different specific protocol data unit session (e.g., 502) of the user equipment 20, which is different from the specific (or 'normal') protocol data unit session (i.e., the specific protocol data unit session is the normal (or default or prescribed) protocol data unit session for the data packets of the data stream under consideration).

[0167] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the modification and / or disposal instruction 410 includes or corresponds to a bandwidth limitation instruction, or the user equipment routing policy information 400 includes a bandwidth limitation instruction (particularly as the modification and / or disposal instruction 410). Thus, it is advantageously possible to set bandwidth limitations by using the user equipment routing policy information 400.

[0168] As part of the Modification and / or Disposal Instruction 410 (which itself is part of the User Equipment Routing Policy Information 400 or the considered User Equipment Routing Policy Rule 400), or as part of or corresponding to the Bandwidth Limiting Instruction 410 (part of the User Equipment Routing Policy Information 400), particularly as part of the routing descriptor or as part of the routing component of the User Equipment Routing Policy Information 400 (or User Equipment Routing Policy Rule 400), using the Bandwidth Limiting Instruction as part of the User Equipment Routing Policy Information 400 results in the following behavior of the User Equipment 20: once the bandwidth limit is reached, traffic (transmitted by the User Equipment 20) is throttled, i.e., particularly in the case of the considered preceding data packet or after the considered preceding data packet, resulting in subsequent traffic, particularly the considered data packet, being throttled (particularly by means of the considered data packet being dropped or buffered or assigned or fed to another specific Protocol Data Unit session (particularly with a lower quality of service level) instead of the specific Protocol Data Unit session).

[0169] Specifically, the (core) network 120 and / or applications are provided with notification that a given rule has been triggered (e.g., allowing applications to determine whether to reduce traffic or use another protocol data unit session). Furthermore, according to the invention, it is possible and preferred that the bandwidth limiting indication specifies how to handle traffic (e.g., buffering, dropping, referencing a given routing identifier). Specifically, the bandwidth limiting indication includes instructions that enable the handling of excessive traffic to be defined by specifically buffering such excessive traffic and / or dropping such excessive traffic and / or applying predefined user equipment routing policy rules to such excessive traffic.

[0170] Specifically, this embodiment allows the user equipment routing policy rule 400 to incorporate traffic shaping functionality into the user equipment 20, thereby releasing this functionality of the core network 120 in the uplink direction, specifically implementing, for example, bandwidth limiting schemes such as: maximum bit rate (MBR), guaranteed bit rate (GBR) or packet rate implementation, i.e., bit rate shaping to match traffic.

[0171] In particular, the bandwidth limitation indication therefore serves as a QER, QoS (Quality of Service) enforcement rule.

[0172] Specifically, excessive traffic is dropped using a bandwidth limiting indication, which includes a traffic destination indication as part of a routing descriptor or as part of a routing component in the user equipment routing policy information 400.

[0173] Specifically, in the case of the preceding data packet under consideration or after the preceding data packet under consideration, a bandwidth limitation is reached, resulting in the transmission of a notification or message by the user equipment 20 toward the core network 120 and / or to the application server entity.

[0174] exist Figure 4 and 5 The figures schematically illustrate exemplary embodiments of the use of bandwidth limiting indications. These figures, according to various variations, schematically illustrate bandwidth limiting indications as part of User Equipment Routing Policy Rule 400 or as part of User Equipment Routing Policy Information 400. According to the invention, User Equipment Routing Policy Information 400 (i.e., particularly its structure) is defined in a manner different from its currently known definition in the current version of 3GPP TS23.503, because according to the invention, it includes Modification and / or Disposal Indication 410, wherein Modification and / or Disposal Indication 410 includes a bandwidth limiting indication or corresponds to a bandwidth limiting indication (i.e., in the latter case, the bandwidth indication and Modification and / or Disposal Indication 410 can be used synonymously).

[0175] Figure 4 and 5 Different embodiments of the structure of the user equipment routing policy information 400 according to the present invention are illustrated schematically, wherein Figure 4 and 5 The exemplary representation shows that the user equipment routing policy information 400 includes multiple (individual) user equipment routing policy rules 460, 470, 480, 490 (i.e., first user equipment routing policy rule 460, second user equipment routing policy rule 470, third user equipment routing policy rule 480, and fifth user equipment routing policy rule 490), and wherein, for simplicity, only the structure of one of these rules (i.e., user equipment routing policy rule 460 or first user equipment routing policy rule 460) is shown schematically; however, it should be understood that the other user equipment routing policy rules 470, 480, 490 can be constructed similarly.

[0176] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, such as Figure 4 and 5As shown, the modification and / or disposition indication 410 (including bandwidth limitation indication or corresponding bandwidth indication) of the user equipment routing policy rule 460 (including priority value 461, traffic descriptor 462, and at least one routing descriptor (list) 463) is part of at least one routing descriptor (list) 463. That is, the user equipment routing policy rule 460 includes at least one routing descriptor (list) 463 as part of the routing verification criterion 465 (and in addition to the routing component 464) – see [link to documentation]. Figure 4 —Or as part of routing component 464 (and in addition to routing validation criterion 465)—see Figure 5 Modification and / or disposal instructions 410.

[0177] In particular, Figure 4 and Figure 5 The indication that modification and / or disposal instruction 410 is or corresponds to a bandwidth limitation instruction (particularly as a quality of service implementation rule (or quality of service implementation component)) is, in that case, reference numeral 410 refers to a bandwidth limitation instruction, particularly in the form of a quality of service implementation rule.

[0178] exist Figure 4 and 5 The diagram illustrates an example of how bandwidth limitation indications—as part of or corresponding to modification and / or disposition indications—can be integrated into the structure of user equipment routing policy rules. According to the invention, particularly preferably, as a replacement or accumulation of bandwidth limitation indications, header modification indications and / or traffic encryption indications and / or notification indications and / or rule modification indications can—again, as part of or corresponding to modification and / or disposition indications—in the same manner (i.e., as part of at least one routing descriptor (list) 463 and as part of routing verification criteria 465 (and in addition to routing component 464)—see [reference]. Figure 4 —Or as part of routing component 464 (and in addition to routing validation criterion 465)—see Figure 5 The modification and / or disposal instructions 410) are integrated into the structure of the user equipment routing policy rules.

[0179] According to the present invention, the user equipment routing policy information 400 may include one user equipment routing policy rule 460 or multiple user equipment routing policy rules 460, 470, 480, and 490. In any case, according to the present invention, the modification and / or disposal instruction 410 is preferably part of one (i.e., only) user equipment routing policy rule 460 (in the user equipment routing policy information 400), or, in the case where multiple user equipment routing policy rules 460, 470, 480, and 490 exist (in the user equipment routing policy information 400 or as part of the user equipment routing policy information 400), the modification and / or disposal instruction 410 is part of one of these user equipment routing policy rules 460, 470, 480, and 490; alternatively, the modification and / or disposal instruction 410 is part of more than one of these user equipment routing policy rules 460, 470, 480, and 490. Apart from the modification and / or disposal instruction 410, the structure of the user equipment routing policy information 400 corresponds to the definition in the current version of 3GPP TS23.503, that is, it is or corresponds to a set of one or more URSP rules 460, 470, 480, 490, wherein the user equipment routing policy rule or each user equipment routing policy rule 460, 470, 480, 490 generally includes three parts: priority value, traffic descriptor, and one or more routing descriptors.

[0180] Since the User Equipment Routing Policy Information 400 may include only one User Equipment Routing Policy Rule, the two terms (User Equipment Routing Policy Information and User Equipment Routing Policy Rule) are also referred to synonymously with reference to the figure numeral 400 throughout this specification.

[0181] Regardless of the circumstances, according to the present invention, the User Equipment (UE) routing policy information 400 or UE routing policy rule 400, particularly in cases where it includes a bandwidth limitation indication (modification and / or disposal indication or as modification and / or disposal indication 410), advantageously specifies how to handle “excessive traffic” (or how to do so in the case of “excessive traffic”) (e.g., buffering traffic and / or dropping traffic and / or applying the given UE routing policy rule and / or whether UE 20 should notify core network 120 once excessive traffic exists) and what happens to that traffic. Figure 6The diagram illustrates an example of this notification logic (as a communication diagram between User Equipment 20 and Core Network 120 (without interference from Access Network 110)): In the first processing step 601, User Equipment routing policy rule #1 is set (via a corresponding message transmitted from Core Network 120 to User Equipment 20). In the second processing step 602, User Equipment routing policy rule #2 is set (via a corresponding message transmitted from Core Network 120 to User Equipment 20), which includes applying User Equipment routing policy rule #1 to the Quality of Service Enforcement Rule QER for excessive traffic (as an example of a bandwidth limitation indication in Modification and / or Handling Instruction 410). In the third processing step 603, User Equipment routing policy rule #3 is set (via a corresponding message transmitted from Core Network 120 to User Equipment 20), which includes the Quality of Service Enforcement Rule QER for buffering excessive traffic (as an example of a bandwidth limitation indication in Modification and / or Handling Instruction 410). In the fourth processing step 604, User Equipment (UE) routing policy rule #4 is set (via a corresponding message transmitted from Core Network 120 to UE 20), which includes a Quality of Service (QoS) enforcement rule (QER) for dropping excessive traffic (as an example of a bandwidth limitation indication in Modify and / or Dispose of Instruction 410). In the fifth processing step 605, UE 20 detects or determines excessive traffic for UE routing policy rule #2, and in the sixth processing step 606 (to Core Network 120), notifies UE routing policy rule #1 to be applied to the excessive traffic from UE routing policy rule #2. In the seventh processing step 607, UE 20 detects or determines excessive traffic for UE routing policy rule #3, and in the eighth processing step 608 (to Core Network 120), notifies UE 20 to buffer the excessive traffic from UE routing policy rule #3. In the ninth processing step 609, user equipment 20 detects or determines excessive traffic for user equipment routing policy rule #4, and in the tenth processing step 610 (to the core network 120), notifies the user equipment to drop the excessive traffic from user equipment routing policy rule #4.

[0182] In cases where a bandwidth limitation indication signals the dropping of traffic, the corresponding User Equipment (UE) routing policy rule 400 specifically includes a corresponding indication in the routing descriptor list, that is, specifically adding the definition of the destination of the dropped traffic to the routing descriptor (e.g., in the form of a " / dev / null destination" indication for traffic matching the UE routing policy rule or for traffic exceeding the UE routing policy rule); furthermore, a notification is generated and transmitted to the core network 120 and / or to the application regarding the triggering of a given rule (e.g., allowing the application to determine whether to reduce traffic or use another Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session). Alternatively or cumulatively, according to the invention, periodic or network-triggered reporting of dropped traffic volume (in the form of a notification) is also possible and preferred. Thus, the simple addition of UE routing policy rules allows for the implementation of traffic dropping functionality in the User Equipment 20 by means of using UE routing policy rules (UE routing policy information) 400, preferably by means of adding the traffic destination as the destination in (the) routing components.

[0183] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the modification and / or disposal instruction 410 includes or corresponds to a header modification instruction, or the user equipment routing policy information 400 includes a header modification instruction (particularly as modification and / or disposal instruction 410). Thus, it is advantageously possible to apply changes to (data) packets routed via the considered user equipment routing policy rule 400, for example, the DSCP (Differentiated Service Code Point Value) can be changed. Specifically, the header modification instruction includes information fragments regarding one or more of the following: header identifier, name, location and / or variable type (string, int, ...) and / or the value to be used.

[0184] As part of the Modification and / or Disposal Instruction 410 (which itself is part of the User Equipment Routing Policy Information 400 or the User Equipment Routing Policy Rule 400 under consideration), or as part of the header modification instruction corresponding to the Modification and / or Disposal Instruction 410 (part of the User Equipment Routing Policy Information 400), particularly part of the routing descriptor or part of the routing component of the User Equipment Routing Policy Information 400 (or User Equipment Routing Policy Rule 400).

[0185] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the modification and / or disposal instruction 410 includes or corresponds to a traffic encryption instruction, or the user equipment routing policy information 400 includes a traffic encryption instruction (particularly as the modification and / or disposal instruction 410). This advantageously allows traffic encryption to be provided based on user equipment routing policy rules or user equipment routing policy information 400.

[0186] In conventional telecommunications networks, user equipment routing policy rules are manipulated by the Policy and Charging Function (as part of the core network 120), specifically by the H-PCF (i.e., the Home Policy and Charging Function, or the Home Network's Policy and Charging Function) in roaming situations. Thus, the core network 120 (or the home core network, i.e., the H-CN) knows which user equipment routing policy information 400 or user equipment routing policy rules 400 are placed in the user equipment 20. Therefore, by encrypting traffic or data packets via user equipment routing policy rules or information, the home operator can manipulate the process to enable the following operations:

[0187] --Traffic is not visible to the access network.

[0188] -- Traffic is not visible to the core network of the V-PLMN (the surveyed telecommunications network).

[0189] This is Figure 7 and 8 The diagram schematically illustrates different embodiments of using a traffic encryption instruction as a modification and / or disposal instruction 410 or as part of a modification and / or disposal instruction 410. Figure 7 The diagram illustrates user equipment 20 transmitting three data streams A, B, and C (e.g., generated or produced by three applications A', B', and C'). These data streams A, B, and C are provided to user equipment routing policy functionality 21 of user equipment 20, wherein data stream A is provided to or handled by a second user equipment routing policy rule 402, while data streams B and C are provided to or handled by a first user equipment routing policy rule 401 (e.g., "Regarding call A, user equipment routing policy rule 401 (with encryption) should be set, while calls B and C should use the default user equipment routing policy rule 402"). Figure 7 An exemplary illustration is shown of a second user equipment routing policy rule 402, which includes a traffic encryption instruction as part of a modification and / or disposal instruction 410, causing data stream A (i.e., data packets of data stream A) to be (at least partially or completely) encrypted (e.g., regarding its payload portion (i.e., specifically excluding its header portion) or regarding at least a portion of its payload portion), and is specifically marked to enable the receiving gateway GW to filter and decrypt. Figure 7 In the exemplary embodiment shown, data packets of data stream A and data packets of data streams B and C use the same protocol data unit session (in Figure 7The data stream A (represented as Protocol Data Unit Session 501) is transmitted (or delivered) from User Equipment 20 to Core Network 120 (in this case, Core Network 120 corresponds to the core network of the home network of User Equipment 20), or more precisely, to the Gateway GW of Core Network 120, such as its user plane functions. Since User Equipment 20 encrypts data stream A—by the second User Equipment routing policy 402 and, in particular, its traffic encryption instruction or specification—data stream A can only be decrypted by the Gateway GW of Core Network 120. Therefore, the (encrypted) content of data stream A is inaccessible (or cannot be accessed by Access Network 110) (even if such access is attempted).

[0190] In roaming scenarios where traffic is routed from the V-PLMN to the H-PLMN, it is advantageous to perform decryption at the H-PLMN, thereby obfuscating traffic originating from the V-PLMN. This is in Figure 8 The diagram schematically illustrates that User Equipment 20 exemplarily transmits three data streams A, B, and C (e.g., generated or produced by three applications A', B', and C'). These data streams A, B, and C are again provided to User Equipment Routing Policy Functionality 21 of User Equipment 20, wherein data stream A is provided to or handled by a second User Equipment Routing Policy Rule 402, while data streams B and C are provided to or handled by a first User Equipment Routing Policy Rule 401 (e.g., "Regarding call A, User Equipment Routing Policy Rule 401 (with encryption) should be set, while calls B and C should use the default User Equipment Routing Policy Rule 402"). Figure 8 An exemplary illustration is shown of a second user equipment routing policy rule 402, which includes a traffic encryption instruction as part of a modification and / or disposal instruction 410, causing data stream A (i.e., data packets of data stream A) to be (at least partially or completely) encrypted, and is specifically marked to enable the receiving gateway GW in the home telecommunications network of user equipment 20 to filter and decrypt. Figure 8 In the exemplary embodiment shown, data packets from data stream A, as well as data packets from data streams B and C, again use the same protocol data unit session (in Figure 8 This is represented as Protocol Data Unit Session 501 for transmission (or delivery). However, with Figure 7Conversely, in this case, user equipment 20 connects to the access network 110 of the visited network 100, and therefore, protocol data unit session 501 terminates at the corresponding gateway GW of the core network 120 of the visited telecommunications network 100. However, the encrypted data (of data stream A) is inaccessible to the core network 120 of the visited telecommunications network 100 because it remains encrypted until it is transmitted to the core network 120' of the user equipment 20's home network 100' (in the roaming scenario considered here); only the gateway GW' of the core network 120' of the home network 100' can decrypt the encrypted data of data stream A.

[0191] Because user equipment 20 encrypts data stream A by the second user equipment routing policy 402 and, in particular, its traffic encryption instruction or specification, data stream A can only be decrypted by the gateway GW' of the core network 120' of the home network 100'. Therefore, the (encrypted) content of data stream A is inaccessible (or cannot be accessed by the access network 110) to the access network 110 of the visited network 100 and to the core network 120 of the visited network 100 (even if such access is attempted).

[0192] Specifically, according to the present invention, the call encryption instruction includes encryption parameters, which are:

[0193] --Provided by telecommunications network 100 (especially in cases where it is a home network), or

[0194] --Provided by another telecommunications network (specifically, network 100', which is the home network of user equipment 20), or

[0195] --Provided by a third party (especially an application provider or application server entity).

[0196] In cases where the encryption parameters are provided by a third party, according to the present invention, particularly preferably, only the third party is capable of decrypting the encrypted data (similar to the provisions regarding...). Figure 7 and 8 (as described above), that is, the encrypted data is specifically kept encrypted through the visited telecommunications network and the home telecommunications network, and is decrypted only by the application provider or a third party.

[0197] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the modification and / or disposal instruction 410 includes or corresponds to a processing logic instruction, or the user equipment routing policy information 400 includes a processing logic instruction (particularly as the modification and / or disposal instruction 410). Thus, it is advantageously possible to provide the possibility of applying processing logic based on user equipment routing policy rules or user equipment routing policy information 400 (particularly in the routing description list):

[0198] According to this embodiment of the invention, instead of using (rather static) user equipment routing policy parameters (as part of user equipment routing policy rule 400), the user equipment routing policy rule is additionally or alternatively permitted to include program elements that are “black boxes” from the perspective of the corresponding user equipment routing policy rule. Such program elements are in particular traffic manipulation instructions describing the processing of traffic (i.e., “source code” where the actual instructions are visible). Alternatively (or cumulatively), such program elements are in particular machine-readable programs (partially) that interface with the input-output of the user equipment routing policy engine and / or user equipment routing policy function 21 (i.e., “compiled code” where the instructions themselves are not visible).

[0199] According to this embodiment, a runtime for grouping processing is typically required to allow platform-independent code to run (e.g., JVM, P4 compiler and executor, etc.). Specifically, a local repository is provided at user equipment 20 to store processing logic that can be referenced in the user equipment routing policy settings; this avoids sending or transmitting the entire code (information) each time. Furthermore, a reference to the grouping processing logic in user equipment routing policy rule 400 is specifically provided (instead of having the code itself within the user equipment routing policy rule) (e.g., by means of a "container repository" from which such logic can be retrieved).

[0200] This contrasts with the conventional, known use of user equipment routing policy information, which contains only parameters for a fixed set of traffic descriptors, routing descriptors, etc.; therefore, the available degrees of freedom are limited.

[0201] Furthermore, the packet processing logic is visible to User Equipment 20—therefore, according to an embodiment using at least one processing logic instruction, it is advantageously possible, according to the invention, for the network to deploy User Equipment routing policy rules that include packet processing applications. Typically, this requires the User Equipment routing policy to run, specifically including:

[0202] --The input packets that match the traffic description criteria are input into the interface of the matching user equipment routing policy program;

[0203] --The user equipment routing policy program outputs data packets back to the user equipment routing policy runtime interface;

[0204] Optionally, the user equipment routing policy program may exchange data with the user equipment routing policy runtime and / or other user equipment components through one or more interfaces (particularly one or more of the following: the capabilities of the URSP runtime, subscriber information within the user equipment, location, available access technologies, and communication with the access network and / or core network via the user equipment routing policy runtime or via other user equipment components (e.g., a DNS client) to, for example, retrieve network and / or radio load, query subscription data within the network, and / or request triggering network logic (e.g., setting additional user equipment routing policy rules, activating specific features / quality of service)).

[0205] In short, the use of at least one processing logic instruction allows the network to deploy packet processing logic similar to that deployed in a packet gateway, thereby offloading packet processing in the uplink and reducing network-side load. Specifically, the user equipment routing policy program is preferably capable of including proprietary (e.g., operator-specific) rule implementations.

[0206] According to the present invention, the provision of corresponding User Equipment (UE) routing policy information, including at least one processing logic indication, is specifically implemented as follows: the core network setup includes UE routing policy rules referenced by the UE routing policy program (i.e., at least one processing logic indication includes or references a UE routing policy program); in the case where only a reference to the UE routing policy program is provided as part of the processing logic indication (i.e., as part of the UE routing policy rule), UE 20 retrieves UE routing policy program information from the UE routing policy program repository entity or functionality using the reference information of the UE routing policy rule / processing logic indication; UE 20 then includes or contains complete UE routing policy information, i.e., includes the UE routing policy program. In particular, UE 20 is able to (especially at the UE routing policy program repository) subscribe to changes to the corresponding UE routing policy program; subsequently, in the case of changes, modifications, or deletions to the corresponding UE routing policy program, or in the case of other related changes, it is notified (again, especially from the UE routing policy program repository).

[0207] In particular, according to the present invention, the user equipment routing policy program can utilize the capabilities of the user equipment routing policy runtime, i.e., at least with respect to one or more of the following:

[0208] --Data grouping manipulation

[0209] --Variables and Boolean logic,

[0210] --Interfaces directly or via an intermediate gateway (e.g., network exposure function in the case of 5G) with the user equipment routing policy runtime interface, and indirectly with other components within the user equipment 20 and / or the access network and / or the core network and / or with third-party components outside the core network.

[0211] This specifically allows arbitrary logic to be implemented (or triggered or specified by) within the user equipment routing policy rules, as long as it is supported by the user equipment routing policy runtime; it allows network operators to deploy customer-specific and / or proprietary data processing on user equipment via user equipment routing policy rules or user equipment routing policy information.

[0212] User Equipment (UE) routing policy procedures are also considered part of the UE routing policy rules sent from the core network to UE 20. This enables efficient use of UE routing policy procedures, allowing them to be instantiated only when certain criteria are met.

[0213] The additional aspect involves setting a "catch-all" traffic descriptor, which causes the user equipment routing policy (i.e., the user equipment routing policy program) to be applied to all traffic and / or involves not including the user equipment routing policy program itself in the user equipment routing policy sent from the core network, but instead including a reference to the user equipment routing policy repository in which the user equipment routing policy program can be retrieved.

[0214] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the modification and / or disposal instruction 410 includes or corresponds to a notification instruction, or the user equipment routing policy information 400 includes a notification instruction (particularly as the modification and / or disposal instruction 410). This advantageously allows for the generation of notifications based on the user equipment routing policy, particularly enabling the interface application owner to set user equipment routing policy rules in the user equipment 20, and the ability to generate notifications based on the user equipment routing policy.

[0215] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the modification and / or disposal instruction 410 includes or corresponds to a rule modification instruction, or the user equipment routing policy information 400 includes a rule modification instruction (particularly as the modification and / or disposal instruction 410). Thus, for example, in the case of reaching a data limit, the validity state of the user equipment routing policy rule can advantageously be changed by triggering an event (or the user equipment routing policy rule can be removed).

[0216] A typical use case involves the core network or external application owner (typically via core network exposure functions, such as network exposure functions in 5G) setting user equipment routing policy rules. These rules are conditional, data-triggered (particularly as opposed to purely time- and / or location-based user equipment routing policy conditions). This is especially true in… Figure 9 The diagram illustrates an embodiment of a communication graph related to the use of notifications and / or modifications to user equipment routing policy rules. Figure 9 The diagram illustrates the communication between User Equipment 20, Core Network 120, Application Owner AO, and Third Party 3P. In the first processing step 611, the AO (by sending a corresponding message to Core Network 120) sets up a User Equipment routing policy rule, which includes traffic-related triggering conditions and instructs the notification endpoint. In the second processing step 612, Core Network 120 (by sending a message to User Equipment 20) sets up the User Equipment routing policy triggering rules at (or to) User Equipment 20; this causes User Equipment 20 to monitor the triggering conditions (by including them in the corresponding User Equipment routing policy rule). In the third processing step 613, the triggering conditions are verified, i.e., a trigger is set at User Equipment 20, resulting in a User Equipment routing policy notification from User Equipment 20 to Core Network 120 in the fourth processing step 614. This, in turn, results in notifications from Core Network 120 to the AO (in the fifth processing step 615) and to the Third Party 3P (in the sixth processing step 616). In the optional seventh processing step 617, the user equipment routing policy rules are modified (e.g., deleted, invalidated, or disabled).

[0217] Therefore, according to the present invention, it is advantageously possible for the application owner's interface to set user equipment routing policy rules in user equipment 20, and the ability to generate notifications is based on the use of user equipment routing policy rules.

[0218] In particular, these notifications, but generally notifications triggered by all user equipment routing policy rules according to the present invention (i.e., notifications triggered by or according to a specific user equipment routing policy rule based on its modification and / or processing instructions, especially in cases where the modification and / or processing instructions are, correspond to or include at least one of bandwidth limiting instructions, header modification instructions, traffic encryption instructions, notification instructions, and rule modification instructions), include at least reference information for the specific user equipment routing policy rule for generation and / or reference information for the modification and / or processing instructions for generation, as well as trigger event information indicating or relating to the triggering event or triggering condition for triggering the notification.

[0219] By using at least one notification indication and / or at least one rule modification indication as part of a modification and / or processing indication, it is advantageously possible, according to the invention, to add reporting capabilities to user equipment routing policy rules. Therefore, user equipment routing policy rules are configured to include (e.g.) additional triggers, the description of which is as follows:

[0220] --The notification triggers the activation condition, such as the user equipment routing policy rule (absolute value or since the last trigger) routing a certain amount of data and / or the user equipment routing policy rule has been used;

[0221] --The type of trigger, for example, a one-time trigger (only once), a trigger whenever the condition is met, or a periodic trigger, that is, a periodic trigger if the condition has been met since the last time;

[0222] --Data to be included in the trigger, such as the total amount of current data transmitted or since the last trigger and / or a user equipment routing policy description or identifier that uniquely identifies the user equipment routing policy rule (at least within user equipment 20).

[0223] A possible use case for this functionality is the creation of billing data records (CDRs); such CDRs correspond to event-triggered notifications: such notifications are themselves CDRs or the notifications themselves are converted into CDRs, for example, by core network 120.

[0224] Furthermore, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the user equipment routing policy rules use relevant notifications to trigger logic within the core network to, for example, set, modify, or remove user equipment routing policy rules within user equipment 20 and / or manipulate session logic (e.g., protocol data unit session termination, session modification) and / or via, for example, notifications about individual user equipment or notifications from third-party entities regarding the network exposure function (NEF) of aggregated user equipment.

[0225] In conventional telecommunications networks, such triggering based on the use of a given user equipment routing policy rule (e.g., notification to other network components based on said rule) is not available; neither access traffic manipulation, switching and segmentation (ATSSS) based methods nor user equipment routing policy based methods implement notifications based on traffic rules (i.e., traffic filter triggering).

[0226] Furthermore, according to the invention, by using at least one notification indication and / or at least one rule modification indication as part of a modification and / or processing indication, a maximum data limit can be advantageously set, for example, for user equipment routing policy rules. That is, an additional option for triggering (or triggering the condition) is that the validity state of the user equipment routing policy rule is changed by a triggering event (or the removal of the user equipment routing policy rule). A typical example is reaching a given data limit: in this case, once the data limit is reached, the rule is no longer valid (e.g., the traffic subsequently uses another "default traffic rule"). User equipment 20 monitors how many traffic matches the rule and tracks when the transmitted data equals or exceeds a specified value. Once the limit is reached, the user equipment routing policy rule is no longer valid.

[0227] This specifically enables the ability to notify the network and / or applications that a given rule has been triggered (e.g., allowing applications to determine whether to apply specific logic, such as stopping time-sensitive logic; allowing the network to trigger carrier logic, such as notifying subscribers that their data cap has been exhausted) and / or to provide instructions on how to handle traffic (e.g., buffering, dropping, referencing a given routing identifier).

[0228] Therefore, this allows the user equipment routing policy rules to become invalid once a certain amount of traffic has been routed via or using such user equipment routing policy rules.

[0229] In particular, according to the present invention, several locations can be used to contain the upper limit of data containing the validity of constraint rules; in addition, a counter for tracking the current rule usage and the action to be taken after a set amount is reached can be implemented.

[0230] Once a user's data traffic, configured with routing policy rules, triggers this event, the following actions are possible and preferred:

[0231] --In cases of excessive traffic: Specify a traffic descriptor that implements one of the following options: buffer traffic, drop traffic, or apply another user equipment routing policy rule, i.e., apply the user equipment routing policy rule link.

[0232] --Remove the user equipment routing policy rule from the user equipment routing policy list.

[0233] --Mark the user equipment routing policy rule as invalid instead of deleting it.

[0234] Throughout this specification, it has been repeatedly mentioned that the modification and / or disposal instruction 410 includes or corresponds to a bandwidth limiting instruction, a header modification instruction, a traffic encryption instruction, a notification instruction, or a rule modification instruction. It will be understood that in cases where a modification and / or disposal notification is such a notification, the term modification and / or disposal instruction can be replaced by one of the corresponding other terms. Therefore, for example, in the specific case where a modification and / or disposal notification is (or corresponds to) a notification instruction, the user equipment routing policy information 400 includes at least one notification instruction to enable the user equipment 20 to transmit a notification to the core network 120 of the telecommunications network 100 regarding a considered data packet to be disposed of or processed by the user equipment routing policy functionality 21. Of course, in the specific case where the modification and / or processing notification is (or corresponds to) a header modification instruction or a traffic encryption instruction, the method will include the following steps: the user equipment routing policy functionally receives the data packet under consideration, and based on or depending on the content of the at least one header modification instruction or at least one traffic encryption instruction, the data packet under consideration is modified and processed to be assigned or fed to a specific protocol data unit session of the user equipment 20.

Claims

1. A method for applying user equipment routing policy information (400) when operating user equipment (20) connected to a telecommunications network (100), the telecommunications network (100) including a core network (120), The user equipment (20) applies the user equipment routing policy information (400) to the user plane data carried by the data packets. The user equipment (20) includes a user equipment routing policy function (21) for applying the user equipment routing policy information (400) to such that data packets carrying such user plane data are processed according to the user equipment routing policy information (400). The user equipment routing policy information (400) includes at least one modification and / or disposal instruction (410) to make the method include the following steps regarding the data packets to be processed by the user equipment routing policy functionality (21): --In the first step, the data packets under consideration are received by the user equipment routing policy functionality (21). --In the second step and based on the content of the at least one modification and / or disposal instruction (410), one or more of the following actions are performed by the user equipment routing policy functionality (21): --The data groups under consideration are processed as buffered. --The data packets under consideration are modified and processed into specific protocol data unit sessions assigned to the user equipment (20). --The user equipment (20) transmits a notification to the core network (120) of the telecommunications network (100). --The user equipment routing policy information (400) has been modified.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the user equipment routing policy information (400) comprising one or more routing policy rules includes at least one modification and / or disposal instruction (410) to make the method, with respect to the considered prior data packets, include a third step prior to the first step, wherein, In the third step, the considered preceding data packet is received by the user equipment routing policy functionality (21), and based on or depending on the content of the at least one modification and / or disposal instruction (410), the considered preceding data packet is disposed of as being assigned to a specific protocol data unit session of the user equipment (20), wherein the considered data packet and the considered preceding data packet belong to the same data stream, and the considered preceding data packet precedes the considered data packet.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the data packets under consideration are processed—cumulatively for one or more of the actions of the second step—so that they are assigned to another specific protocol data unit session of the user equipment (20) that is different from the specific protocol data unit session.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the modification and / or disposal instruction (410) includes or corresponds to a bandwidth limiting instruction, or the user equipment routing policy information (400) includes a bandwidth limiting instruction. In cases where bandwidth limitations are reached either before or after the considered preceding data packets, subsequent traffic is throttled. The bit rate associated with the data stream can be controlled. The bandwidth limiting indication includes instructions that enable the handling of such excessive traffic by buffering excessive traffic and / or applying predefined user equipment routing policy rules to the excessive traffic. In the case of the preceding data packet under consideration or after the preceding data packet under consideration, the bandwidth limit is reached, causing the user equipment (20) to transmit a notification or message toward the core network (120) and / or to the application server entity.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the modification and / or disposal instruction (410) includes or corresponds to a header modification instruction, or the user equipment routing policy information (400) includes a header modification instruction. The header modification instruction includes a description of the header parameters to be changed. The header modification instruction includes the value information to be used and one or more of the following: header identifier, name, location, and variable type.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the modification and / or disposal instruction (410) includes or corresponds to a traffic encryption instruction, or the user equipment routing policy information (400) includes a traffic encryption instruction. The call encryption instruction includes encryption parameters, wherein the encryption parameters are: --Provided by the telecommunications network (100), or --Provided by another telecommunications network, or --Provided by a third party, This involves modifying the data packets to be transmitted by the user equipment (20) by encrypting such data packets, at least the payload, or a portion thereof.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the modification and / or disposal instruction (410) includes or corresponds to a processing logic instruction, or the user equipment routing policy information (400) includes a processing logic instruction. The processing logic instruction mentioned therein includes program elements, and the program elements include logic code. The logic code or program element mentioned above includes: --Describe the processing of dialogue requests, --Logic code metadata that provides verifiable information about the origin of the logic code, and / or --The processing inputs and / or outputs of the user equipment routing strategy functionality (21) are machine-readable programs that establish an interface as compiled or executable code.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the modification and / or disposal instruction (410) includes or corresponds to a notification instruction, or the user equipment routing policy information (400) includes a notification instruction. The user equipment routing policy functionality (21) includes key performance indicator monitoring functionality, wherein, In the event that a specific key performance indicator is detected to have reached or exceeded a key performance indicator threshold, a notification is triggered by the user equipment (20). The specific key performance indicators mentioned therein refer to or relate to the amount of data and / or billing data records routed by the corresponding user equipment routing policy rules.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the modification and / or disposal instruction (410) includes or corresponds to a rule modification instruction, or the user equipment routing policy information (400) includes a rule modification instruction. The user equipment routing policy functionality (21) includes key performance indicator monitoring functionality, wherein, In cases where a specific key performance indicator is detected to have reached or exceeded a key performance indicator threshold, a modification to the user equipment routing policy rules to be applied is triggered. The specific key performance indicators mentioned above refer to, or relate to, the amount of data routed by the corresponding user equipment routing policy rules and / or the recording of billing data. The validity status of the corresponding user equipment routing policy rule is changed by detecting that the key performance indicator threshold has been reached or exceeded.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein in the case where a notification is transmitted by the user equipment (20) as a result of applying a specific user equipment routing policy rule, The notification shall include at least the following information: --Reference information for generating specific user equipment routing policy rules and / or reference information for generating modification and / or disposal instructions (410), and / or -- Trigger event information indicating or relating to the triggering event or triggering condition that triggered the generation of the notification.

11. A user equipment (20) for applying user equipment routing policy information (400) when operating with a telecommunications network (100) including a core network (120), The user equipment (20) applies the user equipment routing policy information (400) to the user plane data carried by the data packets. The user equipment (20) includes a user equipment routing policy function (21) for applying the user equipment routing policy information (400) to such that data packets carrying such user plane data are processed according to the user equipment routing policy information (400). The user equipment routing policy information (400) includes at least one modification and / or disposal instruction, such that, regarding the data packets to be processed by the user equipment routing policy functionality (21), the user equipment (20) is configured such that: --The data packets under consideration are received by the user equipment routing policy functionality (21), --Based on the content of the at least one modification and / or disposal instruction (410), one or more of the following actions are performed by the user equipment routing policy functionality (21): --The data groups under consideration are processed as buffered. --The data packets under consideration are modified and processed into specific protocol data unit sessions assigned to the user equipment (20). --The user equipment (20) transmits a notification to the core network (120) of the telecommunications network (100). --The user equipment routing policy information (400) has been modified.

12. A system or telecommunications network (100) for applying user equipment (20) routing policy information (400) when operating user equipment (20) connected to a telecommunications network (100), said telecommunications network (100) including a core network (120), The user equipment (20) is configured to apply the user equipment routing policy information (400) to user plane data carried by data packets. The user equipment (20) includes a user equipment routing policy function (21) for applying the user equipment routing policy information (400) to such that data packets carrying such user plane data are processed according to the user equipment routing policy information (400). The user equipment routing policy information (400) includes at least one modification and / or disposal instruction (410) to such that, with regard to the data packets to be processed by the user equipment routing policy functionality (21), the system or the telecommunications network (100) including the user equipment (20) and the telecommunications network (100) is configured such that: --The data packets under consideration are received by the user equipment routing policy functionality (21), --Based on the content of the at least one modification and / or disposal instruction (410), one or more of the following actions are performed by the user equipment routing policy functionality (21): --The data groups under consideration are processed as buffered. --The data packets under consideration are modified and processed into specific protocol data unit sessions assigned to the user equipment (20). --The user equipment (20) transmits a notification to the core network (120) of the telecommunications network (100). --The user equipment routing policy information (400) has been modified.

13. A computer program product comprising computer-readable program code, which, when executed on a computer and / or on a user equipment (20), causes the computer and / or the user equipment (20) to perform the method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10.

14. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed on a computer and / or on a user equipment (20), cause the computer and / or the user equipment (20) to perform the method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10.

Images