System and method for selecting a policy control function in a network

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a method and a system for selecting a Policy Control Function (PCF) (205) in a network (106) The method (400) includes receiving, by a first network function (201), a registration request associated with a User Equipment (UE) (104). The method includes sending, by the first network function (201), a policy control message to the PCF (205) based on the registration request, the policy control message including information associated with the UE (104). The method includes determining, by the PCF (205), whether policy control selection information identifying the PCF (205) for one or more policy procedures is generated. The method includes sending, by the PCF (205), a response including the policy control selection information. The method further includes selecting, by the first network function (201), the PCF (205) for at least one subsequent policy procedure based on the policy control selection information. Ref.

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SELECTING A POLICY CONTROL FUNCTION IN A NETWORK RESERVATION OF RIGHTS

[0001] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material, which is subject to intellectual property rights such as, but are not limited to, copyright, design, trademark, Integrated Circuit (IC) layout design, and / or trade dress protection, belonging to Jio Platforms Limited (JPL) or its affiliates (hereinafter referred as owner). The owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all rights whatsoever. All rights to such intellectual property are fully reserved by the owner.FIELD OF DISCLOSURE

[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to the field of telecommunications. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a system and a method for selecting a policy control function in a network.DEFINITIONS

[0003] As used in the present disclosure, the following terms are generally intended to have the meaning as set forth below, except to the extent that the context in which they are used to indicate otherwise.

[0004] The term “Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF)” used hereinafter in the specification refers to a core network function in 5G responsible for managing user access and mobility, including registration, authentication, and connection management.

[0005] The term “Session Management Function (SMF)” used hereinafter in the specification refers to the core network function in 5G that manages PDU (Protocol Data Unit) sessions, including session establishment, modification, and release.

[0006] The term “Policy Control Function (PCF)” used hereinafter in the specification refers to the core network function in 5G that provides policy rules to other network functions for controlling network behavior and resource allocation.

[0007] The term “Network Slice Selection Assistance Information (NS SAI)” used hereinafter in the specification refers to information used to select a network slice, which is a logical network tailored to specific service requirements.

[0008] The term “Data Network Name (DNN)” used hereinafter in the specification refers to a name that identifies a specific data network, allowing the UE to access the desired data services.

[0009] The term “Policy control selection information” used hereinafter in the specification refers to information used to select a Policy Control Function, including identifiers and parameters necessary for policy management.

[0010] The term “Service-Based Interface (SBI)” used hereinafter in the specification refers to an interface that enables network functions to communicate using service-based architecture, facilitating modular and scalable network designs.

[0011] The term “Service Communication Proxy (SCP)” used hereinafter in the specification refers to a network function that acts as an intermediary for service-based communication, facilitating discovery and routing of services.

[0012] The term “Protocol Data Unit (PDU) Session” used hereinafter in the specification refers to a connection between a UE and a data network, enabling the UE to access data services.

[0013] The term “Quality of Service (QoS)” used hereinafter in the specification includes parameters that define the level of performance provided to a service, such as bandwidth and latency.

[0014] The term “suppServ” used hereinafter in the specification refers to an attribute within the 'SamePcfSelectionData' that specifies the supported policy control services for which the same Policy Control Function (PCF) should be used. The suppServ attribute indicates which services, such as UE Policy Control, SM Policy Control, or AM Policy Control, should maintain PCF consistency.

[0015] These definitions are in addition to those expressed in the art.BACKGROUND OF DISCLOSURE

[0016] The following description of related art is intended to provide background information pertaining to the field of the disclosure. This section may include certain aspects of the art that may be related to various features of the present disclosure. However, it should be appreciated that this section be used only to enhance the understanding of the reader with respect to the present disclosure, and not as admissions of prior art.

[0017] Wireless communication technology has rapidly evolved over the past few decades. The first generation of wireless communication technology was analog technology that offered only voice services. Further, when the second-generation (2G) technology was introduced, text messaging and data services became possible. The 3Gtechnology marked the introduction of high-speed internet access, mobile video calling, and location-based services. The fourth-generation (4G) technology revolutionized wireless communication with efficient data speeds, improved network coverage, and security. Currently, the fifth-generation (5G) technology is being deployed, with even efficient data speeds, low latency, and the ability to connect multiple devices simultaneously. The sixth generation (6G) technology promises to build upon these advancements, pushing the boundaries of wireless communication even further.

[0018] In communication networks, policy control plays a critical role in managing network resources, enforcing quality of service (QoS) policies, and ensuring compliance with operator-defined rules. The Policy Control Function (PCF) in a 5G network is responsible for making policy decisions affecting user connectivity, including access control, charging rules, and application prioritization. To implement these policies, different network entities, such as the Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) and the Session Management Function (SMF), interact with the PCF to retrieve and enforce policy rules.

[0019] In the current 5G architecture, the selection of the PCF occurs independently for different policy sessions initiated by the AMF or the SMF. Whena user equipment (UE) connects to the network, the AMF typically sends a policy control request to a PCF, which returns policy enforcement data. Similarly, when a session is established or modified, the SMF may send another request to a PCF to obtain policy-related configurations. However, in existing implementations, the AMF and SMF may select different PCFs for different requests related to the same UE. This lack of coordination in PCF selection leads to inconsistencies in policy enforcement, affecting service continuity and user experience.

[0020] One of the key limitations of the current approach is the increased signalling overhead. Since each policy session request often triggers a new PCF selection process, the network generates redundant signalling traffic between multiple entities. This not only increases latency but also places an additional load on network resources, making policy management inefficient, especially in high-traffic scenarios. Additionally, the absence of a standardized mechanism for sharing PCF selection data between the AMF and SMF results in fragmented policy enforcement, where different network functions may apply conflicting policies to the same UE session.

[0021] There is, therefore, a need in the art to provide a method and a system that can overcome the shortcomings of the existing prior arts.OBJECTIVES OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE

[0022] Some of the objectives of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfies, are as listed herein below.

[0023] An objective of the present disclosure is to provide a method and a system for ensuring consistent selection of the same Policy Control Function (PCF) for multiple policy sessions associated with same user equipment (UE) in a communication network.

[0024] Another objective of the present disclosure is to provide the method and the system that enable an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) to store and reuse policy control selection information received from a PCF, thereby reducing redundant PCF selection processes.

[0025] Another objective of the present disclosure is to provide the method and the system that include the same PCF information attribute in policy control responses to facilitate coordinated PCF selection across different network entities.

[0026] Another objective of the present disclosure is to provide the method and the system that reduces signalling overhead by allowing network entities to reuse previously selected PCF information instead of initiating a new selection process for each policy control request.

[0027] Another objective of the present disclosure is to provide the method and the system that improves policy enforcement consistency by ensuring that the same PCF is used for AM Policy Control, UE Policy Control, and SM Policy Control sessions.

[0028] Other objectives and advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following description, which is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.SUMMARY

[0029] In an exemplary embodiment, a method for selecting a Policy Control Function (PCF) in a communication network is disclosed. The method includes receiving, by a first network function, a registration request associated with a User Equipment (UE). The method includes sending, by the first network function based on the registration request, a policy control message to the PCF, the policy control message including information associated with the UE. The method includes determining, by the PCF based on the policy control message, whether policy control selection information identifying the PCF for one or more policy procedures is generated. The method includes sending, by the PCF based on the determining, a response including the policy control selection information that identifies the PCF for the one or more policy procedures associated with the UE. The method further includes selecting, by the first network function based on the policy control selection information, the PCF for at least one subsequent policy procedure associated with the UE.

[0030] In some embodiments, the method includes receiving, by the first network function, the policy control selection information from the PCF and storing, by the first network function, the policy control selection information for use in the at least one subsequent policy procedure associated with the UE.

[0031] In some embodiments, determining whether policy control selection information is generated comprises evaluating at least one of: one or more supported policy services associated with the PCF or one or more selection policies configured at the PCF.

[0032] In some embodiments, the policy control selection information includes an identifier associated with the PCF.

[0033] In some embodiments, the identifier includes at least one of a policy control function identifier, a policy control function group identifier, or a policy control function set identifier.

[0034] In some embodiments, the policy control selection information further includes at least one of network slice information or data network information associated with the UE.

[0035] In some embodiments, the policy control selection information indicates one or more policy services supported by the PCF.

[0036] In some embodiments, the method includes sending, by the first network function, the policy control selection information to other network functions in the network to enable the other network functions to select the PCF for a policy procedure associated with the UE.

[0037] In some embodiments, the policy control selection information is included in one or more service-based interface headers for use by a service communication proxy (SCP) in selecting the PCF.

[0038] In an exemplary embodiment, a system for selecting a Policy Control Function (PCF) in a communication network is disclosed. The system includes a first network function configured to receive a registration request associated with a User Equipment (UE), send, based on the registration request, a policy control message to the PCF, the policy control message including information associatedwith the UE, receive policy control selection information from the PCF, the policy control selection information identifying the PCF for one or more policy procedures associated with the UE, and select the PCF for at least one subsequent policy procedure associated with the UE based on the policy control selection information.

[0039] In some embodiments, the first network function is further configured to store the policy control selection information for use in the at least one subsequent policy procedure associated with the UE.

[0040] In some embodiments, the policy control selection information is generated based on at least one of: one or more supported policy services associated with the PCF or one or more selection policies configured at the PCF.

[0041] In some embodiments, the policy control selection information includes an identifier associated with the PCF.

[0042] In some embodiments, the identifier includes at least one of a policy control function identifier, a policy control function group identifier, or a policy control function set identifier.

[0043] In some embodiments, the policy control selection information further includes at least one of network slice information or data network information associated with the UE.

[0044] In some embodiments, the policy control selection information further indicates one or more policy services supported by the PCF.

[0045] In some embodiments, the first network function is configured to send the policy control selection information to other network functions to enable the other network function to select the PCF for a policy procedure associated with the UE.

[0046] In some embodiments, the policy control selection information is included in one or more service-based interface headers to enable a service communication proxy (SCP) to select the PCF.

[0047] In an exemplary embodiment, a Policy Control Function (PCF) is disclosed. The PCF is configured to receive a policy control message from a first network function, the policy control message including information associated with a User Equipment (UE), determine, based on the policy control message, whether policy control selection information identifying the PCF for one or more policy procedures is generated, and send a response including the policy control selection information identifying the PCF for the one or more policy procedures associated with the UE.

[0048] In an exemplary embodiment, a computer program product includes a non-transitory computer-readable medium including instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to execute a method for selecting a Policy Control Function (PCF) in a communication network. The method includes receiving, by a first network function, a registration request associated with a User Equipment (UE), sending, by the first network function based on the registration request, a policy control message to the PCF, the policy control message including information associated with the UE, determining, by the PCF based on the policy control message, whether policy control selectioninformation identifying the PCF for one or more policy procedures is generated, sending, by the PCF based on the determining, a response including the policy control selection information that identifies the PCF for the one or more policy procedures associated with the UE, and selecting, by the first network function based on the policy control selection information, the PCF for at least one subsequent policy procedure associated with the UE.

[0049] The foregoing general description of the illustrative embodiments and the following detailed description thereof are merely exemplary aspects of the teachings of this disclosure and are not restrictive.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0050] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein, and constitute a part of this disclosure, illustrate exemplary embodiments of the disclosed methods and systems in which like reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the different drawings. Components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Some drawings may indicate the components using block diagrams and may not represent the internal circuitry of each component. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that disclosure of such drawings includes the disclosure of electrical components, electronic components or circuitry commonly used to implement such components.

[0051] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary network architecture of a system for selecting a Policy Control Function (PCF) in a network, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0052] FIG. 2A illustrates an exemplary system architecture of the system for selecting the PCF in the network, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure

[0053] FIG. 2B illustrates an exemplary block diagram of the system for selecting the PCF in the network, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0054] FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary flow diagram for selecting the PCF in the network, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0055] FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary process flow of a method for selecting the PCF in the network, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure

[0056] FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary computer system in which or with which the embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented.

[0057] The foregoing shall be more apparent from the following more detailed description of the disclosure.LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS100 - Network architecture102- 1 , 102-2... 102-N - User(s)104-1, 104-2... 104-N - User equipment(s)106 - Network108 - System200A- System Architecture220 - Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF)230 - Session Management Function (SMF)240 - Policy Control Function (PCF)200B - Block diagram202 - One or more processor(s)204 - Memory206 - Interface(s)208 - Processing engine210 - Database300 - Flow diagram400 - Flow diagram500 - Computer system510 - External Storage Device520 - Bus530 - Main Memory540 - Read Only Memory550 - Mass Storage Device560 - Communication Port570 - ProcessorDETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DISCLOSURE

[0058] In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, various specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent, however, that embodiments of the present disclosure may be practiced without these specific details. Several features described hereafter can each be used independently of oneanother or with any combination of other features. An individual feature may not address all of the problems discussed above or might address only some of the problems discussed above. Some of the problems discussed above might not be fully addressed by any of the features described herein.

[0059] The ensuing description provides exemplary embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the disclosure. Rather, the ensuing description of the exemplary embodiments will provide those skilled in the art with an enabling description for implementing an exemplary embodiment. It should be understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as set forth.

[0060] Specific details are given in the following description to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. However, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. For example, circuits, systems, networks, processes, and other components may be shown as components in block diagram form in order not to obscure the embodiments in unnecessary detail. In other instances, well-known circuits, processes, algorithms, structures, and techniques may be shown without unnecessary detail in order to avoid obscuring the embodiments.

[0061] Also, it is noted that individual embodiments may be described as a process which is depicted as a flowchart, a flow diagram, a data flow diagram, a structure diagram, or a block diagram. Although a flowchart may describe the operations as a sequential process, many of the operations can be performed in parallel or concurrently. In addition, the order of the operations may be re-arranged. A process is terminated when its operations are completed but could have additional steps not included in a figure. A process may correspond to a method, a function, a procedure, a subroutine, a subprogram, etc. When a process corresponds to a function, its termination can correspond to a return of the function to the calling function or the main function.

[0062] The word “exemplary” and / or “demonstrative” is used herein to mean serving as an example, instance, or illustration. For the avoidance of doubt, the subject matter disclosed herein is not limited by such examples. In addition, any aspect or design described herein as “exemplary” and / or “demonstrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects or designs, nor is it meant to preclude equivalent exemplary structures and techniques known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Furthermore, to the extent that the terms “includes,” “has,” “contains,” and other similar words are used in either the detailed description or the claims, such terms are intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as an open transition word without precluding any additional or other elements.

[0063] Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” or “an instance” or “one instance” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. Thus, the appearances of thephrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.

[0064] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and / or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof. As used herein, the term “and / or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0065] The present disclosure relates to a system and a method for ensuring consistent Policy Control Function (PCF) selection for multiple policy sessions associated with a User Equipment (UE) in a communication network. In conventional approaches, different policy control sessions, such as Access and Mobility (AM) Policy Control, UE Policy Control, and Session Management (SM) Policy Control, may be assigned to different PCFs, leading to inconsistencies in policy enforcement and increased signalling overhead. Additionally, the absence of a standardized mechanism for retaining and reusing PCF selection data results in redundant selection processes, causing delays and inefficiencies in policy management. The present disclosure enables a network entity to store and reuse PCF selection data received from a PCF, thereby facilitating uniform policy control across different sessions. By incorporating the same PCF information attribute in policy control messages, the present disclosure ensures optimized PCF selection, reduces signalling overhead, enhances network efficiency, and improves policy enforcement consistency across multiple network entities.

[0066] The various embodiments throughout the disclosure will be explained in more detail with reference to FIGS. 1- 5.

[0067] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary network architecture (100) for selecting a Policy Control Function (PCF) in a network (106), in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0068] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the network architecture (100) may include one or more user equipments (UEs) (104-1, 104-2... 104-N) associated with one or more users (102-1, 102-2... 102-N) in an environment. A person of ordinary skill in the art will understand that one or more users (102-1, 102-2... 102-N) may collectively referred to as the users (102). Similarly, a person of ordinary skill in the art will understand that one or more UEs (104-1, 104-2... 104-N) may be collectively referred to as the UE (104). Although only three UEs (104) are depicted in FIG. 1, however, any number of the UE (104) may be included without departing from the scope of the ongoing description. In an example, the UE (104) may be an Internet of Things (loT) device.

[0069] In an embodiment, the UE (104) may include smart devices operating in a smart environment, for example, an Internet of Things (loT) system. In such an embodiment, the UE (104) may include, but is not limited to, smartphones, smart watches, smart sensors (e.g., mechanical, thermal, electrical, magnetic, etc.), networked appliances, networked peripheral devices, networked lighting system, communication devices, networked vehicle accessories, networked vehicular devices, smart accessories, tablets, smart television (TV), computers, smart security system, smart home system, other devices for monitoring or interacting with or for the users (102) and / or entities, or any combination thereof. A person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the UE (104) may include, but not limited to, intelligent, multi-sensing, network-connected devices, which may integrate seamlessly with each other and / or with a central server or a cloudcomputing system or any other device that is network-connected.

[0070] Additionally, in some embodiments, the UE (104) may include, but is not limited to, a handheld wireless communication device (e.g., a mobile phone, a smartphone, a tablet device, and so on), a wearable computer device (e.g., a headmounted display computer device, a head-mounted camera device, a wristwatch computer device, and so on), a Global Positioning System (GPS) device, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, or another type of portable computer, a media playing device, a portable gaming system, and / or any other type of computer device with wireless communication capabilities, and the like. In an embodiment, the UE (104) may include, but is not limited to, any electrical, electronic, electromechanical, or equipment, or a combination of one or more of the above devices, such as virtual reality (VR) devices, augmented reality (AR) devices, laptop, a general -purpose computer, desktop, personal digital assistant, tablet computer, mainframe computer, or any other computing device, wherein the UE (104) may include one or more inbuilt or externally coupled accessories including, but not limited to, a visual aid device such as a camera, an audio aid, a microphone, a keyboard, and input devices for receiving input from the user (102) or the entity such as touchpad, touch-enabled screen, electronic pen, and the like. A person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the UE (104) may not be restricted to the mentioned devices and various other devices may be used.

[0071] Referring to FIG. 1, the UE (104) may communicate with the system (108) through the network (wireless communication network) (106) for sending or receiving various types of data. In an embodiment, the network (106) may include at least one of a fifth-generation (5G) network, a sixth-generation (6G) network, or the like. The network (106) may enable the UE (104) to communicate with other devices in the network architecture (100) and / or with the system (108). The network (106) may include a wireless card or some other transceiver connection to facilitate this communication. In another embodiment, the network (106) may be implemented as, or include any of a variety of different communication technologies such as a wide area network (WAN), a local area network (LAN), a wireless network, a mobile network, a Virtual Private Network (VPN), the Internet, the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), or the like.

[0072] In an embodiment, the network (106) may include, by way of example but not limitation, at least a portion of one or more networks having one or more nodes that transmit, receive, forward, generate, buffer, store, route, switch, process, or a combination thereof, etc. one or more messages, packets, signals, waves, voltage or current levels, some combination thereof, or so forth. The network (106) may also include, by way of example but not limitation, one or more of a wireless network, a wired network, an internet, an intranet, a public network, a private network, a packet-switched network, a circuit-switched network, an ad hoc network, an infrastructure network, a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), a cable network, a cellular network, a satellite network, a fiber optic network, or some combination thereof.

[0073] In an embodiment, the UE (104) is communicatively coupled with the network (106). The network (106) may receive a connection request from the UE (104). The network (106) may send an acknowledgment of the connection request to the UE (104). The UE (104) may transmit a plurality of signals in response to the connection request.

[0074] The system (108) operates by enabling seamless communication between the User Equipment (UE) (104) and the network (106) to ensure efficient policy control function selection. When the UE (104) connects to the network (106), it initiates a request requiring policy control selection. The system (108) processes this request by transmitting a policy control message containing relevant UE (104) parameters to the PCF. Based on predefined selection policies and supported services, the system (108) determines the appropriate PCF and transmits the selection data back to the AMF. Specifically, the determined PCF is stored in the database and subsequently used by all relevant network functions, such as the Session Management Function (SMF) and Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), for any policy control sessions related to the same UE (104). This ensures consistent policy enforcement and decision-making across all network interactions for that UE (104). By leveraging dynamic policy control selection, the system (108) enhances network (106) resource management, optimizes service delivery, and reduces the need for local policy maintenance at individual network entities. Through this approach, the system (108) improves policy enforcement and decision-making while addressing the inefficiencies of conventional selection mechanisms.

[0075] Although FIG. 1 shows exemplary components of the network architecture (100), in other embodiments, the network architecture (100) may include fewer components, different components, differently arranged components, or additional functional components than depicted in FIG. 1. Additionally, or alternatively, one or more components of the network architecture (100) may perform functions described as being performed by one or more other components of the network architecture (100).

[0076] FIG. 2A illustrates a system architecture (200A) of the system (108) for selecting the Policy Control Function (PCF) in the network (106), in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0077] The system (108) comprises multiple network components to determine and assign an appropriate policy control function (PCF) for a user equipment (UE) (104). The multiple network components include an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) (201), a Session Management Function (SMF) (203) and the PCF (205). In an example embodiment, the policy control message corresponds to an AMPolicyControl Create request and the response corresponds to an AMPolicyControl Create response.

[0078] The AMF (201), is responsible for handling UE-related policy control requests and initiating communication with other network components, including the PCF (205) and the SMF (203), to determine policy control function selection.

[0079] The PCF (205) serves as a decision-making unit that evaluates policy control selection criteria and provides the necessary policy control selection information.

[0080] The SMF (203) uses the policy control selection information to establish policy sessions or perform additional policy enforcement tasks.

[0081] In an embodiment, the AMF (201) initiates a PCF selection process by receiving a request from the UE (104). The request comprises a policy control selection comprising of one or more parameters which includes information necessary for the PCF (205) to determine the appropriate policy control function. The received request is associated with the user equipment (UE) (104) and necessitates policy control selection, indicating that the UE (104) requires policy management for its ongoing communication and service delivery. The AMF (201) handles access and mobility functions and thus, upon receiving the request, initiates the PCF selection process by forwarding the request to the PCF (205).

[0082] In response to the request, the AMF (201) transmits a policy control message to the PCF (205). The policy control message includes one or more parameters related to the UE (104), providing essential context for the PCF (205) to make informed decisions. The one or more parameters may include:• Network Slice Selection Assistance Information (NSSAI) - Indicates the network slice the UE (104) is associated with.• Data Network Name (DNN) - Specifies the target data network for the service of the UE (104).• Supported Service Type - Defines the type of policy control required, such as AMPolicyControl, UEPolicyControl, or SMPolicyControl.• PCF Identifier - If a specific PCF is preselected or recommended for the UE (104), its identifier is included in the request.

[0083] The one or more parameters provide a comprehensive view of the service needs and network environment of the UE (104), allowing the PCF (205) to select the most appropriate policy control function.

[0084] The PCF (205) determines whether to provide policy control selection information based on at least one of: one or more supported services for the UE (104) and one or more predefined selection policies. The determinationconfirms that the selected PCF aligns with the service requirements of the UE (104) and adheres to network operator guidelines.

[0085] Thereafter, the PCF (205) evaluates the compatibility of one or more available PCFs with the requested services and applies one or more predefined selection rules or policies to guide the selection process. This guarantees that the selected PCF can effectively manage the policy requirements of the UE (104).

[0086] In an embodiment, the PCF (205) is also configured to determine whether policy control selection information should be provided based on at least one of the following conditions:• One or more supported services for the UE (104) - The network (106) determines whether the requested service type is supported under current policies.• One or more predefined selection policies - These are predefined selection rules established by the network operator to guide PCF selection based on network and service conditions.

[0087] The one or more predefined selection policies may include the following:• Operator-defined rules - Policies set by network administrators to optimize resource allocation and maintain policy consistency.• Predefined policy selection thresholds - Conditions determining whether a new PCF selection is required, or an existing PCF assignment should be reused.

[0088] Further, the PCF (205) applies the received selection policies and retrieves the policy control selection information before transmitting it to the AMF (201).

[0089] In scenarios where PCF selection is performed by a Service Communication Proxy (SCP), a new Service-Based Interface (SB I) header may be created. The SBI header may include the same PCF information, which should be considered alongside other discovery query attributes to ensure accurate selection and policy enforcement.

[0090] In an embodiment, the PCF (205) may also rely on historical policy control selection trends stored in the database (210). By leveraging past selection data and usage patterns, the system (108) can optimize future policy assignments and improve decision-making.

[0091] In an embodiment, the PCF (205) transmits a response to the AMF (201), in response to receiving the policy control message. The response comprises policy control selection information, including at least an identifier of the PCF (205). Upon receiving the response, the AMF (201) processes the policy control selection information to extract relevant details, such as PCF capabilities, supported services, PCF load conditions, and policy control rules, ensuring that the selected PCF meets the necessary criteria.

[0092] In an embodiment, the AMF (201) stores the received policy control selection information in a database (210) (shown with reference to FIG. 2B). This ensures that if the UE (104) initiates another policy control request in the future, thesystem (108) can quickly retrieve the previously assigned PCF without repeating the selection process.

[0093] In an embodiment, the AMF (201) is further configured to update the stored policy control selection information upon receiving new selection information from the PCF (205). Network conditions and service requirements may change over time, requiring updates to PCF assignments. The updated policy control selection information ensures that the most suitable PCF is always used for UE (104) policy control. For example, if a previously assigned PCF becomes overloaded or unavailable, a new PCF identifier may be provided, which is then stored in the database (210) for future use.

[0094] In an embodiment, the AMF (201) is further configured to apply one or more predefined network operator policies to determine whether the same PCF identifier should be returned in the response.

[0095] The selection decision is influenced by factors such as:• Service type - Different services may require multiple PCFs for optimized performance.• Network slice information - Some slices may have selected one or more PCFs to handle specific workloads.• Predefined selection rules - Operator-defined policies dictate when and how the PCF assignments should change.

[0096] In an embodiment, the AMF (201) is further configured to selectively include the policy control selection information in specific types of requests to the SMF (203). In one example embodiment, the SMF (203) may be responsible for additional policy enforcement tasks, such as establishing a policy session based on the received PCF identifier. By forwarding policy control selection information to the SMF (203), the system (108) ensures that subsequent policy control sessions related to the UE (104) use the same PCF, maintaining continuity and reducing session setup delays.

[0097] FIG. 2B illustrates an exemplary block diagram (200) of a system (108) for selecting the Policy Control Function (PCF) (205) in the network network (106) in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0098] The system (108) comprises a processor (202), a memory (204), an interface (206), a processing engine (208) and the database (210).

[0099] Referring to FIG. 2B, in an embodiment, the system (108) may include one or more processor(s) (202). The one or more processor(s) (202) may be implemented as one or more microprocessors, microcomputers, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, central processing engines, logic circuitries, and / or devices that process data based on operational instructions. Among other capabilities, the one or more processor(s) (202) may be configured to fetch and execute computer-readable instructions stored in the memory (204) of the system (108). The memory (204) may be configured to store one or more computer-readable instructions or routines in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, which may be fetched and executed to create or share data packets over a network service. The memory (204) may comprise any non-transitory storagedevice including, for example, volatile memory such as random-access memory (RAM), or non-volatile memory such as erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), flash memory, and the like.

[0100] In an embodiment, the system (108) may include an interface(s) (206). The interface(s) (206) may comprise a variety of interfaces, for example, interfaces for data input and output devices (VO), storage devices, and the like. The interface(s) (206) may facilitate communication through the system (108). The interface(s) (206) may also provide a communication pathway for one or more components of the system (108). Examples of such components include, but are not limited to, the processing engine (208) and the database (210).

[0101] In an embodiment, the processing engine (208) may be implemented as a combination of hardware and programming (for example, programmable instructions) to implement one or more functionalities of the processing engine (208). In the examples described herein, such combinations of hardware and programming may be implemented in several different ways. For example, the programming for the processing engine (208) may be processor-executable instructions stored on a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium and the hardware for the processing engine (208) may comprise a processing resource (for example, one or more processors (202)), to execute such instructions. In the present examples, the machine-readable storage medium may store instructions that, when executed by the processing resource, implement the processing engine (208). In such examples, the system may comprise the machine-readable storage medium storing the instructions and the processing resource to execute the instructions, or the machine-readable storage medium may be separate but accessible to the system and the one or more processors (202). In other examples, the processing engine (208) may be implemented by electronic circuitry. In one example, the processing engine (208) may be implemented as the AMF (201). The explanation of the functionalities of the AMF (201), the SMF (203), and the PCF (205) has been explained in detail with reference to FIG. 2A, the description is not reiterated herein for the sake of brevity.

[0102] In an embodiment, the processing engine (208) is further configured to execute functionalities corresponding to a first network function and the PCF (205). The first network function may correspond to an access management entity, such as the AMF (201). In some embodiments, the processing engine (208) may instantiate these network functions as independent logical modules, virtualized functions, or software-defined components within the system (108). In an embodiment, the first network function described herein corresponds to a first network node as recited in the claims. The first network node may be implemented as the Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) (201) or an equivalent network entity configured to perform policy control message handling and policy control function selection.

[0103] In an embodiment, the first network function (201) implemented by the processing engine (208) is configured to receive a registration request associated with the user equipment (UE) (104) via the interface(s) (206). The registrationrequest may correspond to an initial access procedure, mobility update procedure, or any policy -triggering event associated with the UE (104). The first network function (201) is further configured to send, based on the registration request, a policy control message to the PCF (205), the policy control message including information associated with the UE (104). In an example embodiment, the policy control message corresponds to an AMPolicyControl Create request and includes parameters such as network slice information (NS SAI), data network name (DNN), supported service type, and UE-related policy attributes.

[0104] In an embodiment, the PCF (205) is configured to receive the policy control message from the first network function (201). Upon receiving the policy control message, the PCF (205) is configured to determine whether policy control selection information identifying the PCF (205) for one or more policy procedures is generated. The determination may be performed by evaluating at least one of • one or more policy services supported by the PCF (205), including AMPolicyControl, UEPolicyControl, and SMPolicyControl; and• one or more selection policies configured at the PCF (205), including operator-defined rules and policy thresholds. The policy control selection information described herein may correspond to a ‘samePcflnfo’ attribute included within a Policy Association data structure.

[0105] In an embodiment, upon determining that policy control selection information is generated, the PCF (205) is configured to send a response comprising the policy control selection information to the first network function (201). The policy control selection information identifies the PCF (205) for the one or more policy procedures associated with the UE (104). In an example embodiment, the response corresponds to an AMPolicyControl Create response and includes the policy control selection information within a Policy Association structure. The policy control selection information may include:• an identifier associated with the PCF (205), including at least one of a PCF identifier, a PCF group identifier, or a PCF set identifier;• network slice information associated with the UE (104);• data network information associated with the UE (104); and• an indication of one or more policy services supported by the PCF (205).

[0106] In an embodiment, the first network function (201) is further configured to receive the policy control selection information from the PCF (205) via the interface(s) (206), and to store the policy control selection information in the database (210) or memory (204). The stored policy control selection information may be associated with the UE (104) and reused for subsequent policy procedures, thereby reducing repeated PCF discovery and selection.

[0107] In an embodiment, the first network function (201) is configured to select the PCF (205) for at least one subsequent policy procedure associated with the UE (104) based on the stored policy control selection information. The subsequent policy procedure may include a UEPolicyControl Create procedure or an SMPolicyControl Create procedure, or any other policy-related interaction associated with the UE (104).

[0108] In an embodiment, the policy control selection information may further indicate one or more policy services supported by the PCF (205), and the first network function (201) may utilize such information to determine whether the PCF (205) is suitable for handling different types of policy procedures associated with the UE (104).

[0109] In an embodiment, the first network function (201) is further configured to send the policy control selection information to other network function, such as the Session Management Function (SMF) (203), to enable the other network function to select the PCF (205) for a policy procedure associated with the UE (104), thereby ensuring consistency in policy control across multiple network entities. In an example embodiment, the policy control selection information is included in an Nsmf PDUSession Create request transmitted to the SMF (203).

[0110] In an embodiment, the policy control selection information may be included in one or more service-based interface headers. This enables a Service Communication Proxy (SCP) to perform PCF selection based on the policy control selection information in conjunction with other discovery parameters.

[0111] In an embodiment, the database (210) is configured to store policy control selection information, one or more supported policy services, and one or more selection policies, thereby enabling efficient retrieval, reuse, and updating of the policy control selection information for subsequent policy procedures associated with the UE (104).

[0112] FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary flow diagram of a method (300) for selecting the Policy Control Function (PCF) (205) in the network (106) in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is explained in conjunction with the FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. The method (300) outlines the interactions between the Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) (201), the Session Management Function (SMF) (203), and the PCF (205) to ensure consistent and efficient selection of the PCF (205).

[0113] At step 302, the method (300) includes the AMF (201) initiating an AMPolicyControl Create request to the PCF (205) as part of the new UE registration process. The AMPolicyControl Create request establishes an access and mobility policy control for the UE (104). To enhance policy consistency across different procedures, both AMF (201) and PCF (205) support the "PcfAssSamePcf ' feature, which enables PCF-assisted selection of a consistent PCF instance for multiple policy control functions. Upon receiving the AMPolicyControl Create request, the PCF (205) evaluates its supported features and local policy configurations to determine whether it should include the "samePcflnfo" attribute in its response. The "samePcflnfo" attribute is an optional field with a cardinality of (0 / 1), which may be included depending on predefined policies. The "samePcflnfo" attribute, part of a "Policy Association" structured datatype, helps in maintaining PCF selection consistency for future UE Policy Control and SM Policy Control sessions. The decision to include the "samePcflnfo" is based on:• The services supported by the PCF (205) include a AMPolicyControl, a UEPolicyControl, and a SMPolicyControl.• Local policies defined for the same PCF selection.• Network slice and DNN attributes relevant to the policy control session.

[0114] The "samePcflnfo" attribute is populated with a SamePcfSelectionData, which consists of key attributes, including:• "suppServ" - an enumerated field listing the one or more supported services (e.g., AM Policy Control, UE Policy Control, and SM Policy Control). • "pcfld," "pcfGroupId," and "pcfSetld" - identifiers uniquely distinguishing the selected PCF instance.• Network Slice Selection Assistance Information (NSSAI) - indicating the network slice(s) supported by the PCF (205).• Data Network Name (DNN) - specifying the data networks associated with the PCF (205).

[0115] At step 304, the method (300) includes the PCF (205) sending the AMPolicyControl Create response to the AMF (201). The AMPolicyControl Create response includes the "samePcflnfo" attribute, which contains the "SamePcfSelectionData" if the PCF (205) determines that maintaining PCF consistency across policy control sessions is beneficial based on the conditions evaluated at step 302. The "SamePcfSelectionData" includes attributes such as "suppServ," PCF (205) identifiers ("pcfld," "pcfGroupId," "pcfSetld"), Network Slice Selection Assistance Information (Nssai), and Data Network Name (dnn). The AMF (201) stores the same PCF information received from the PCF (205) for future use. The "samePcflnfo" attribute provides the AMF (201) with the information required to select the same PCF (205) for subsequent policy control sessions.

[0116] At step 306, the method (300) includes the AMF (201) initiating a UEPolicyControl C reate request to the PCF (205). Before sending this request, the AMF (201) checks the "samePcflnfo" attribute that is stored in the database (210) to determine if it should select the same PCF for the UE Policy Control session.

[0117] If the "samePcflnfo" attribute mandates using the same PCF, the AMF (201) selects the previously assigned PCF and sends the UEPolicyControl Create request to this instance. If the attribute is not present, or if the local selection policies permit, the AMF (201) may independently select a different PCF for this session.

[0118] Upon receiving the UEPolicyControl Create request, the PCF (205) processes the request and responds accordingly based on its policy configurations and supported services.

[0119] At step 308, the method (300) includes the AMF (201) forwarding an Nsmf_PDUSession_Create request to the SMF (203) when the UE (104) initiates a PDU session establishment request. The AMF (201) includes the "samePcflnfo" attribute in this request to assist the SMF (203) in selecting the appropriate PCF for SM Policy Control.

[0120] The SMF (203) evaluates the "samePcflnfo" attribute and considers:• The services supported by the PCF (205) (e.g., SM Policy Control).• The network slice information (NS SAI) specified in the samePcflnfo attribute.• The DNN values to verify whether the PCF (205) supports the requested data network.

[0121] If the "samePcflnfo" attribute specifies the same PCF instance for SM Policy Control, then SMF (203) selects the same PCF for the session. However, if the attribute is absent or local policies indicate alternative selection criteria, the SMF (203) may choose a different PCF instance based on its internal selection mechanisms.

[0122] At step 310, the method (300) includes the SMF (203) initiating an Npcf SMPolicyControl Create request to the PCF (205). Before selecting the PCF, the SMF (203) determines whether to use the same PCF (205) based on the "samePcflnfo" attribute and any applicable local policies.

[0123] If the "samePcflnfo" attribute specifies a predefined PCF instance for SM Policy Control, the SMF (203) selects the PCF (205) and sends the Npcf_SMPolicyControl_Create request accordingly. Otherwise, the SMF (203) selects the appropriate PCF instance based on policy configurations, NS SAI, and DNN information.

[0124] Upon receiving the Npcf_SMPolicyControl_Create request, the PCF (205) processes the request and responds accordingly, finalizing the SM Policy Control session for the PDU session of the UE (104).

[0125] FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary flow diagram of a method (400) for selecting the policy control function (PCF) (205) in the communication network (106), in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The method (400) may be performed by the system (108) described with reference to FIG. 2 A and FIG. 2B, and may involve interactions between network entities including the Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) (201), the Session Management Function (SMF) (203), and the PCF (205), as described in FIG. 3.

[0126] At step 402, the method (400) includes receiving a registration request associated with the user equipment (UE) (104). In an embodiment, the Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) (201) receives the registration request from the UE (104) via the interface(s) (206), as described with reference to FIG. 2B. The registration request may correspond to an initial access procedure or mobility-related request initiated by the UE (104). The registration request triggers initiation of policy control procedures for the UE (104), thereby requiring selection of the PCF (205) for handling policy -related decisions.

[0127] At step 404, the method (400) includes sending the policy control message to the PCF (205), the policy control message including information associated with the UE (104). The policy control message corresponds to an AMPolicyControl Create request. In an embodiment, the AMF (201), based on the registration request received at step 402, transmits the policy control message to the PCF (205). The policy control message may correspond to an access and mobility policy control request and includes information associated with the UE (104), suchas subscriber information, network slice selection assistance information (NSSAI), data network name (DNN), and service-related parameters. As described in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, such information enables the PCF (205) to evaluate policy requirements and determine appropriate policy handling.

[0128] At step 406, the method (400) includes determining whether policy control selection information identifying the PCF (205) for one or more policy procedures is generated. In an embodiment, the PCF (205), upon receiving the policy control message, performs a determination to decide whether policy control selection information is to be generated. The determination may be based on evaluation of one or more supported policy services and selection policies configured at the PCF (205), including operator-defined rules and predefined selection conditions. This step corresponds to the decision-making functionality, wherein the PCF (205) determines whether it should be reused for subsequent policy procedures.

[0129] At step 408, the method (400) includes sending a response including policy control selection information that identifies the PCF (205) for the one or more policy procedures associated with the UE (104). The response corresponds to an AMPolicyControl Create response. In an embodiment, upon determining that policy control selection information is generated, the PCF (205) transmits a response to the AMF (201). The response includes policy control selection information identifying the PCF (205) for handling one or more policy procedures associated with the UE (104). The policy control selection information may include an identifier associated with the PCF (205), including at least one of a PCF identifier, a PCF group identifier, or a PCF set identifier. Additionally, the policy control selection information may include network slice information, data network information, and an indication of one or more policy services supported by the PCF (205).

[0130] At step 410, the method (400) includes receiving the policy control selection information from the PCF (205) and storing the policy control selection information. In an embodiment, the AMF (201) receives the policy control selection information via the interface(s) (206) and stores the received information in the database (210) or memory (204). The stored policy control selection information is associated with the UE (104) and may be retrieved for use in subsequent policy procedures, thereby avoiding repeated PCF selection and improving efficiency.

[0131] The method (400) further includes selecting the PCF (205) for at least one subsequent policy procedure associated with the UE (104) based on the policy control selection information. In an embodiment, the AMF (201) retrieves the stored policy control selection information and selects the PCF (205) for subsequent policy procedures associated with the UE (104). The subsequent policy procedure may include the UEPolicyControl Create procedure or the SMPolicyControl Create procedure. This ensures consistent selection of the PCF (205) across multiple policy procedures.

[0132] The method (400) further includes sending the policy control selection information to other network functions to enable the other networkfunctions to select the PCF (205). In an embodiment, the AMF (201) transmits the policy control selection information to other network functions, such as the Session Management Function (SMF) (203), to enable the SMF (203) to select the same PCF (205) for session management policy procedures associated with the UE (104). This enables coordinated policy control across multiple network entities. In an example embodiment, the policy control selection information is included in the Nsmf_PDUSession_Create request transmitted to the SMF (203).

[0133] The method (400) further includes the policy control selection information in one or more service-based interface headers for use by the Service Communication Proxy (SCP). In an embodiment, the policy control selection information is included in service-based interface headers, thereby enabling the Service Communication Proxy (SCP) to select the PCF (205) based on the policy control selection information. This supports PCF selection in proxy-based communication models.

[0134] FIG. 5 illustrates a computer system (500) in which or with which the embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented.

[0135] As shown in FIG. 5, the computer system (500) may include an external storage device (510), a bus (520), a main memory (530), a read-only memory (540), a mass storage device (550), communication port(s) (560), and a processor (570). A person skilled in the art will appreciate that the computer system may include more than one processor and communication ports. The processor (570) may include various modules associated with embodiments of the present disclosure. The communication port(s) (560) may be any of an RS-232 port for use with a modem-based dialup connection, a 10 / 100 Ethernet port, a Gigabit or 10 Gigabit port using copper or fiber, a serial port, a parallel port, or other existing or future ports. The communication port(s) (560) may be chosen depending on a network (106), such a Local Area Network (LAN), Wide Area Network (WAN), or any network to which the computer system connects.

[0136] The main memory (530) may be random access memory (RAM), or any other dynamic storage device commonly known in the art. The read-only memory (540) may be any static storage device(s) e.g., but not limited to, a Programmable Read Only Memory (PROM) chips for storing static information e.g., start-up or Basic Input / Output System (BIOS) instructions for the processor (570). The mass storage device (550) may be any current or future mass storage solution which can be used to store information and / or instructions. Exemplary mass storage device (550) includes, but is not limited to, Parallel Advanced Technology Attachment (PATA) or Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) hard disk drives or solid-state drives (internal or external, e.g., having Universal Serial Bus (USB) and / or Firewire interfaces), one or more optical discs, Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID) storage, e.g., an array of disks.

[0137] The bus (520) communicatively couples the processor (570) with the other memory, storage, and communication blocks. The bus (520) may be, e.g., a Peripheral Component Interconnect / Peripheral Component Interconnect Extended bus, Small Computer System Interface (SCSI), Universal Serial Bus (USB), or thelike, for connecting expansion cards, drives, and other subsystems as well as other buses, such a front side bus (FSB), which connects the processor (570) to the computer system.

[0138] Optionally, operator and administrative interfaces, e.g., a display, keyboard, joystick, and a cursor control device, may also be coupled to the bus (520) to support direct operator interaction with the computer system. Other operator and administrative interfaces can be provided through network connections connected through the communication port(s) (560). The components described above are meant only to exemplify various possibilities. In no way should the aforementioned exemplary computer system limit the scope of the present disclosure.

[0139] In an exemplary embodiment, a computer program product includes a non-transitory computer-readable medium including instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to execute a method for selecting a Policy Control Function (PCF) in a communication network. The method includes receiving, by a first network function, a registration request associated with a User Equipment (UE), sending, by the first network function based on the registration request, a policy control message to the PCF, the policy control message including information associated with the UE, determining, by the PCF based on the policy control message, whether policy control selection information identifying the PCF for one or more policy procedures is generated, sending, by the PCF based on the determining, a response including the policy control selection information that identifies the PCF for the one or more policy procedures associated with the UE, and selecting, by the first network function based on the policy control selection information, the PCF for at least one subsequent policy procedure associated with the UE.

[0140] While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that many embodiments can be made, and many changes can be made in the preferred embodiments without departing from the principles of the disclosure. These and other changes in the preferred embodiments of the disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be implemented merely as illustrative of the disclosure and not as a limitation.

[0141] The present disclosure provides a technical advancement in policy control function (PCF) selection within a communication network by generating, conveying, and reusing policy control selection information across multiple policy procedures associated with a User Equipment (UE). Unlike conventional approaches that rely on repeated independent PCF discovery and selection for each policy procedure, the present disclosure enables a PCF-assisted selection mechanism wherein the PCF provides selection information indicative of its suitability for one or more policy services. The present disclosure allows a first network function to store and reuse the received policy control selection information for subsequent policy procedures, thereby ensuring consistent PCFselection across access, session, and UE policy control interactions. This reduces signalling overhead, minimizes latency associated with repeated PCF discovery, and improves overall network efficiency. Further, by enabling propagation of the policy control selection information to other network functions and inclusion in service-based interface headers, the present disclosure ensures coordinated and optimized PCF selection across distributed network entities, thereby enhancing policy consistency, resource utilization, and scalability in next-generation communication networks.ADVANTAGES OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE

[0142] The present disclosure, as described above, offers several significant technical advantages that enhance the functionality and efficiency of the network, including, but not limited to:• Enabling unified PCF selection by allowing the same PCF to be used for AMPolicyControl, UEPolicyControl, and SMPolicyControl.• Facilitating rule-based PCF selection by utilizing a rule engine to dynamically enable or disable the same PCF selection based on specific conditions.• Reducing AMF policy maintenance overhead by eliminating the need for AMF to store local policies for forwarding PCF information to the SMF.• Optimizing PCF resource allocation by enabling more granular flow control of PCF resources through AMF / SMF-based selection mechanisms.

Claims

CLAIMSWe claim:

1. A method (400) for selecting a policy control function (PCF) (205) in a network (106), the method (400) comprising:receiving (402), by a first network function (201), a registration request associated with a user equipment (UE) (104);sending (404), by the first network function (201) based on the registration request, a policy control message to the PCF (205), the policy control message including information associated with the UE (104);determining (406), by the PCF (205) based on the policy control message, whether policy control selection information identifying the PCF (205) for one or more policy procedures is generated;sending (408), by the PCF (205) based on the determining, a response including the policy control selection information that identifies the PCF (205) for the one or more policy procedures associated with the UE (104); andselecting (410), by the first network function (201) based on the policy control selection information, the PCF (205) for at least one subsequent policy procedure associated with the UE (104).

2. The method (400) as claimed in claim 1, comprising:receiving, by the first network function (201), the policy control selection information from the PCF (205); andstoring, by the first network function (201), the policy control selection information for use in the at least one subsequent policy procedure associated with the UE (104).

3. The method (400) as claimed in claim 1, wherein determining whether policy control selection information is generated comprises evaluating at least one of:one or more supported policy services associated with the PCF (205); orone or more selection policies configured at the PCF (205).

4. The method (400) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the policy control selection information includes an identifier associated with the PCF (205).

5. The method (400) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the identifier includes at least one of a policy control function identifier, a policy control function group identifier, or a policy control function set identifier.

6. The method (400) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the policy control selection information further includes at least one of network slice information or data network information associated with the UE (104).

7. The method (400) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the policy control selection information indicates one or more policy services supported by the PCF (205).

8. The method (400) as claimed in claim 1, comprising sending, by the first network function (201), the policy control selection information to othernetwork functions in the network to enable the other network functions to select the PCF (205) for a policy procedure associated with the UE (104).

9. The method (400) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the policy control selection information is included in one or more service-based interface headers for use by a service communication proxy (SCP) in selecting the PCF (205).

10. A system (108) for selecting a policy control function (PCF) (205) in a network (106), the system (108) comprising:a first network function (201) configured to:receive a registration request associated with a user equipment (UE) (104);send, based on the registration request, a policy control message to the PCF (205), the policy control message including information associated with the UE (104);receive policy control selection information from the PCF (205), the policy control selection information identifying the PCF (205) for one or more policy procedures associated with the UE (104); andselect the PCF (205) for at least one subsequent policy procedure associated with the UE (104) based on the policy control selection information.

11. The system (108) as claimed in claim 10, wherein the first network function (201) is configured to:store the policy control selection information for use in the at least one subsequent policy procedure associated with the UE (104).

12. The system (108) as claimed in claim 10, wherein the policy control selection information is generated based on at least one of:one or more supported policy services associated with the PCF (205); orone or more selection policies configured at the PCF (205).

13. The system (108) as claimed in claim 10, wherein the policy control selection information includes an identifier associated with the PCF (205).

14. The system (108) as claimed in claim 13, wherein the identifier includes at least one of a policy control function identifier, a policy control function group identifier, or a policy control function set identifier.

15. The system (108) as claimed in claim 10, wherein the policy control selection information further includes at least one of network slice information or data network information associated with the UE (104).

16. The system (108) as claimed in claim 10, wherein the policy control selection information further indicates one or more policy services supported by the PCF (205).

17. The system (108) as claimed in claim 10, wherein the first network function (201) is configured to send the policy control selection information to other network functions to enable the other network function to select the PCF (205) for a policy procedure associated with the UE (104).

18. The system (108) as claimed in claim 10, wherein the policy control selection information is included in one or more service-based interface headers to enable a service communication proxy (SCP) to select the PCF (205).

19. A policy control function (PCF) (205), configured to:receive a policy control message from a first network function (201), the policy control message including information associated with a user equipment (UE) (104);determine, based on the policy control message, whether policy control selection information identifying the PCF (205) for one or more policy procedures is generated; andsend a response including the policy control selection information identifying the PCF (205) for the one or more policy procedures associated with the UE (104).

20. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer- readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to execute a method (400) for selecting a policy control function in a network (106), the method (400) comprising:receiving, by a first network function (201), a registration request associated with a user equipment (UE) (104);sending, by the first network function (201) based on the registration request, a policy control message to the PCF (205), the policy control message including information associated with the UE (104);determining, by the PCF (205) based on the policy control message, whether policy control selection information identifying the PCF (205) for one or more policy procedures is generated;sending, by the PCF (205) based on the determining, a response including the policy control selection information that identifies the PCF (205) for the one or more policy procedures associated with the UE (104); andselecting, by the first network function (201) based on the policy control selection information, the PCF (205) for at least one subsequent policy procedure associated with the UE (104).

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