5G PCF Group-Based Data Retrieval for Lower Signaling Overhead
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Solution Overview
Problem
In 5G networks, the Policy Control Function (PCF) lacks the ability to accurately determine the group membership and data type of terminal devices, leading to inefficient data retrieval and increased signaling overheads during policy management.
Innovation Solution
The PCF receives a group identifier and data type from a network element, allowing it to obtain corresponding data directly, thereby simplifying operations and reducing power consumption and signaling overheads by ensuring accurate data retrieval for terminal devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the PCF obtains subscription data from the UDR based only on terminal device identifier, then the existing registration mechanism is simple, but the PCF cannot accurately obtain data corresponding to the group to which the terminal device belongs
Solution Approach 1:
The network element performs preliminary action by determining the group identifier and data type before the PCF retrieves data. This preliminary determination is stored and transmitted to the PCF, enabling accurate data retrieval without increasing the complexity of the PCF's data retrieval process itself.
Solution Approach 2:
A network element acts as an intermediary between the terminal device and the PCF. This intermediary determines the group identifier and data type, and provides this information to the PCF, thereby enabling accurate group-based data retrieval without requiring the PCF to complex analysis.
2Loss of energy
If the PCF requests data for each terminal device individually, then data retrieval is straightforward, but redundant requests increase signaling overheads and power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the data retrieval operations for multiple terminal devices by using group identifiers. Instead of querying data individually for each terminal device, the PCF retrieves data once per group, significantly reducing the number of requests and associated signaling overheads while maintaining operational simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The group identifier serves a universal function that applies to all terminal devices within the group. By using this universal identifier, the system can efficiently retrieve data for multiple devices through a single query, reducing power consumption and signaling overhead without complicating the retrieval operation.
3Loss of information
If the network stores policy related data in the UDR based on different data types, then data storage is comprehensive, but the PCF cannot sense group membership and data type correspondence
Solution Approach 1:
The network element performs preliminary action by determining and storing the correspondence between group identifiers and data types before the PCF needs to retrieve data. This preliminary preparation ensures that complete group data information is available without requiring complex detection capabilities at retrieval time.
Solution Approach 2:
The network element provides feedback information to the PCF about the group identifier and data type correspondence. This feedback mechanism ensures that the PCF receives complete and accurate information about group membership and data types, eliminating information loss without requiring complex detection capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
In an embodiment a method includes receiving, by a policy control network element, first information from a first network element, wherein the first information comprises a group identifier and a data type corresponding to the group identifier, the group identifier indicating a group and the group comprising one or more terminal devices, and obtaining, by the policy control network element, first data based on the first information, wherein the first data is data corresponding to the data type.