AMF Mediator for Multi-Access SMS Delivery
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In communication networks, user equipment (UE) registration across multiple access networks, such as 3GPP and non-3GPP access, faces challenges in efficient delivery of short message service (SMS) messages due to differing access network policies and the need for unique access management, particularly in 5G systems where SMS delivery must be supported across various access types.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves a network node and user equipment (UE) that can send and receive notifying messages and service requests across multiple access types, allowing for the registration of UE in both 3GPP and non-3GPP access states, and enabling the delivery of SMS messages via an appropriate access network selected by entities other than the Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), ensuring compliance with user and operator policies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If SMS messages are delivered via multiple access networks, then SMS service coverage and accessibility are improved, but access network management complexity and policy coordination difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where the AMF acts as a mediator between multiple access networks and the SMS delivery system. The AMF receives SMS delivery requests, determines the appropriate access network based on UE registration state and policy, and coordinates the delivery process. This intermediary approach enables multi-access SMS delivery while centralizing management complexity in the AMF, thus resolving the contradiction between versatility and management complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The AMF is designed with multi-functional capabilities to handle SMS delivery across different access networks (3GPP and non-3GPP). It performs multiple functions including receiving SMS delivery requests, determining UE access state, selecting appropriate access networks, and coordinating with SMSF and other network functions. This universal design allows a single network function to manage SMS delivery across multiple access types, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining versatility.
2Reliability
If unique access management is enforced for SMS delivery, then network security and policy compliance are improved, but SMS delivery flexibility and speed are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having the AMF determine the UE's access network state and identify the appropriate access network for SMS delivery before the actual SMS transmission. The AMF pre-evaluates policy compliance, checks registration state, and selects the target access network in advance. This preliminary determination ensures security and policy compliance are verified upfront, while the actual SMS delivery can proceed quickly through the predetermined path, thus maintaining both reliability and productivity.
3Reliability
If SMS messages are routed through the AMF for access determination, then access policy compliance is improved, but SMS delivery latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the time-consuming access determination and policy compliance checking functions from the SMS delivery path and places them in the AMF, which performs these operations in parallel or beforehand. The AMF extracts and processes access state information, policy rules, and registration data independently, then provides the determined access network information back to the SMS delivery system. This extraction allows policy compliance to be verified without blocking the fast SMS transmission path, thus maintaining both reliability and reducing latency.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The apparatus includes a processor configured to send, over a 3rd Generation Partnership project (3GPP) access, a notifying message regarding non-3GPP access to a user equipment, the user equipment being simultaneously registered to the communication network via the 3GPP access and via the non-3GPP access, the user equipment being in a connection management-idle state over the non-3GPP access. The method includes sending over a 3rd Generation Partnership project (3GPP) access a notifying message regarding non-3GPP access to a user equipment, the user equipment being simultaneously registered to a communication network via the 3GPP access and via the non-3GPP access, the user equipment being in a connection management-idle state over the non-3GPP access.