AMF–AM-PCF Policy Feedback for Dynamic 5G Registration Rejection

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current 5G network standards lack a mechanism for mobile network operators (MNOs) to dynamically reject user equipment (UE) registrations based on policy criteria, leading to inefficient and slow processes for enforcing temporary policies, such as blocking or redirecting groups of subscribers.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a system where the Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) in the core network interacts with the Access Management Policy Control Function (AM-PCF) to dynamically manage UE device registrations by mapping HTTP error codes from AM-PCF to NAS error codes, allowing the AMF to reject registrations if policy association fails.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If individual UE device provisioning is used to reject registrations, then policy enforcement is possible, but the process becomes tedious and slow

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepolicy enforcement capabilityVSAvoidregistration management efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the policy control function into a separate AM-PCF entity that operates independently from individual device provisioning. This allows group-level policy management where a single policy decision can affect multiple UEs simultaneously, resolving the contradiction between reliable policy enforcement and efficient registration management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The AM-PCF acts as an intermediary between the AMF and policy databases. It receives policy association requests from the AMF, retrieves applicable policies, and returns policy decisions. This intermediary mechanism enables efficient group-based policy enforcement without requiring individual device provisioning for each registration rejection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If AMF ignores AM-PCF errors and allows registration to continue, then registration process completes, but dynamic policy rejection capability is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveregistration processing throughputVSAvoiddynamic policy rejection capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic policy rejection by making the AMF's behavior adaptive based on AM-PCF responses. The AMF monitors policy association outcomes and dynamically adjusts registration decisions - continuing registration when policies allow or when no policies apply, and rejecting registrations when policies explicitly prohibit them. This dynamic approach resolves the contradiction between processing throughput and policy adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback loops where the AMF receives policy association responses from the AM-PCF and uses this feedback to make informed registration decisions. The feedback mechanism allows the AMF to understand policy outcomes and adjust its behavior accordingly, enabling dynamic rejection capability while maintaining efficient processing for cases where rejection is not required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Loss of time

If group-based policy rejection is implemented, then temporary policies can be enforced quickly, but individual device control is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepolicy implementation timeVSAvoidindividual device provisioning flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The AM-PCF provides universal policy control that can apply to individual UEs, groups of UEs, or all UEs simultaneously. The same policy management interface and mechanism work at multiple levels of granularity, allowing operators to enforce temporary policies quickly across groups when needed, while retaining the ability to manage individual devices when required. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction between rapid group-based policy implementation and individual device control flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS12439357B2Systems and methods for dynamic registration management in enhanced core networks

Publication Date: 2025.10.07 VERIZON PATENT & LICENSING INC

AI summary

Systems and methods are provided to enable operators to dynamically reject user equipment (UE) registrations for 5G networks based on certain policy criteria. A network device in a core network receives a registration request for a UE device, retrieves access and mobility subscription data for the UE device, and submits a policy association request message to an Access Management-Policy Control Function (AM-PCF). The policy association request message includes the access and mobility subscription data. The network device receives a policy association response message from the AM-PCF, determines whether the policy association response message includes an error code for a failed access management policy association, and rejects the registration request when the policy association response message includes the error code.