ANDSF Policy Update via EPC Location Data

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Solution Overview

Problem

The frequent reporting of location information by user equipment (UE) to the Access Network Discovery and Selection Function (ANDSF) server consumes significant UE resources, particularly battery power, and generates additional signaling traffic within the operator network.

Innovation Solution

The ANDSF server receives location information from the LTE Evolved Packet Core (EPC) instead of from the UE, allowing it to generate and send access network policies to the UE via a first access network, thereby reducing the need for UE location reporting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the UE periodically reports its location to the ANDSF server, then the server can generate appropriate access network policies, but this consumes significant UE battery power and generates additional signaling traffic

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess network policy accuracyVSAvoidUE battery power

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces the EPC (Evolved Packet Core) as an intermediary that already possesses location information about the UE. Instead of the UE directly reporting location to ANDSF, the ANDSF server retrieves location information from the EPC, which acts as a mediator that already has this data from mobility management functions. This eliminates the need for UE to actively report location, saving battery power while maintaining policy accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The EPC system serves itself by maintaining location information as part of its mobility management functions. The ANDSF server leverages this self-maintained location data within the EPC without requiring additional UE participation or energy consumption for location reporting.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If the UE periodically reports its location to the ANDSF server, then the server can generate appropriate access network policies, but this generates additional signaling traffic within the operator network

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess network policy accuracyVSAvoidsignaling traffic

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The EPC acts as an intermediary that consolidates location information management. By having ANDSF retrieve location data from EPC rather than receiving repeated reports from UE, the system reduces redundant signaling. The EPC already maintains this information for mobility management, so additional signaling for location reporting is eliminated.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The EPC performs multiple functions including both mobility management (which requires location tracking) and serving as the location information source for ANDSF. This multi-functionality allows the system to reuse existing location data for policy generation without requiring separate location reporting mechanisms, thereby reducing overall signaling traffic.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If the UE reports location information frequently, then the ANDSF server can maintain up-to-date policies, but this increases UE resource consumption

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepolicy update frequencyVSAvoidUE resource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The EPC intermediary maintains location information as part of its core mobility management functions without requiring UE to actively report. The ANDSF server queries the EPC for location information when needed for policy updates, allowing frequent policy updates without increasing UE resource consumption since the UE is not actively participating in location reporting.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The EPC performs preliminary location tracking as part of its mobility management functions before ANDSF needs the information. This preliminary action ensures location data is already available when ANDSF requires it for policy generation, enabling frequent policy updates without requiring UE to perform additional actions or consume additional resources.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS9603080B2Network assisted ANDSF policy updating

Publication Date: 2017.03.21 NOKIA OF AMERICA CORP

AI summary

Various methods and apparatuses are provided to address the need for reduced UE location reporting. In one method, an access network discovery and selection function (ANDSF) server receives (401) location information for a UE from a Long Term Evolution (LTE) Evolved Packet Core (EPC) function. The location information is received from the LTE EPC function instead of being received from the UE. The ANDSF server then generates (402) a policy based on the location information received for the UE and sends (403) the policy to the UE via a first access network. The policy includes an identification of an access point for use by the UE to access an access network different than the first access network.