Application Function Node for Priority-Based PDU Session Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cellular communication systems struggle to prioritize and protect high-priority communications from interference in local cellular networks, particularly in environments where beamforming is used, as conventional QoS and network slicing methods fail to effectively isolate critical communications.

Innovation Solution

An application function node (AF node) is introduced to acquire session information from a UDM node, determining which PDU sessions to maintain or stop based on priority, and requesting the release of non-critical sessions to mitigate interference.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If beamforming is used to suppress interference with terminal devices, then communication protection is improved, but high priority communication may be hindered due to lack of priority consideration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication protectionVSAvoidpriority handling capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating interference suppression actions based on PDU session priority. The AF node identifies high-priority PDU sessions and applies selective interference suppression only to low-priority sessions, allowing high-priority communications to maintain their quality while low-priority ones are suppressed. This resolves the contradiction by making the interference suppression mechanism adaptive to different communication priorities rather than applying uniform suppression.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamics by enabling the AF node to dynamically adjust interference suppression based on real-time PDU session priority information. The system continuously monitors session priorities and adjusts which sessions receive interference suppression, allowing the network to adapt to changing communication requirements and ensure high-priority sessions are protected while managing overall interference effectively.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If conventional QoS and network slicing methods are used, then service differentiation is provided, but effective isolation of critical communications from interference is not achieved

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice differentiationVSAvoidcritical communication isolation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces the AF node as an intermediary that bridges the gap between conventional QoS mechanisms and actual interference suppression. The AF node receives PDU session information including priority indicators, determines which sessions are high-priority, and selectively applies interference suppression to low-priority sessions. This intermediary function enables effective isolation of critical communications while maintaining service differentiation through the existing QoS framework.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4132211B1Application function NODE and communication method

Publication Date: 2025.09.17 SONY GROUP CORP

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AI summary

An application function node (10) includes a control unit (13). The control unit (13) acquires session information regarding a PDU session from a UDM node (30), determines, from a plurality of the PDU sessions, a first PDU session for maintaining communication and a second PDU session for stopping communication based on the session information, and requests to stop communication in the determined second PDU session.