Asynchronous Online Charging Trigger Initiation in Mobile Networks

Solution Overview

Problem

In 3GPP-based mobile networks, the dependency of attach procedures on initial Gy transactions introduces significant delays in call setup times due to transport and processing delays at Diameter servers, which can be avoided by making these transactions asynchronous.

Innovation Solution

Implementing asynchronous handling of Gy sessions by allowing the control plane gateway to send a create session response before obtaining a Gy credit-control answer, and initiating the Gy credit-control request during the attach procedure or in response to a user data packet, thereby decoupling the attach process from the initial Gy transaction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If synchronous Gy credit-control requests are processed during attach procedures, then charging accuracy is ensured, but call setup time increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecharging accuracyVSAvoidcall setup time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by initiating the Gy credit-control request asynchronously during the attach procedure without waiting for its completion. The control plane gateway sends the create session response to the mobility management entity before receiving the Gy credit-control answer, thereby performing the charging setup in advance of the actual data transfer while maintaining charging accuracy through subsequent synchronous updates when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamics by making the Gy credit-control process flexible - it can operate asynchronously during attach to reduce delay, then switch to synchronous mode when actual data transfer occurs. This dynamic approach allows the system to adapt its charging mode based on the operational phase, ensuring both speed during attachment and accuracy during data transfer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If Diameter protocol transactions are processed synchronously, then charging control accuracy is maintained, but network performance and throughput decrease

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecharging control accuracyVSAvoidnetwork throughput

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by initiating the Gy credit-control request asynchronously during the attach procedure without waiting for its completion. The control plane gateway sends the create session response to the mobility management entity before receiving the Gy credit-control answer, thereby performing the charging setup in advance of the actual data transfer while maintaining charging accuracy through subsequent synchronous updates when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamics by making the Gy credit-control process flexible - it can operate asynchronously during attach to reduce delay, then switch to synchronous mode when actual data transfer occurs. This dynamic approach allows the system to adapt its charging mode based on the operational phase, ensuring both speed during attachment and accuracy during data transfer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If attach procedures wait for Gy credit-control answers, then charging triggers are accurate, but attach latency increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecharging trigger accuracyVSAvoidattach latency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by initiating the Gy credit-control request asynchronously during the attach procedure without waiting for its completion. The control plane gateway sends the create session response to the mobility management entity before receiving the Gy credit-control answer, thereby performing the charging setup in advance of the actual data transfer while maintaining charging accuracy through subsequent synchronous updates when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11468425B1Asynchronously initiating online charging triggers in mobile networks

Publication Date: 2022.10.11 CISCO TECHNOLOGY INC

AI summary

Techniques and mechanisms for asynchronously initiating online charging triggers in mobile networks are described. A control plane gateway or “GW-C” may obtain from a mobility management entity (MME) a create session request associated with an attach request for a user equipment (UE). The GW-C may send to an online charging system (OCS) a Gy credit-control request for requesting a quota of units (e.g. a resource usage quota) associated with a subscriber of the UE. Prior to sending the Gy credit-control request or obtaining a Gy credit-control answer, the GW-C may send to the MME a create session response which prompts an attach accept or reject of the attach request. The Gy credit-control request may be sent to the OCS during an attach procedure associated with the attach request for the UE or, alternatively, in response to receiving a user data packet of the session as a notification.