ATSSS Overlay Policy Entity for Multi-Connectivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems lack support for policy exchange mechanisms specifically for ATSSS Overlay, which is essential for enabling multi-connectivity in communication systems, particularly in scenarios where the ATSSS user plane function is not integrated, limiting the adoption and integration of advanced network architectures like 5G convergence and hybrid access solutions.
Innovation Solution
A policy entity is introduced that provides an out-of-band policy mechanism decoupled from user plane provisioning, extending the Entitlement Server to support ATSSS Overlay and defining specific rules/policies, allowing communication with LTE and multi-connectivity termination points, and informing the mobile core about the availability of the ATSSS Overlay, enabling multi-connectivity without requiring a full 3GPP-defined ATSSS or mobile core integration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a full 3GPP-defined ATSSS with integrated user plane function is implemented, then comprehensive traffic management capability is achieved, but device complexity and integration requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the policy management functionality from the full ATSSS architecture and implements it as a standalone policy entity. This policy entity provides ATSSS overlay capabilities without requiring integration of the complete user plane function, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining essential traffic management capabilities through out-of-band policy exchange mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the ATSSS functionality into separate components: a policy entity for control plane operations and the user plane function as an optional separate component. This segmentation allows networks to deploy only the necessary policy management capabilities without implementing the entire ATSSS stack, reducing integration complexity while preserving traffic management versatility.
2Adaptability or versatility
If ATSSS Overlay is implemented without user plane function integration, then deployment flexibility is improved, but policy exchange mechanism support is lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a dedicated policy entity that acts as an intermediary for policy exchange in ATSSS overlay scenarios. This policy entity communicates with the user plane function through standardized interfaces and implements out-of-band policy exchange mechanisms, ensuring reliable policy management even when the user plane function is not fully integrated into the core network.
3Ease of manufacture
If existing Entitlement Server is extended to support ATSSS Overlay, then policy management is simplified, but compatibility with existing systems must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the existing Entitlement Server to function as a policy entity for ATSSS overlay scenarios. This multi-functional approach allows the same infrastructure component to serve both traditional entitlement management and new ATSSS policy exchange requirements, simplifying policy management while maintaining compatibility with existing 4G and 5G core systems through standardized interfaces.
Data Source
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AI summary
A communication system comprising a policy entity for an Access Traffic Steering, Switching and Splitting, ATSSS, Overlay, a mobile core, a User Equipment, UE, and a multi-connectivity provider having a multi-connectivity termination point, wherein the ATSSS Overlay is configured to provide multi-connectivity without an ATSSS user plane function, wherein the policy entity is configured to communicate ATSSS Overlay specific rules with the UE and/or to the multi-connectivity termination point.