ATSSS Policy Control Using Application-Driven Traffic Steering
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current 5G communication systems lack the ability for application functions (AFs) to influence access traffic steering, switching, and splitting (ATSSS) control, failing to accommodate diverse network requirements such as low latency, high reliability, and cost efficiency.
Innovation Solution
Allowing AFs to subscribe to events related to ATSSS and provide traffic routing information to the Policy Control Function (PCF) to influence the creation or update of rules and policies, thereby enabling dynamic control of ATSSS based on network requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If application functions are allowed to subscribe to ATSSS events and provide traffic routing information, then network flexibility and adaptability are improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into distinct functional components: AF for event subscription and information provision, PCF for policy creation and update, and separate event types for different access technologies. This modular segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, improving network flexibility while managing system complexity through clear functional boundaries.
Solution Approach 2:
The PCF acts as an intermediary between the AF and the ATSSS control mechanisms. The AF subscribes to events and provides traffic routing information to the PCF, which then creates or updates policies based on this information. This intermediary structure enables flexible application-driven control while abstracting the complexity from the AF.
2Productivity
If dynamic control of ATSSS is enabled based on network requirements, then network performance is improved, but processing overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by having the AF subscribe to ATSSS events in advance and provide traffic routing information before actual traffic steering is needed. The PCF creates or updates policies based on this pre-provided information, enabling dynamic control decisions to be made quickly when traffic needs to be steered, thus improving network performance while minimizing processing overhead during critical operations.
3Reliability
If multiple access technologies are monitored and managed, then service coverage and reliability are improved, but control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a universal event subscription mechanism that can monitor multiple access technologies (3GPP and non-3GPP) through a single AF-PCF interface. The event subscription framework is designed to handle diverse event types uniformly, allowing the same policy control mechanism to manage traffic steering across different access technologies, thereby improving service reliability while avoiding the need for separate control systems for each access type.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Methods, apparatus, and systems for enabling an application function to influence access traffic steering, switching, splitting control are described. In one example aspect, a wireless communication method includes transmitting a request from an application function to a network function to enable a creation or an update of a policy or a rule for traffic routing. The request includes one or more parameters indicating traffic routing information for one or more user devices. The one or more parameters comprise at least an access type preference for the one or more user devices. The method also includes receiving a response from the network function indicating the creation or the update of the policy or the rule for traffic routing.