ATSSS Rule Generation Using Policy-Based Application Descriptors

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current 5G networks lack an accurate method for determining application descriptors in Access Traffic Steering, Switching, and Splitting (ATSSS) rules, which are crucial for managing service data flow across different access technologies.

Innovation Solution

A communication method where a policy control network element determines an application descriptor based on an application identifier and sends it to a session management network element, enabling the generation of precise ATSSS rules.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a session management network element generates an ATSSS rule without receiving application descriptor information from a policy control network element, then the rule generation process is simple and fast, but the application descriptor determination is inaccurate and unreliable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication descriptor determination accuracyVSAvoidrule generation process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The policy control network element performs preliminary action by determining the application descriptor before the session management network element generates the ATSSS rule. This ensures accurate application descriptor information is available when needed, resolving the contradiction between reliability and complexity by preparing the necessary data in advance through a dedicated policy control function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The policy control network element acts as an intermediary between the application identifier and the ATSSS rule generation process. It receives the application identifier, determines the corresponding application descriptor, and provides this accurate information to the session management network element, enabling reliable rule generation without requiring the session management element to perform complex determination operations itself.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If the policy control network element determines and sends the application descriptor to the session management network element, then the ATSSS rule generation becomes accurate and reliable, but the communication process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication descriptor accuracyVSAvoidcommunication process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the ATSSS rule generation process into distinct functional parts: the policy control network element handles application descriptor determination, while the session management network element handles rule generation. This segmentation allows each element to perform its specialized function accurately, improving measurement precision while distributing complexity across multiple specialized components rather than concentrating it in one element.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4120723B1Communication method, apparatus, and system
Publication Date: 2026.03.11 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP4120723B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4120723B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4120723B1 patent drawingFigure 3(a)~3(b)

AI summary

This application provides a communication method, an apparatus, and a system. The method includes: A policy control network element obtains an application identifier, determines a first application descriptor based on the application identifier, and sends the first application descriptor to a session management network element, where the first application descriptor is for generating an ATSSS rule, and the ATSSS rule includes the first application descriptor. Based on this solution, the policy control network element may determine an application descriptor, and send the application descriptor to the session management network element, so that the session management network element may generate the ATSSS rule based on the application descriptor. In this way, the ATSSS rule is accurately generated, and the method is simple and easy to implement.