ATSSS Rule Updates for Application-Aware Network Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing network access technologies fail to meet the diverse performance requirements of applications, as users cannot accurately determine the characteristics of access networks, leading to suboptimal data transmission.

Innovation Solution

A network access method that acquires target network performance for applications, detects mismatches in existing ATSSS rules, and transmits a target data steering mode to the network side for rule updates, ensuring applications connect to channels that meet performance requirements through 3GPP and non-3GPP data transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If users set access network types (Wi-Fi only, cellular only, etc.) on the terminal, then access network selection is simplified, but application performance requirements cannot be met

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess network selectionVSAvoidapplication performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal detects application performance requirements and feeds back target data steering modes to the network side. The network side updates ATSSS rules based on this feedback, creating a closed-loop system that adapts to application needs while maintaining user-friendly access network selection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

ATSSS rules act as an intermediary mechanism between user access network settings and application performance requirements. The rules enable dynamic data transmission path selection without requiring users to understand network characteristics, thus maintaining ease of operation while improving application performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If ATSSS rules are updated frequently to meet application requirements, then application performance is improved, but signaling storms occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication performanceVSAvoidsignaling storms
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal transmits target data steering modes only when application performance requirements are not met, rather than continuously updating. This partial action approach updates ATSSS rules only when necessary, improving application performance while avoiding signaling storms from excessive updates

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Manufacturing precision

If terminal settings are aligned with network-side ATSSS rules, then data transmission accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal automatically detects application performance requirements and self-adjusts by transmitting target data steering modes to the network side. This self-service mechanism aligns terminal settings with network-side ATSSS rules without requiring complex manual configuration, thus improving data transmission accuracy while managing system complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4336897B1Network access method, network device and storage medium
Publication Date: 2026.01.21 ZTE CORP
  • EP4336897B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4336897B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4336897B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A network access method, a network device and a storage medium. The method in the present application comprises: acquiring target network performance of an application (101); detecting whether the target network performance of the application matches a data guidance policy that is comprised in an ATSSS rule issued by a network side (102); if not, transmitting, to the network side, a target data guidance policy corresponding to the target network performance, so that a device on the network side updates the ATSSS rule according to the target data guidance policy (103); and if an ATSSS rule update success message sent by the device on the network side is received, making the application access a network channel that satisfies the target network performance, wherein the network channel comprises a 3GPP data transmission channel and/or a non-3GPP data transmission channel (104).