Mobile Communication Bearer Resource Matching Policy Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current QoS control systems for SAE/LTE mobile communication systems do not effectively manage bearer resources across the entire architecture, particularly in scenarios involving different operator networks, leading to inefficiencies in policy application and resource allocation.

Innovation Solution

A mobile communication system is proposed that includes visited and home networks connected via a core network, with user plane devices, policy controlling devices, and gateway devices to manage and match bearer resources end-to-end, ensuring flexible policy settings and resource allocation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If QoS control is implemented separately in VPLMN and HPLMN with different operator policies, then each network can apply its own policy flexibly, but the bearer resource amounts in visited network and core network may not match, leading to resource allocation inefficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepolicy flexibilityVSAvoidbearer resource matching
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the visited network policy controlling device sends bearer resource information to the home network policy controlling device, which then adjusts core network bearer resources to match the visited network bearer resources. This closed-loop feedback ensures resource matching while preserving operator policy flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The home network policy controlling device acts as an intermediary between the visited network policy controlling device and the core network. It receives bearer resource information from the visited network, makes matching decisions, and controls the core network bearer resources accordingly, resolving the mismatch issue while maintaining both networks' policy autonomy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If existing QoS control methods are applied to SAE/LTE architecture, then some QoS control capability is provided, but the system complexity increases and the existing methods cannot be easily applied due to different system configuration

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveQoS control capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the QoS control function into separate policy controlling devices for the visited network and home network, with the home network policy controlling device specifically handling the matching logic. This segmentation allows existing QoS control capabilities to be preserved while managing system complexity through functional separation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If bearer resources are allocated independently in visited network and core network, then resource allocation flexibility is maintained, but resource waste or insufficiency occurs due to lack of coordination

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource allocation flexibilityVSAvoidresource waste
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The feedback mechanism enables the home network policy controlling device to receive bearer resource allocation information from the visited network and adjust core network resources accordingly. This ensures that resources are neither wasted nor insufficient, while maintaining the flexibility of independent allocation through coordinated adjustment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP2068502B1A mobile communication system for matching resource amount of core network bearer and resource amount of visited network bearer
Publication Date: 2013.01.02 NEC CORP
  • EP2068502B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2068502B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2068502B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A visited policy controlling device decides the amount of a visited network bearer resource that is provided by a visited user plane device for an end-to-end service based on the amount of a bearer service resource requested to be used in the end-to-end service. A home policy controlling device decides the amount of a core network bearer resource that a home gateway device provides for the end-to-end service based on the amount of the bearer service resource requested to be used in the end-to-end service. Further, a home policy controlling device performs processing to match the amount of the core network bearer resource decided by itself and the amount of the visited network bearer resource decided by visited policy controlling device, if they do not match.