Charging Aggregation Control for 5G Network Slices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies face challenges in aggregating charging information for multiple network slice instances of a Communication Service Provider (CSP), particularly in determining charging aggregation control and quota control per CSP.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of enhanced mechanisms within the 5G system to support charging aggregation for multiple CSP slice instances, including providing a CSP ID to the Session Management Function (SMF) for charging aggregation, determining charging aggregation control, selecting a Charging Function (CHF) for multiple network slices, and enforcing quota information per CSP.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If charging information is aggregated for multiple network slice instances of a CSP, then charging control accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional mechanisms for CSP ID provision, CHF selection, and quota enforcement
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments charging control by introducing CSP-specific identifiers (CSP ID) and selecting dedicated Charging Functions (CHF) for each CSP. This segmentation allows independent charging aggregation per CSP while maintaining overall system organization, resolving the contradiction by structuring complexity in a manageable way that improves measurement precision without overwhelming system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The Session Management Function (SMF) acts as an intermediary that receives CSP ID information, determines charging aggregation control, and selects appropriate CHF instances. This intermediary mechanism enables automated charging aggregation without requiring direct complex interactions between multiple components, thus improving charging control accuracy while limiting the increase in overall system complexity.
2Productivity
If automated mechanisms are implemented for determining charging aggregation control and selecting CHF, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional control functions
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by provisioning CSP ID information in advance to the SMF and pre-determining charging aggregation control parameters. This preliminary configuration enables automated CHF selection and charging aggregation without requiring complex real-time decision-making, thus improving productivity while keeping control function complexity manageable through pre-computation.
Solution Approach 2:
The SMF uses feedback from CSP ID identification and charging aggregation control determination to automatically select appropriate CHF instances. This feedback mechanism enables automated productivity improvement without requiring manual intervention, while the feedback loop is designed to be simple and rule-based, limiting the increase in control function complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A policy control function (PCF) receives from a session management function (SMF) a first message requesting policy establishment of a first packet data unit (PDU) session for a wireless device. The first message comprises a first single-network slice selection assistance information (S-NSSAI) and a first network slice instance identifier (NSI ID) for the first S-NSSAI. The PCF also receives a second message comprising an identifier of a communication service provider (CSP ID). The PCF maps the first NSI ID to the CSP ID and further selects a charging function (CHF) for the first PDU session per CSP based on the mapping.