Charging Message Payload Control for CHF Load Balancing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing communication networks lack mechanisms for the Charging Function (CHF) to impose tailored payload size limits on charging messages from Charging Trigger Functions (CTFs), leading to unbalanced processing and storage demands, and there are no generic triggers applicable across various services.

Innovation Solution

The CHF signals dynamic payload size limits to CTFs, allowing control over message size and frequency, with options for uncompressed and compressed payloads, and the limits can be applied globally or specifically to certain events, subscribers, or services, balancing communication and processing loads.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the CHF accepts all charging messages from CTFs without payload limits, then complete charging data can be processed, but processing and storage loads at the CHF become excessive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecharging data completenessVSAvoidCHF processing load
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The CHF dynamically changes the payload size parameter based on its current load conditions. When load is high, the CHF reduces the maximum payload size it accepts from CTFs, thereby reducing processing and storage demands while still accepting charging data within the reduced limit

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from a static payload acceptance model to a dynamic one where the CHF continuously adjusts the maximum payload size parameter based on real-time load conditions, making the system adaptive to changing operational demands

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If the CHF imposes smaller payload limits to reduce processing load, then processing and storage demands decrease, but communication load increases due to more frequent messages

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveCHF processing loadVSAvoidnumber of charging messages
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The CHF dynamically adjusts the payload size parameter based on load conditions, creating a adaptive system that balances processing load against message frequency by changing the acceptable message size threshold in response to operational demands

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Quantity of substance

If the CHF imposes larger payload limits to reduce communication load, then fewer messages are exchanged, but processing and storage loads increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of charging messagesVSAvoidCHF processing load
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The CHF changes the payload size parameter dynamically based on current load conditions, allowing the system to optimize the balance between communication efficiency and processing capacity by adjusting the maximum acceptable message size

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4367844B1Method and apparatus for controlling charging-related signaling in a network
Publication Date: 2026.04.22 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
  • EP4367844B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP4367844B1 patent drawingFigure 4~7
  • EP4367844B1 patent drawingFigure 8~9

AI summary

A Charging Function (CHF) (16) of a communication network (10) signals a payload size limit to a Charging Trigger Function (CTF) (14) in the network (10), and the CTF (14) applies the payload size limit to restrict the maximum payload of one or more charging messages sent by the CTF (14) towards the CHF (16). Payload limits determined by the CHF (16) depend, for example, on any one or more of the type(s) of communication services involved, the involved subscribers, or load at the CHF (16). "Load" refers to processing load or communication load, meaning that the CHF (16) in an example implementation may choose smaller payload limits to reduce its processing load or choose larger payload limits, e.g., up to some maximum size, to reduce its communication load.