Correlation Identifier for User Plane Congestion Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing Evolved Packet System (EPS) lacks a direct correlation link between user equipment identities and cell information, leading to inaccurate congestion management and increased complexity due to the need for new interfaces and queries between RAN and core network entities, which can result in incorrect congestion mitigation measures and backward compatibility issues.
Innovation Solution
Introducing a correlation identifier (C-RUCI-ID) that uniquely identifies user equipment and packet data network connections across the network, allowing the Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) to directly correlate user equipment with the radio access network without involving the RAN Congestion Application Function (RCAF) or Mobility Management Entity (MME)/Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN), thus eliminating the need for new interfaces and simplifying the network architecture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If new interfaces and query mechanisms are introduced between RAN and core network entities to enable congestion management, then congestion management capability is improved, but device complexity and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a Correlation ID as an intermediary element that enables indirect correlation between RAN and core network entities without requiring direct new interfaces. The Correlation ID acts as a mediator that carries identification information through existing signaling paths, allowing congestion management while avoiding direct complexity increases between network elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The Correlation ID serves multiple functions simultaneously: it identifies user equipment, correlates RAN and core network entities, and enables congestion management all through a single mechanism. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized interfaces and mechanisms, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining congestion management capability.
2Device complexity
If existing EPS architecture is used without correlation identifier, then system complexity is reduced, but measurement precision and reliability of congestion management deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The Correlation ID serves as an intermediary that bridges the gap between RAN and core network entities in the existing EPS architecture. It enables precise identification and correlation of user equipment across network boundaries without requiring architectural changes, thereby maintaining low system complexity while achieving high measurement precision for congestion management.
3Reliability
If multiple queries and interface additions are implemented for congestion management, then congestion mitigation accuracy is improved, but loss of time and signaling overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The Correlation ID is established in advance during initial network setup and signaling exchanges between RAN and core network entities. This preliminary establishment of the correlation mechanism eliminates the need for multiple subsequent queries when congestion events occur, reducing signaling delay and time loss while maintaining accurate congestion mitigation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The Correlation ID acts as a pre-established intermediary that enables direct and immediate correlation between network entities during congestion events. This eliminates the need for multiple sequential queries and reduces signaling overhead, achieving both high accuracy and low latency in congestion mitigation.
Data Source
AI summary
Various communication systems may benefit from an identifier that can correlate a user equipment or a packet data network connection with a particular cell. For example, a correlation identifier may be useful to address management of user plane congestion and other use cases. A method can include generating a correlation identifier for a user equipment and/or a packet data network connection. The method also includes the ability to identify the user context information with the same correlation ID in the core network and in the radio access network. The method can also include sending the correlation identifier to a network element.