Direct UPF–PCF Policy Authorization for Lower 5GS Latency

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Solution Overview

Problem

5GS networks face issues of large application control and processing latency, multiple information transmission paths, and heavy load between systems, which are exacerbated in time-sensitive networking (TSN) environments requiring low latency and high bandwidth.

Innovation Solution

A user plane policy authorization method that enables direct interaction between the user plane function (UPF) and policy control function (PCF) network elements by establishing an association session based on the PCF's identity, allowing for direct reporting of user plane usage information and receiving policies, thereby reducing information transfer paths and system load.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If interaction between PCF and UPF is forwarded by other network elements, then system architecture is maintained, but information transmission path increases and processing latency increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem architectureVSAvoidprocessing latency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the PCF identity information from the SMF and enables the UPF to directly establish an association session with the PCF, removing intermediate forwarding network elements from the policy authorization path. This extraction of essential identity information allows direct communication while maintaining system architecture integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses the SMF as a mediator to transfer PCF identity information to the UPF during session establishment, enabling future direct communication. The SMF acts as a temporary intermediary that facilitates the setup of direct UPF-PCF association without being involved in subsequent policy authorization interactions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If interaction between PCF and UPF is forwarded by other network elements, then system architecture is maintained, but information transmission path increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem architectureVSAvoidinformation transmission path

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If interaction between PCF and UPF is forwarded by other network elements, then system architecture is maintained, but system load increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem architectureVSAvoidsystem load

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Loss of time

If direct association session between UPF and PCF is established, then processing latency is reduced, but additional identity acquisition step is required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing latencyVSAvoididentity acquisition process

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs the identity acquisition action in advance during the PDU session establishment phase. The SMF provides the PCF identity to the UPF before the actual policy authorization interactions begin, so that when direct association is needed, the identity information is already available, eliminating the need for additional acquisition steps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20250219854A1User plane policy authorization method, network element, electronic device and storage medium

Publication Date: 2025.07.03 ZTE CORP

AI summary

Embodiments of the present application relate to the technical field of communication and disclose a user plane policy authorization method, a network element, an electronic device and a storage medium. The method includes: acquiring an identity of a policy control function (PCF) network element from the session management function (SMF) network element; establishing an association session with the PCF network element according to the identity of the PCF network element; and reporting user plane usage information to the PCF network element through the association session, and receiving the user plane policy fed back based on the user plane usage information from the PCF network element through the association session.