Dual-Connectivity Charging via User-Plane Bearer Switch Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current 5G networks face inefficiencies in differential charging for user equipment with dual connectivity capabilities due to increased control plane signaling and performance costs when devices frequently switch between 4G and 5G radio access networks, leading to higher throughput and performance costs.
Innovation Solution
Introduce a new Tunnel Switch Marker packet on the S1-U interface to indicate bearer switches between 4G LTE and 5G NR, enabling the user plane to detect and apply differential charging without control plane signaling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If control plane signaling is used to detect bearer switches between 4G and 5G for differential charging, then charging accuracy is improved, but system performance and efficiency deteriorate due to increased signaling overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the bearer switch detection function from the control plane to the user plane. The user plane gateway directly detects bearer switches by examining the source address of incoming packets, eliminating the need for control plane signaling to track and report switching events. This extraction resolves the contradiction by maintaining charging accuracy while removing signaling overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
The user plane gateway performs self-service by autonomously detecting bearer switches through packet inspection without requiring external control plane instructions. The gateway maintains local state information about active bearers and independently determines when switches occur, enabling accurate differential charging without control plane involvement and thus improving system efficiency.
2Measurement precision
If control plane signaling is used to track bearer switches for differential charging, then charging accuracy is improved, but signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The detection mechanism is extracted from the control plane to the user plane. The user plane gateway directly inspects packet headers to detect bearer switches, completely removing the need for control plane signaling messages to report switching events. This eliminates signaling overhead while preserving charging accuracy through direct observation of data plane traffic.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces packet inspection as an intermediary mechanism between the bearer switch event and the charging system. Instead of relying on control plane signaling as a mediator, the user plane gateway directly observes packet flows and uses this information to trigger charging decisions, thereby eliminating control plane signaling overhead while maintaining accurate charging.
3Adaptability or versatility
If frequent switching between 4G and 5G is supported, then network flexibility and adaptability are improved, but throughput and performance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The user plane gateway autonomously handles bearer switch detection and charging rule application without requiring control plane intervention for each switch event. This self-service mechanism allows the system to efficiently handle frequent switching between 4G and 5G by processing switches in the data plane, reducing the performance burden on the control plane and improving overall throughput.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the control plane signaling mechanism with a user plane packet inspection mechanism. This substitution moves the detection burden from the control plane to the data plane, where high-speed packet processing can handle frequent switches more efficiently. The mechanical signaling process is replaced with automated packet analysis, improving throughput performance while maintaining network flexibility.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and computer-readable media for applying differential charging over user plane for DCNR capable UEs. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a session request at a control plane gateway in association with a dual connectivity attachment request by a user equipment to connect to a network, sending a request for tunnel binding IDs to a Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF), wherein each of the tunnel binding IDs is associated with one of different types of network access for the user equipment, receiving the tunnel binding IDs from the PCRF, and programming a user plane with the tunnel binding IDs and corresponding charging rules for the different types of network access, the user equipment being charged for data usage using the charging rules and depending on which of the different types of network access is used by the user equipment to connect to the network.