Flow Group QoS Control in NGN Networks

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Solution Overview

Problem

In Next Generation Networks (NGNs), existing QoS control methods fail to accurately allocate resources within flow groups, leading to inconsistent and inflexible quality of service due to the breakdown of flow groups into individual flows without proper resource allocation, resulting in increased network interactions and load, and instability with changing resource demands.

Innovation Solution

A method and system where a Policy Decision Physical Entity (PD-PE) determines and sends a QoS policy to a Policy Enforcement Physical Entity (PE-PE) indicating how QoS resources are shared among flows in a flow group, allowing the PE-PE to allocate bearers and control resources within the flow group, ensuring they are less than the required resources, and automatically adjust allocations as needed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If flow groups are broken down into individual flows for QoS control, then resource allocation can be performed at the flow level, but resource allocation becomes inconsistent and inflexible

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource allocation precisionVSAvoidQoS control flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by implementing different QoS control strategies at different levels: flow-group level for aggregate resource management and flow level for individual resource allocation. The PD-PE maintains flow-group level QoS parameters while the PE-PE performs flow level resource allocation, creating a hierarchical quality control system that combines both aggregate and individual precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the QoS control function into two distinct entities: PD-PE (Policy Decision Physical Entity) for policy determination and PE-PE (Policy Enforcement Physical Entity) for policy execution. This segmentation allows the PD-PE to focus on flow-group level resource management while the PE-PE handles flow level allocation, resolving the contradiction between aggregate control and individual precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Device complexity

If flow-group level QoS control is implemented, then resource allocation is simplified, but resource allocation becomes inaccurate at the flow level

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveQoS control complexityVSAvoidflow level resource allocation accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the QoS control architecture into PD-PE for policy decision-making at flow-group level and PE-PE for policy enforcement at flow level. This segmentation enables simplified flow-group level control while maintaining accurate flow level resource allocation through the PE-PE's detailed enforcement capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a hierarchical dimension to QoS control, operating at two levels: flow-group level for simplified aggregate resource management and flow level for precise individual allocation. This dimensional approach allows the system to benefit from both simplified control and accurate allocation simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Reliability

If discrete flow level control is used, then individual flow QoS can be ensured, but network interactions and load increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindividual flow QoS guaranteeVSAvoidnetwork interaction efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments control interactions into two stages: flow-group level policy establishment at PD-PE and flow level policy enforcement at PE-PE. This reduces network interactions by handling aggregate control at the higher level, decreasing the frequency and volume of signaling messages while still ensuring individual flow QoS through the enforcement stage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements preliminary action by establishing flow-group level QoS policies in advance at the PD-PE before individual flow allocations are needed. This preliminary policy establishment reduces subsequent network interactions, as the PE-PE can enforce pre-determined policies without requiring frequent renegotiation or detailed coordination for each flow.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Productivity

If flow group resources are shared among flows, then resource utilization efficiency improves, but resource allocation becomes uncontrolled

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource utilization efficiencyVSAvoidresource allocation control
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by implementing different control granularities at different levels: flow-group level for resource pooling and efficiency, and flow level for precise allocation control. The PD-PE manages flow-group level resources for efficient utilization while the PE-PE enforces flow level policies for precise control, achieving both efficiency and control simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments resource control into flow-group level resource pooling managed by PD-PE and flow level allocation managed by PE-PE. This segmentation enables efficient resource sharing at the aggregate level while maintaining precise control at the individual flow level through the enforcement entity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2860921B1Implementing flow group QoS control in NGN
Publication Date: 2019.03.27 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP2860921B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2860921B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2860921B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present invention provides a method for implementing flow group Quality of Service (QoS) control in a Next Generation Network (NGN) to solve the inability of implementing QoS control and dynamic control of flow resources in the prior art. The method includes: a Policy Decision Physical Entity (PD-PE) determines, according to a received resource allocation request carrying a first flow group information, QoS resources required by a flow group, and sends a QoS policy of the flow group to a Policy Enforcement Physical Entity, PE-PE, where the QoS policy of the flow group indicates that how the QoS resources are shared by one or more flows in the flow group, so that the PE-PE allocates one or more bearers to the one or more flows in the flow group according to the received QoS policy and controls the resources occupied by the one or more bearers to be less than the QoS resources required by the flow group. The present invention also discloses a PD-PE, a PE-PE and a network system.