Gateway Bearer Mapping for Multi-RAT Charging Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing charging control systems fail to accurately manage and apply appropriate rates when a communication device uses multiple radio access technologies (RATs) simultaneously, leading to inadequate charging control.
Innovation Solution
A gateway device and radio communication device manage bearers in association with information indicating multiple RATs, transmitting this information to charging control devices for accurate charging control during simultaneous communications using different RATs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a gateway device manages RAT types on a UE-by-UE basis as described in prior art, then the management is simple, but when a UE performs communications using two types of RATs simultaneously, the managed RAT type may differ from the actually used RAT, leading to inadequate charging control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the RAT type management from UE-level to bearer-level. Instead of managing a single RAT type per UE, the system now manages RAT types individually for each bearer (EBT1 and EBT2). This allows the gateway device to track and manage the specific RAT used by each data bearer separately, ensuring that charging control reflects the actual RAT usage for each communication stream.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new dimension to RAT type management by adding bearer-level granularity. The management structure transitions from a single UE-level RAT type parameter to multiple bearer-level RAT type parameters. This dimensional expansion enables precise tracking of different RAT usages across multiple bearers simultaneously, resolving the conflict between management simplicity and charging accuracy.
2Productivity
If dual connectivity is implemented to improve communication throughput, then communication performance is enhanced, but charging control becomes inaccurate when different RATs are used simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the charging control mechanism to operate independently for each bearer. By associating RAT type information with individual bearers (EBT1 with RAT1, EBT2 with RAT2), the system can apply appropriate charging rates to each bearer based on its actual RAT usage. This segmentation allows dual connectivity to function at full throughput while maintaining accurate charging control for each communication stream.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by allowing different charging control policies to be applied to different bearers based on their specific RAT types. Each bearer receives customized charging treatment according to its actual RAT usage, rather than applying a uniform charging policy to all bearers of a UE. This enables precise charging control that reflects the local characteristics of each communication stream.
3Device complexity
If a single RAT type is managed per UE for charging purposes, then the charging control system remains simple, but it cannot accurately reflect the actual RAT usage when multiple RATs are used simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the charging control data structure into bearer-specific components. Each bearer (EBT1, EBT2) is associated with its own RAT type parameter, allowing the system to track RAT usage at the bearer level rather than UE level. This segmentation increases tracking accuracy while keeping the overall system architecture familiar and manageable through standardized interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent maintains universality by using the same gateway device and charging control architecture that already exist in the network. The existing charging control mechanisms are extended to handle multiple RAT types per UE by adding bearer-level RAT type parameters, rather than requiring entirely new systems. This multi-functional approach allows the same infrastructure to support both single-RAT and multi-RAT scenarios.
Data Source
AI summary
To provide a gateway device that achieves charging control in accordance with a RAT being used by a UE even when the UE is performing communication using different RATs at the same time, the present gateway device (30) includes a management unit (31) configured to, when a communication terminal (10) performs a first radio communication using a first radio access technology and a second radio communication using a second radio access technology, manage at least one bearer assigned to the communication terminal (10) in association with information indicating the first and second radio access technologies, and a charging system communication unit (32) configured to transmit the information indicating the first and second radio access technologies to at least one policy charging control device (40) that performs charging control.