Group-Based Policy Application for Network Signaling Load Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current network architectures face challenges in efficiently managing policy actions for a group of subscribers, leading to potential network overload and suboptimal performance due to the inefficiencies of applying dynamic policies on a per-subscriber basis, especially in large groups.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a method that identifies a group of subscribers by location and applies dynamic policy actions using group-based Rx AAR messages, reducing signaling load by defining a dynamic-policy-location area (DPLA) and utilizing per-peer messaging between network elements like AF, PCRF, and PGW to enforce policy changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If dynamic policies are applied on a per-subscriber basis, then policy precision and control flexibility are improved, but network equipment is overwhelmed and network congestion is created
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple per-subscriber policy applications into a single group-based policy application. Instead of processing policies individually for each subscriber, the system aggregates subscribers into groups and applies policies at the group level, thereby reducing the processing burden on network equipment while maintaining policy control flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a group-based policy framework that serves multiple subscribers simultaneously through a single policy application mechanism. This universal approach allows one policy to affect multiple subscribers at once, reducing the number of separate policy processing operations required by network equipment.
2Ease of operation
If per-subscriber policy actions are applied, then individual user control is improved, but signaling load increases and network resources are consumed excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple per-subscriber signaling messages into a single group-based signaling message. By aggregating the control information for multiple subscribers into one unified policy application signal, the system significantly reduces the total signaling load while still enabling individual user control through group membership management.
3Productivity
If group-based policy actions are applied, then network efficiency and signaling load reduction are improved, but policy precision for individual users may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments subscribers into distinct groups based on their characteristics, location, or other criteria. This segmentation allows the system to apply policies at the group level for efficiency while maintaining the ability to differentiate between groups, thereby preserving policy precision through structured classification rather than treating all users uniformly.
Data Source
AI summary
An example method includes reporting location changes for one or more users from a first network element to a second network element based on transitions for each of the one or more users in relation to a policy location area, wherein the policy location area is defined by one or more first user location information (ULI) information elements (IEs); communicating a per-peer Rx authorization and accounting request (Rx AAR) message to initiate a policy change, wherein the per-peer Rx AAR message comprises the one or more first ULI IEs; communicating a per-Diameter-peer Gx reauthorization request (Gx RAR) message including the one or more first ULI IEs; identifying one or more users for the policy change based, at least in part, on a corresponding ULI IE for each user and the one or more first ULI IEs; and applying the policy change to each of the identified one or more users.