Group UE Usage Limit Control for Network Slice Admission
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current network configurations lack mechanisms for implementing usage limits for a group of user equipment (UEs) and network slice admission control (NSAC) based on charging control functions, leading to resource wastage and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A network device supports usage limits for a group of UEs by generating and implementing modified policies based on network slice admission control and charging control, utilizing a policy control function (PCF), network slice admission control function (NSACF), and charging function (CHF) to manage UE and PDU session limits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If network configurations implement individual usage limits for each UE, then usage control precision is improved, but device complexity and resource consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments UEs into groups based on common characteristics (e.g., network slice, service type, user profile) and applies usage limits at the group level. This segmentation allows the system to manage multiple UEs through fewer group entities, reducing configuration complexity while maintaining effective usage control. The PCF creates policy data structures that associate groups of UEs with specific usage limits, enabling scalable management.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a universal group-based usage limit mechanism that can be applied across multiple UEs simultaneously. The PCF generates a single policy data structure that serves multiple UEs in a group, making the policy control function universal rather than individual-specific. This multi-functionality reduces the overall number of policy configurations needed in the network.
2Reliability
If network configurations implement usage limits for each UE individually, then usage limit enforcement accuracy is improved, but computing resources and networking resources are wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple individual UE policy evaluations into a single group-level policy evaluation. The PCF creates a consolidated policy data structure that represents multiple UEs, and the CHF evaluates usage limits against this merged structure rather than processing each UE separately. This combining approach maintains enforcement accuracy while significantly reducing computing and networking resource consumption.
3Device complexity
If no group-based usage limit mechanism is implemented, then device complexity is reduced, but resource wastage increases due to lack of NSAC and policy charging control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary grouping of UEs based on their characteristics (network slice, service type, user profile) before usage limit enforcement. The PCF pre-creates policy data structures that define groups and their associated usage limits. This preliminary action enables the network to proactively control resource allocation and prevent wastage before it occurs, rather than reacting to individual UE usage patterns.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes a feedback loop where the CHF monitors group usage against defined limits and communicates with the PCF to enforce policies. When a group reaches its usage limit, the CHF sends notifications to the PCF, which then updates policy decisions for UEs in that group. This feedback mechanism ensures efficient resource utilization by dynamically adjusting access based on actual usage patterns.
Data Source
AI summary
A network device of a network may generate a request for a usage limit control associated with a plurality of user equipments (UEs) registered with the network, and may provide the request for the usage limit control to another network device of the network. The network device may receive, based on the request, the usage limit control from the other network device, and may determine a modified policy for the plurality of UEs based on the usage limit control. The network device may cause the modified policy to be implemented for the plurality of UEs.