IMS Bypass of LTE PCRF for VoLTE Session Continuity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current techniques for handling Policy, Charging, and Rules Function (PCRF) outages in VoLTE sessions are not efficient and effective, leading to potential disruptions in media sessions.
Innovation Solution
A communication system that detects a PCRF bypass condition, allowing the IMS server to transfer a UE session instruction to the User Equipment (UE) to use the IMS bearer for the media session, enabling media data exchange between the UE and the IMS server through the LTE Packet Gateway (P-GW), thereby bypassing the unavailable PCRF.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the LTE PCRF supplements voice bearer instructions with QoS and bandwidth data, then the media session quality is improved, but the system reliability deteriorates when PCRF is unavailable
Solution Approach 1:
The P-CSCF acts as an intermediary between the UE and PCRF, capable of bypassing the PCRF when it is unavailable. The P-CSCF receives media session requests, determines whether to bypass the PCRF based on its availability, and directly establishes bearers with the P-GW when bypassing, thus maintaining media session continuity while reducing PCRF dependency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the bearer establishment path based on PCRF availability. When PCRF is available, the traditional path with QoS supplementation is used; when PCRF is unavailable, the system dynamically switches to a bypass path where the P-CSCF directly instructs the P-GW to establish bearers, maintaining adaptability and reliability.
2Reliability
If the P-CSCF waits for PCRF availability, then the QoS control is improved, but the session establishment time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The P-CSCF performs preliminary actions by pre-determining PCRF availability and preparing bypass procedures before media session establishment. When PCRF is determined to be unavailable, the P-CSCF can immediately proceed with bypass mode without waiting, thus reducing session establishment time while maintaining QoS control through alternative means.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters based on PCRF availability. When bypassing PCRF, the P-CSCF assumes the role of providing QoS and bandwidth data that would normally come from PCRF, changing the data flow parameters and control mechanisms to maintain service quality without the PCRF component.
3Manufacturing precision
If the system uses traditional PCRF-based bearer establishment, then the QoS and bandwidth allocation are optimized, but the system vulnerability to PCRF outages increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements beforehand cushioning by preparing bypass mechanisms in advance of PCRF outages. The P-CSCF is configured with the capability and authority to bypass the PCRF and establish bearers directly with the P-GW, creating a protective alternative path that cushions against PCRF failures and maintains system availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the essential bearer establishment function from the PCRF dependency. By enabling the P-CSCF to directly instruct the P-GW to establish bearers without PCRF intervention, the system separates the bearer establishment capability from the PCRF component, allowing the core function to continue even when PCRF is unavailable.
Data Source
AI summary
A communication system controls a Long Term Evolution (LTE) media session with an Internet Multimedia Subsystem (IMS). An LTE Packet Gateway (P-GW) establishes an IMS bearer between User Equipment (UE) and an IMS server. The IMS server receives a media session request over the IMS bearer and processes the media session request to establish the media session including transferring a media session instruction for delivery to an LTE Policy, Charging, and Rules Function (PCRF) system. The IMS server detects a PCRF bypass condition for the media session, and in response, transfers a UE session instruction for delivery to the UE to use the IMS bearer for the media session. The UE and IMS server exchange media data for the media session over the IMS bearer through the LTE P-GW.