Policy Charging Control for M2M Networks Using Community Profiles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Policy and Charging Control (PCC) procedures are inadequate for managing millions of Machine-to-Machine (M2M) type communications, leading to issues with data storage, signaling load, and processing capabilities in mobile communications networks.
Innovation Solution
A method is introduced to control IP Connectivity Access Network (IP-CAN) sessions for multiple users through a unique session between a Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) and a Policy and Charging Enforcement Function (PCEF), utilizing an enhanced user database system, PCRF server, and PCEF device, which provisions user community profiles with group identifiers and aggregate maximum bit rates to optimize policy and charging control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional PCC procedures are used for each individual M2M device, then each device can be controlled independently, but the signaling load and processing requirements increase exponentially with the number of devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments M2M devices into groups based on common characteristics (service type, QoS requirements, charging parameters). Each group is assigned a group identifier, allowing the PCRF to handle group-level policy decisions rather than individual device decisions, thereby reducing signaling load while maintaining individual control capability when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges policy control for multiple devices with similar characteristics into a single group policy. By combining devices into groups and applying community PCC rules at the group level, the system reduces the number of individual PCC rule installations and signaling transactions, directly addressing the exponential growth of signaling load.
2Manufacturing precision
If individual PCC rules are provisioned for each M2M device, then precise policy control is achieved, but data storage requirements and database access load increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the large volume of individual device profiles into smaller group-level profiles. By storing group characteristics and common PCC parameters at the group level rather than replicating individual device profiles, the system significantly reduces database storage requirements and access load while maintaining precise control through group-specific policies.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of storing and accessing individual device profiles for each M2M device, the patent creates group-level copies of common PCC parameters and characteristics. The PCRF retrieves group-level policy templates from the database and instantiates them for individual devices or groups, reducing database access frequency and storage requirements.
3Device complexity
If community PCC rules are applied to groups of users, then signaling load is reduced, but the ability to apply different policies to individual users within the same group is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic policy framework where community PCC rules can be selectively applied. The system can dynamically switch between group-level policy application for bulk devices and individual device-specific policy retrieval when needed, allowing flexible adaptation to different operational scenarios without being constrained to a single approach.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by allowing different policy granularities for different devices or device groups. While community PCC rules provide standardized policies for groups, the system maintains the capability to override or customize policies for individual devices with specific requirements, ensuring local differentiation where necessary while benefiting from group-level efficiency elsewhere.
Data Source
AI summary
At present, applying conventional policy and charging control in scenarios where a huge amount of users is supported, such as machine-to-machine type communication devices, represents a number of drawbacks, such as the amount of data to be stored in subscriber databases and the access rate, the signalling load, and the processing performance of nodes. The present invention provides for a method of policy control and enhanced apparatuses enabling the support of user community profiles that apply to a plurality of subscribers, the generation and enforcement of community policy and charging rules derived from the user community profiles and preferably installed upon establishment of a session for a first user. Further sessions to be established for subsequent users of the plurality of users would be enforced with said community policy and charging rules without needs for handling them on individual basis.