Mobility Management Unit Bearer QoS Synchronization

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Solution Overview

Problem

In the context of the Evolved Packet Core (EPC) system, when a User Equipment (UE) moves between different radio access technologies, the Quality of Service (QoS) of the bearer in the new mobility management unit often does not match the updated subscription data, leading to potential service disruptions and inefficiencies.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for synchronizing user data by having the old mobility management unit store updated subscription data and trigger an indication for a bearer modification procedure when the UE enters a connected state, allowing the new mobility management unit to determine and initiate the necessary bearer modifications based on this indication during context transfer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the UE moves between different radio access technologies without bearer modification, then the mobility management is simplified, but the QoS of the bearer in the new mobility management unit does not match the updated subscription data

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemobility management simplicityVSAvoidQoS matching accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The old mobility management unit performs preliminary actions by storing updated subscription data and setting a bearer modification trigger indication before the UE moves to the new mobility management unit. This preliminary preparation ensures that when the UE arrives at the new unit, the bearer modification can be executed promptly with the correct subscription data, resolving the QoS matching issue without complicating the mobility management process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism in the form of a bearer modification trigger indication that is transferred from the old mobility management unit to the new one. This intermediary signal carries the necessary information to initiate bearer modification in the new unit, ensuring QoS consistency while maintaining simple mobility management procedures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the old mobility management unit stores and transfers updated subscription data, then the QoS matching is improved, but the signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveQoS matching accuracyVSAvoidsignaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential information needed for bearer modification - specifically the bearer modification trigger indication - from the complete subscription data. By transferring only this critical indicator rather than the entire subscription data set, the solution improves QoS matching accuracy while minimizing signaling overhead and information loss

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If the bearer modification procedure is triggered immediately, then the QoS consistency is maintained, but the service disruption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveQoS consistencyVSAvoidservice disruption duration
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The old mobility management unit performs preliminary preparation by storing updated subscription data and setting the bearer modification trigger indication before the UE moves. This allows the new mobility management unit to execute the bearer modification promptly upon receiving the UE, maintaining QoS consistency while minimizing service disruption time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables the bearer modification procedure to be rushed through quickly in the new mobility management unit by providing all necessary trigger information in advance. This allows the modification to be completed rapidly, maintaining QoS consistency while reducing the time the UE experiences service disruption

Inventive Principle:
Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

Data Source

PatentEP2515560B1Method and system for synchronizing user data
Publication Date: 2019.10.30 ZTE CORP
  • EP2515560B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2515560B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2515560B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method for synchronizing user data is provided, which includes: when a User Equipment (UE) moves into a coverage area of a new mobility management unit, an old mobility management unit sends an indication of whether a bearer modification procedure is to be triggered to the new mobility management unit, and the new mobility management unit determines whether to trigger the bearer modification procedure according to the indication. A system for synchronizing user data is further provided. By means of the technical solution of the method and the system, the situation that a Quality of Service (QoS) used by a bearer in the new mobility management unit does not match with a bearer QoS of an updated subscription data when a user equipment moves into a coverage area of a new mobility management unit can be avoided.