Multipath TCP Rating and Charging via Logical Connection Correlation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current techniques for rating, charging, and policy control in multipath communication systems, such as Multipath TCP, are unable to handle these connections in a meaningful and consistent manner due to treating each sub-flow as an independent physical connection, leading to issues like unpredictable quality of service and charging inconsistencies across multiple network interfaces.
Innovation Solution
A system that identifies and correlates information across multiple sub-flows to implement rating, charging, and policy control at the level of a single logical connection, enabling seamless handovers and consistent treatment of MPTCP connections, and enhancing protocols like Diameter to include attribute value pairs for MPTCP awareness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If current techniques treat each sub-flow as an independent physical connection for rating and charging, then the existing physical connection-based control mechanisms can be used, but the rating and charging become inconsistent and unpredictable across multiple network interfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a new logical connection identifier and correlation mechanism that acts as an intermediary between multiple physical sub-flows and the rating/charging system. This intermediary correlates information across sub-flows using a unified logical connection identifier, enabling consistent treatment of multipath connections as a single entity rather than independent physical connections.
2Reliability
If multiple physical connections are used to maximize bandwidth and redundancy, then connection reliability and bandwidth are improved, but the complexity of managing rating and charging across these connections increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple physical sub-flow connections into a single logical connection entity by introducing a unified logical connection identifier. This allows the system to manage rating, charging, and policy control at the logical connection level rather than individually for each physical sub-flow, significantly reducing control complexity while maintaining the benefits of multiple physical paths.
3Ease of manufacture
If each sub-flow is treated as an independent connection, then existing physical connection-based control mechanisms can be applied, but quality of service becomes unpredictable across the multipath connection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal logical connection identifier that can identify and correlate sub-flows across different network interfaces and protocols. This universal identifier enables consistent quality of service management for multipath connections while maintaining compatibility with existing physical connection-based control mechanisms, allowing them to work together in a unified framework.
Data Source
AI summary
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for implementing rating, charging and policy control of multipath communication services. In operation, a system receives a first communication from at least one first network element associated with at least one communication network. The system receives a second communication from at least one second network element associated with the at least one communication network. The system identifies information in the at least one first communication and/or the at least one second communication associated with a plurality of sub-flows being utilized in association with the communication. The system correlates the information in the at least one first communication and the at least one second communication associated with the plurality of sub-flows. Moreover, the system implements rating, charging, and policy control for a single connection instead of treating each sub-flow as an independent connection.