MTC-IWF Load Information Collection via Signaling Interfaces
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies do not adequately enable the MTC-IWF or SCS to collect load status information from the user plane or control plane of a PLMN, which is essential for determining charging policies and predicting network loads.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a messaging unit within the MTC-IWF and SCS entities to receive control messages containing load information from network elements like GGSN, S-GW, P-GW, SGSN, MME, and PCRF through signaling interfaces, allowing for the collection and utilization of load status information for charging policy determination and future load prediction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If the MTC-IWF or SCS uses the signaling interfaces defined in Non-patent literature 1 to communicate with network elements, then the basic MTC communication function is achieved, but the load status information of the user plane or control plane cannot be collected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the existing signaling interfaces (S11, S5/S8, Gn) to serve dual purposes: their original control plane functions plus the additional function of transmitting load status information. By making these interfaces multi-functional, the patent avoids creating new dedicated interfaces while enabling load information collection, thus resolving the contradiction between information completeness and interface complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where existing network elements (MME, SGSN, GGSN, P-GW) that already participate in control plane signaling also act as sources of load status information. These intermediaries embed load information within their existing signaling messages, allowing the MTC-IWF or SCS to collect load data without requiring separate dedicated information channels, thus avoiding increased interface complexity
2Loss of information
If new signaling interfaces are created to collect load information from network elements, then complete load status information can be obtained, but the system complexity and implementation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic approach where load information is flexibly embedded within existing signaling messages rather than requiring static new interface definitions. The signaling messages are enhanced to dynamically carry load status data when needed, allowing the system to adapt to different information requirements without rigid structural changes, thus improving implementation ease while maintaining information completeness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary actions by extending the functionality of existing signaling interfaces before actual load information collection is needed. By pre-defining the capability of these interfaces to carry load information, the patent avoids the complexity of creating new interfaces during operational phases, making the overall implementation easier while ensuring complete load information can be collected
Data Source
AI summary
A MTC-IWF entity (1) includes a messaging unit (101). The messaging unit (101) operates to receive a control message including first load information from a PCRF (60) through a signaling interface between the PCRF (60) and the MTC-IWF entity (1). The first load information indicates a load status of a user plane or a control plane in a GGSN (57), an S-GW (58), or a P-GW (57). It is thus possible, for example, to facilitate collecting, by an MTC-IWF or an SCS, load information regarding a PLMN.