Multi-Subscription Traffic Steering Policies for Network-Controlled Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current frameworks for 4G LTE or 5G NR lack control policies for guiding user equipment (UE) in steering and switching data traffic between multiple mobile subscriptions, leading to inefficient manual selection and lack of network control.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a dual-steer policy by a network node to guide UE in traffic steering and switching between multiple mobile subscriptions, including prioritization rules based on terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks, home and visited public land mobile networks, and application-specific traffic descriptors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual selection of mobile subscription is used, then user control is maintained, but service efficiency deteriorates and network control flexibility is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a network node as an intermediary that generates and provides control policies to the UE. This intermediary resolves the contradiction by taking over the complex decision-making process (improving service efficiency) while still allowing the user to receive and accept/reject policy recommendations (maintaining user control). The network node acts as a mediator between network capabilities and user device decisions.
2Device complexity
If no control policy is provided, then device complexity is reduced, but traffic steering capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The network node serves as an external intermediary that performs the complex policy generation and traffic steering decision-making. The UE device itself remains simple, only needing to receive and execute policies from the network. This externalizes the complexity, resolving the contradiction between device simplicity and advanced traffic steering capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent moves the control logic from the device dimension to the network dimension. Instead of embedding complex steering logic in the UE, the control policies are generated and managed in the network dimension, allowing sophisticated traffic steering capabilities without increasing device complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If control policy is provided by network node, then network control flexibility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the control functionality into two parts: policy generation and policy execution. The network node handles the complex policy generation (providing network control flexibility), while the UE device only handles policy execution (maintaining device simplicity). This segmentation resolves the contradiction by distributing complexity appropriately.
Data Source
AI summary
Various solutions for enhanced policy control for traffic steering and switching between multiple mobile subscriptions are described. A network node may determine that two mobile subscriptions have been registered to a same wireless network or different wireless networks and the mobile subscriptions are associated with an apparatus supporting traffic steering or switching between the mobile subscriptions. Then, the network node may generate a control policy for traffic steering or switching between the mobile subscriptions and provide the control policy to the apparatus.