MVNO-Specific Congestion Control via Core Network Signaling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current congestion control methods in mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) are inefficient as they perform uniform congestion control across all cells, leading to restricted resource usage for MVNOs that occupy fewer resources, resulting in low congestion control efficiency and inadequate utilization of network resources.
Innovation Solution
A congestion control method that distinguishes between different involved operators by using a core network device to receive congestion notification messages with operator identifiers, allowing for precise and efficient congestion control on specific congestion causes, while protecting connection and bandwidth resources of non-congested operators.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If uniform congestion control is performed on the entire cell, then congestion is relieved, but MVNOs that occupy fewer resources are restricted and cannot make full use of resources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments congestion control by introducing MVNO-specific identifiers and separate congestion thresholds for each MVNO. The core network device maintains multiple congestion thresholds corresponding to different MVNOs, enabling independent congestion control for each operator rather than uniform control across the entire cell. This segmentation allows MVNOs with lower resource usage to continue operating normally while only restricting congested MVNOs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by implementing differentiated congestion control policies for different MVNOs based on their individual resource usage patterns. Each MVNO has its own congestion threshold and control parameters, allowing the system to apply appropriate control strength locally to each operator rather than uniformly across all users in the cell.
2Quantity of substance
If congestion control is performed on all UEs in a congested cell, then resource occupation is reduced, but congestion control efficiency is low due to unnecessary restriction of non-congested operators
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the congestion control process by identifying and controlling only the UEs belonging to congested MVNOs. The core network device uses MVNO identifiers in congestion notification messages to determine which specific MVNOs are congested, then applies control only to UEs associated with those congested MVNOs, rather than controlling all UEs in the cell.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the congested MVNOs from the overall cell population for targeted control. By identifying which specific MVNOs have exceeded their thresholds and separating them from non-congested operators, the system can apply congestion control exclusively to the problematic segments while leaving other operators unaffected.
3Measurement precision
If MVNO identifiers are introduced for precise congestion control, then targeted control is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses existing MVNO identifier mechanisms that are already employed for other network functions such as billing, policy management, and resource allocation. By reusing these existing identifier systems for congestion control purposes, the patent avoids adding significant complexity while achieving precise MVNO-level congestion identification and control.
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention provide a congestion control method, an apparatus, and a system, where the method includes: receiving, by a core network device, a congestion notification message sent when a RAN device detects that congestion occurs on one or more involved operators, where the congestion notification message includes an identifier of the involved operator on which congestion occurs, and the involved operator is a mobile virtual network operator MVNO or an operator that shares an operator network; then performing, according to the congestion notification message, congestion control on the involved operator corresponding to the identifier of the involved operator. Therefore, congestion control can be performed by distinguishing different involved operators, precise and efficient congestion control is implemented on a specific congestion object for a specific congestion cause, and in addition, a connection quantity resource and a bandwidth resource of an involved operator on which no congestion occurs are protected.