Real-Time Network Consumption Tracking via Message Bus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current network consumption tracking in 5G networks relies on unreliable TCP/IP interfaces for online notifications and time-consuming offline processes, leading to delays and security concerns, particularly in law enforcement and auditing applications.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a real-time network consumption tracking service that eliminates offline file generation by using an 'Event Generation Process' integrated with a message bus, enabling near-real-time data transfer through a publish-subscribe model, and supporting advanced security mechanisms like TLS.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If TCP/IP interface is used for online notifications, then data transfer is enabled, but reliability is insufficient and data loss may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a message bus as an intermediary component between the charging function and external systems. This message bus provides a reliable publish-subscribe mechanism that replaces the unreliable TCP/IP interface, ensuring that consumption records are delivered reliably without loss while maintaining the notification functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a publish-subscribe model where consumption records are published to the message bus and can be subscribed to by multiple external systems. This creates reliable copies of the data that are distributed to all subscribers, ensuring no data loss even if individual communication paths fail.
2Loss of time
If offline file generation process is used, then network consumption records are collected and processed, but processing time is excessive and real-time access is prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the need for preliminary offline file generation by implementing real-time event-driven processing. Consumption records are generated and published to the message bus immediately when events occur, rather than waiting for periodic offline processing, thus eliminating processing delays and enabling real-time access.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes continuous real-time processing of consumption records through the event generation function that continuously publishes events to the message bus. This continuous action replaces the discontinuous offline batch processing, ensuring data is always available in real-time without interruption or delay.
3Reliability
If traditional offline process with file transfer is used, then security concerns arise, but advanced security mechanisms like TLS cannot be effectively implemented
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the security parameters by implementing TLS (Transport Layer Security) encryption on the message bus communication channels. This replaces the insecure traditional file transfer protocols with modern encrypted communication, providing both security and flexibility to support multiple security requirements including law enforcement and auditing applications.
Data Source
AI summary
A real-time network consumption tracking service is provided. A charging function (CHF) device receives transaction records of network consumption by user equipment (UE) devices in a wireless network and generates individual event messages based on each of the transaction records. Each of the individual event messages includes a detailed record based on one of the transaction records. The CHF device associates each of the individual event messages with a message bus topic, formats each of the individual event messages for publication on the message bus, and publishes each of the formatted individual event messages to the message bus. The message bus is accessible to external systems that generate dynamic network consumption data sets based on the formatted individual event messages.