Network Element Policy Processing for Signaling Overhead Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems face inefficiencies in policy determination and execution, leading to frequent interactions between user equipment (UE) and the communication network, resulting in high signaling overhead and delayed policy modifications.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for processing policies in a UE group, where a first network element determines policies and execution conditions, generating quality of service (QoS) profiles and packet detective rules (PDRs) based on group policies and conditions, allowing for timely policy enforcement without frequent interactions with the application server.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If frequent interactions between UE and communication network are used for policy determination and execution, then policy updates can be performed, but signaling overhead increases and timeliness of policy modifications decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepolicy update timelinessVSAvoidsignaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-determining multiple policies and their corresponding execution conditions before actual policy execution. The network element stores a set of policies with associated execution conditions, and when a condition is met, the corresponding policy is automatically executed without requiring frequent interactions with the application server. This reduces signaling overhead while maintaining timely policy updates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements self-service by enabling the network element to automatically execute policies based on pre-configured execution conditions without requiring continuous external control from the application server. The system monitors conditions and autonomously determines when to apply specific policies, reducing the need for frequent server interactions and lowering signaling overhead while maintaining up-to-date policy enforcement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If group QoS profiles and group PDRs are generated and executed for UE groups, then policy execution timeliness improves, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepolicy execution timelinessVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the policy management system into distinct functional components: policy determination module, condition monitoring module, and policy execution module. Each module has a specific function, which simplifies the overall system architecture despite handling complex group policies. The segmentation allows for timely policy execution while managing system complexity through modular design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements universality by creating group-level QoS profiles and packet detection rules that can be applied to multiple UEs simultaneously. Instead of managing individual policies for each UE, the system uses universal group policies that affect all members of a UE group, reducing the overall system complexity while improving policy execution timeliness through bulk operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4373151A1Policy processing method and apparatus, communication device, and storage medium
Publication Date: 2024.05.22 BEIJING XIAOMI MOBILE SOFTWARE CO LTD
  • EP4373151A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4373151A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4373151A1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present invention provides a policy processing method and apparatus, a communication device, and a storage medium. The policy processing method executed by a first network element can comprise: determining policies for UEs in a UE group, as well as execution conditions of the policies (S110), wherein when the conditions of a subsequent UE and/or a network state satisfy a corresponding execution condition, the corresponding policy takes effect and is executed.