Network Metadata Policy Control for Third-Party Agreements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current LTE network standards lack a mechanism for implementing agreements between network operators and third parties, such as retailers, to provide enhanced services based on group subscriber behavior, and do not allow for automatic provision of incentives to subscribers when they visit specific locations.
Innovation Solution
A network metadata based policy control system that uses a dedicated policy server to collect subscriber information, derive metadata, and apply rules to enhance quality of service for groups of subscribers within specific locations, instructing the PCRF to enforce these policies and generate billing records for revenue collection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If current LTE network standards are used for policy control, then basic subscriber bandwidth allocation is maintained, but the ability to implement third-party agreements and automatic incentive provision based on group subscriber behavior is lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a new network entity called the Policy and Charging Rules Network (PCRN) that acts as an intermediary between existing LTE network components (PCRF, PCEF) and third-party service providers. The PCRN collects metadata about subscriber behavior, processes this information according to predefined policies, and triggers appropriate actions. This intermediary layer enables third-party agreements and group-based incentives without fundamentally redesigning the core LTE policy control architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the policy control functionality into distinct modular components: the existing PCRF for real-time policy decisions, the new PCRN for metadata collection and analysis, and the PCEF for enforcement. This segmentation allows the system to add third-party agreement capabilities through the PCRN while preserving the established PCRF-PCEF interaction model, thereby improving versatility without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
2Reliability
If enhanced services are provided to all subscribers regardless of location or group behavior, then service quality is improved, but administrative costs and revenue collection efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic QoS enhancement where service quality parameters (bandwidth, priority) are adjusted in real-time based on current subscriber location data and group behavior patterns collected by the PCRN. Subscribers receive enhanced services only when they meet specific conditions (e.g., being at a retailer location with other subscribers), rather than receiving constant enhancements. This dynamic approach maintains high service quality for eligible users while reducing overall administrative overhead compared to universal enhancement.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies partial enhancement actions only to specific subscriber groups that meet predefined criteria, rather than applying enhancements universally. The PCRN evaluates metadata to determine which subscribers qualify for enhanced services at any given time, implementing enhancements selectively based on location, group size, and other policy parameters. This partial action approach reduces administrative costs and improves revenue collection efficiency while maintaining high service quality for the targeted subset of users.
3Ease of operation
If individual subscriber incentives are provided regardless of group size, then subscriber satisfaction is improved, but the effectiveness of group-based marketing agreements with retailers deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The PCRN continuously collects metadata about subscriber locations and group formations, processes this information against predefined policies, and provides feedback by triggering QoS enhancements when group-based conditions are met. The system monitors whether subscribers are at retailer locations, counts the number of subscribers in each location, and only triggers incentives when group size thresholds are achieved. This feedback mechanism ensures that individual subscriber incentives are provisioned in a way that simultaneously achieves subscriber satisfaction and maintains effectiveness for group-based marketing agreements.
Data Source
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AI summary
The subject matter described herein includes methods, systems, and computer readable media for network metadata based policy control. According to one aspect, a system for network metadata based policy control is provided. The system includes a network metadata directed policy server for obtaining network information for a plurality of subscribers, for deriving network metadata from the network information, for applying a network metadata policy manipulation rule for changing a value of a network an operator assigned policy control parameter for the subscribers, and for generating an instruction for changing the value of the network operator assigned policy control parameter for the subscriber. The system further includes a policy control and charging rules function (PCRF) node for detecting the instruction and for instructing a policy and charging enforcement function (PCEF) node to change value of the operator assigned policy control parameter for the subscribers.