Network Slice Charging Gateway for Accurate CHF Load Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
In 5G networks, the coordination between multiple Charging Function (CHF) devices for network slice customers leads to reduced charging processing performance and user experience due to simultaneous charging requests from a large number of User Equipments (UEs), causing increased load and potential errors in charging processing.
Innovation Solution
Implement a system comprising a Session Management device, a Network Slice Charging Gateway, and a Network Slice Customer Charging device to manage charging requests, where the Gateway determines the target network slice customer and routes the requests to a centralized Charging device for processing, thereby reducing load on individual CHF devices and improving accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If multiple CHF devices are deployed to handle charging requests from multiple SMF devices, then the system can support more concurrent charging requests, but the coordination overhead between CHF devices increases and processing performance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a centralized charging coordination function that acts as an intermediary between multiple SMF devices and CHF devices. This coordinator consolidates charging requests from multiple SMF devices and routes them to appropriate CHF devices, eliminating the need for direct coordination between multiple CHF devices. The intermediary absorbs the coordination overhead, allowing individual CHF devices to focus on processing requests without the performance penalty of inter-device coordination.
2Productivity
If multiple SMF devices simultaneously initiate charging requests to multiple CHF devices for the same network slice customer, then request handling is distributed, but charging accuracy decreases due to coordination errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the charging coordination function into a single centralized entity that consolidates all charging requests for a given network slice customer. Instead of having multiple CHF devices independently process requests and coordinate with each other, the merged coordination function collects all requests, determines the appropriate CHF device, and routes them there. This single-point coordination eliminates coordination errors and ensures consistent charging accuracy across all distributed SMF devices.
3Speed
If CHF devices process charging requests independently without centralized coordination, then processing speed is faster for individual requests, but system reliability decreases due to potential charging errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having a centralized coordination function determine the target CHF device before charging requests are processed. The coordination function pre-establishes the routing decision based on the network slice customer identifier, so that when CHF devices receive requests, they already know which device should handle them. This preliminary routing decision prevents coordination errors and ensures reliable processing while maintaining fast execution speed.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for performing charging processing on a network slice customer includes: receiving a first charging request message including session information from a session management device, where the session information includes an attribute of a PDU session of a user equipment on a network slice instance; determining that charging processing is to be performed on a target network slice customer for the PDU session; and sending a second charging request message including an identifier of the target network slice customer and the session information to a network slice customer charging device, so that the network slice customer charging device performs charging processing on the target network slice customer for the PDU session. When the second charging request message further includes service unit information, the charging processing includes storing service unit usage information or granting a service unit quota.