NF Event Report Muting for Stable UE Presence Exposure
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Solution Overview
Problem
In 5G networks, frequent changes in User Equipment (UE) presence in Presence Reporting Areas (PRAs) lead to excessive signaling, causing service interruptions due to unstable policy and charging decisions, as existing systems lack effective mechanisms to manage event reports during UE mobility at PRA borders.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a report mute guard timer at Network Function (NF) nodes to suppress event reports until the UE's presence state stabilizes, thereby reducing unnecessary signaling and ensuring timely enforcement of stable policy and charging decisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If event reports are transmitted for every UE presence status change in PRA, then the network can maintain real-time awareness of UE location for policy and charging decisions, but excessive signaling is generated when UE moves frequently at PRA borders causing service interruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a report mute guard timer that creates periodic reporting behavior instead of continuous reporting. When UE presence status changes, the timer is started and subsequent status changes during the timer period are suppressed. This transforms the reporting from event-driven continuous transmission to periodic transmission based on timer expiration, reducing signaling during unstable mobility periods while maintaining necessary updates.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by starting the report mute guard timer in advance when a presence status change is detected. This preliminary timer activation prevents subsequent reports from being generated during the unstable period, proactively mitigating the excessive signaling problem before it fully manifests. The timer acts as a preventive measure to stabilize the reporting process.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If report mute guard timer is implemented to suppress frequent event reports, then excessive signaling is reduced, but there is a delay in reporting the latest presence status to the network
Solution Approach 1:
The report mute guard timer creates a structured periodic reporting mechanism where suppression is temporary and automatic. After the timer expires, reporting resumes normally, ensuring that the latest presence status is eventually reported. This periodic approach balances signaling reduction with timely status updates, preventing permanent delays while mitigating excessive signaling during transient mobility events.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the temporal parameter of report transmission by introducing a time delay through the guard timer. This parameter change transforms immediate reporting into delayed reporting, where the delay duration is controlled by the timer value. The parameter change allows the system to tolerate short-term delays in exchange for significant signaling reduction during unstable periods.
3Adaptability or versatility
If continuous PRA reporting is enabled for mobile UEs, then the network can enforce policy and charging decisions based on current UE location, but service interruptions occur due to interfering signaling during unstable presence periods
Solution Approach 1:
The report mute guard timer implements periodic suppression of reports during unstable mobility periods, allowing the network to pause policy enforcement updates temporarily. This periodic action prevents continuous signaling interference that would disrupt service, while still maintaining the capability to enforce policies once the UE presence stabilizes and the timer expires.
Solution Approach 2:
The guard timer provides beforehand cushioning by preemptively suppressing reports before they can cause interfering signaling. This cushioning effect protects the service from disruptions by creating a buffer period where potential harmful signaling is prevented, allowing the system to recover from unstable mobility conditions without service interruption.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods for event report management in a network comprising a set of NF nodes, and corresponding NF nodes. The A method is implemented at a first NF node for providing an event exposure service for a User Equipment, UE, to a second NF node which subscribes the event exposure service includes starting a report mute guard timer upon receiving a first presence status report for the UE from a third NF node. The method includes avoiding a transmission of an event report to the second NF node while the report mute timer is running and transmitting an event report corresponding to a latest presence status report received during the running of the report mute guard timer to the second NF node when the report mute guard timer expires. The present disclosure further provides corresponding NF nodes and computer readable medium.