Selective User Location Information Delivery via PCC Framework
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Solution Overview
Problem
Communication systems face excessive signaling load due to the massive number of user location information (ULI) update notifications, particularly in densely populated areas or during simultaneous user connections, leading to network overload.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method and system that selectively delivers ULI only to application servers that have subscribed to specific session events or sub-events, using the Policy Charging Control (PCC) framework, which includes the Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) and Policy and Charging Enforcement Function (PCEF), to reduce unnecessary signaling by limiting ULI reporting to pertinent recipients.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If user location information is reported to all application servers, then complete information availability is improved, but signaling load increases excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and delivers only the necessary user location information to application servers that have subscribed to specific session events or sub-events, rather than broadcasting to all servers. This selective extraction reduces unnecessary signaling while ensuring relevant servers receive required information for functions like billing and network performance monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the delivery of location information by event type (session events and sub-events) and recipient server, using the Policy Charging Control framework to manage selective reporting. This segmentation allows the system to provide complete information to subscribed servers without overloading the network with universal broadcasts.
2Productivity
If infrastructure is expanded to handle increased load, then network capacity is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic location information reporting where the system adapts the reporting behavior based on subscription requirements and event triggers. This dynamic approach allows the existing infrastructure to handle variable loads efficiently without requiring permanent capacity expansion, thereby reducing costs while maintaining network capacity for actual needs.
3Adaptability or versatility
If location information is reported for all events, then event coverage is improved, but network load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by reporting location information only for specific session events and sub-events that application servers have subscribed to, rather than reporting for all possible events. This selective partial reporting maintains adequate event coverage for subscribed services while significantly reducing unnecessary network load from reporting unrelated events.
Data Source
AI summary
A system that incorporates the subject disclosure may include, for example, receive a subscription from an application server where the subscription identifies a session event and/or sub-events occurring in a communication session for which the application server requests user location information, provide subscription information based on the subscription to core network nodes of the mobile communications network, receive user location information from the core network nodes responsive to a detection of a triggering event corresponding to the session event of the subscription, and provide the user location information to an IP multimedia subsystem network for delivery to the application server. Other embodiments are disclosed.