PCF Policy Update Mechanism for 5G Air Interface Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
In 5G networks, the policy control function (PCF) network element must repeatedly send policy information to user equipment (UE) due to the lack of an interface between different PCF network elements within a public land mobile network (PLMN), leading to wastage of air interface resources.
Innovation Solution
The PCF network element receives policy information from another network element and sends configuration updates to the UE, avoiding the need to resend policies already configured, thereby optimizing air interface resource usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the PCF network element sends all policies to the UE every time it serves the UE, then the UE can have complete policy information, but air interface resources are wasted due to repeated transmission of already configured policies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary policy information from the complete policy set. The PCF network element determines which policies have changed since the last configuration and sends only those specific policy updates to the UE, rather than transmitting the entire policy set again. This extraction principle resolves the contradiction by maintaining policy completeness at the UE while minimizing air interface transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by having the PCF network element maintain records of previously sent policies and predict which policies may need updating. Before serving the UE, the PCF prepares only the necessary policy updates based on changes detected in the network, thereby avoiding unnecessary transmissions and reducing air interface resource consumption while ensuring the UE receives complete and current policy information.
2Loss of energy
If the PCF network element maintains policy information to avoid retransmission, then air interface resources are saved, but the system complexity increases due to the need to track and compare policy versions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism in the form of a policy information record maintained by the PCF network element. This intermediary structure stores metadata about previously transmitted policies, including identifiers and version information, allowing the PCF to efficiently compare current policies with previous ones without complex processing. The intermediary simplifies the complexity management by providing a structured way to track policy states.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the policy management function into distinct components: policy storage, policy comparison, and policy update generation. By dividing the PCF's policy management into these modular segments, the system reduces overall complexity while enabling efficient tracking of policy changes. Each segment handles a specific aspect of policy management, making the overall system more manageable and less complex than a monolithic approach.
3Loss of information
If the PCF network element sends frequent policy updates to ensure UE has latest policies, then policy freshness is improved, but air interface resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by having the PCF network element periodically check for policy changes and send updates only when necessary. Instead of continuous or frequent transmissions, the system uses event-driven periodic updates triggered by actual policy changes in the network. This approach maintains policy freshness at the UE while significantly reducing air interface resource consumption compared to frequent scheduled transmissions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs feedback mechanisms where the PCF network element monitors network policy changes and uses this feedback to determine when UE policy updates are needed. The system continuously gathers feedback about network state changes and only triggers policy transmissions when the feedback indicates actual policy modifications have occurred, thereby maintaining information freshness while minimizing unnecessary transmissions and air interface resource usage.
Data Source
AI summary
In a method for configuring a policy for user equipment (UE), a PCF network element receives policy information of the UE from a first network element. The policy information of the UE indicates a current policy of the UE. The PCF network element sends configuration information to the UE based on the policy information of the UE, and the configuration information instructs the UE to update the policy of the UE. The policy control function network apparatus then sends to the first network apparatus update information that comprises either the configuration information or an identifier of the configuration information.