PCF-UDR Policy Data Sync for Low-Latency Mobility Decisions

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Network devices, such as a policy control function (PCF) device, experience latency and inefficiencies in determining access and mobility policies due to waiting for data from multiple network devices, leading to potential session timeouts, incorrect provisioning, and resource wastage when using stale information.

Innovation Solution

The PCF device optimizes interactions by directly communicating with a unified data repository (UDR) to retrieve and update AM policy data, subscribing to data change notifications, and verifying subscription validity, thereby reducing reliance on external devices and minimizing latency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the PCF device waits for data from multiple network devices (UDR, CHF, server) before determining AM policy, then it ensures data completeness and accuracy, but it introduces latency and may cause session timeouts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata completenessVSAvoidpolicy determination latency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having the PCF device proactively retrieve AM policy data from the UDR device before it is needed for policy determination. This advance data retrieval eliminates the waiting time during actual policy decisions, resolving the contradiction between ensuring data completeness and reducing latency. The PCF device initiates data collection in advance, so when policy determination is required, the data is already available.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the PCF device uses data from multiple external network devices, then it ensures comprehensive policy information, but it increases device complexity and communication overhead

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepolicy information completenessVSAvoidcommunication architecture

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies merging by consolidating the AM policy data storage function into a single UDR device that the PCF can directly access. Instead of querying multiple external devices (UDR, CHF, server) separately, the PCF retrieves comprehensive AM policy information from one centralized repository, simplifying the communication architecture while maintaining data completeness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The UDR device acts as an intermediary that consolidates AM policy data from multiple sources (CHF, server, etc.) and provides it to the PCF device through a single interface. This intermediary approach reduces the complexity of direct multi-device communication while ensuring comprehensive policy information is available.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If the PCF device retrieves AM policy data frequently to ensure up-to-date information, then it maintains data freshness, but it increases resource consumption and network traffic

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata freshnessVSAvoidcommunication resource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies feedback by implementing a data change notification mechanism where the UDR device monitors AM policy data changes and automatically notifies the PCF device when updates occur. This eliminates the need for frequent proactive queries from the PCF, reducing resource consumption while maintaining data freshness through event-driven updates.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS12562931B2Systems and methods for optimized network device communications

Publication Date: 2026.02.24 VERIZON PATENT & LICENSING INC

AI summary

In some implementations, a unified data repository (UDR) device may receive, from a policy control function (PCF) device, an addition request to add access and mobility (AM) policy data to an AM policy data resource of the UDR device. The AM policy data may be associated with a user equipment (UE). The UDR device may add, based on the addition request, the AM policy data to the AM policy data resource of the UDR device.