Policy Control Node for UE AMBR Authorization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Public Land Mobile Networks face limitations in flexibility when setting the upper limit for User Equipment (UE) Aggregate Maximum Bit Rate (AMBR), leading to conflicts and inefficiencies across different mobility management nodes.
Innovation Solution
A Policy Control Node (PCN) with a Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) is introduced, which queries a Subscription Profile Repository/User Data Repository (SPR/UDR) for permission to set the UE-AMBR, allowing for increased flexibility and conflict resolution by determining and transmitting the authorized UE-AMBR value to other nodes within the network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If mobility management nodes (MME, SGSN, eNodeB, RNC) handle the upper limit for UE-AMBR, then the system maintains simple architecture, but flexibility in varying the upper limit UE-AMBR is limited
Solution Approach 1:
A Policy Control Node (PCN) with Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) is introduced as an intermediary between mobility management nodes and the Subscription Profile Repository. The PCN receives requests from mobility management nodes, queries the SPR/UDR for authorized UE-AMBR values, and returns the determined limits, thereby enabling flexible UE-AMBR variation without requiring complex changes to existing mobility management nodes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system separates the UE-AMBR determination function from mobility management nodes and places it in a dedicated Policy Control Node. This segmentation allows the PCN to specialize in policy decision-making while mobility management nodes focus on connection management, improving overall system flexibility without increasing complexity in individual nodes.
2Reliability
If multiple PCN nodes can set UE-AMBR independently, then service coverage is improved, but conflicts between different PCN nodes arise
Solution Approach 1:
The SPR/UDR provides feedback to the PCN by returning authorization tokens that indicate whether the PCN is allowed to set UE-AMBR. This feedback mechanism ensures that only authorized PCN nodes can modify UE-AMBR, preventing conflicts between multiple PCN nodes while maintaining the ability to provide widespread service coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary authorization checks by querying the SPR/UDR before allowing a PCN to set UE-AMBR. This preliminary action ensures that authorization is established in advance, preventing conflicts before they occur and ensuring reliable operation across multiple PCN nodes.
Data Source
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AI summary
A policy control node, a PCN (105), for a first PLMN (101), the PCN (105) comprising a PCRF, the PCN (105) having an interface towards an SPR/UDR (121), in the first PLMN (101), the PCRF of the PCN (105) being arranged to receive a request from another node (110, 127) in the first PLMN (101) or in a second (122) PLMN (101) for establishing a PDN-connection for a UE (120, 130). The PCRF is arranged to, as a result of said request, send a query to the SPR/UDR (121) regarding whether or not the PCRF is allowed to set the upper limit for the UE-AMBR for the UE (120, 130), the PCRF being arrangedto, if the reply from the SPR/UDR to the query is positive, determine and transmit the upper limit of the UE-AMBR for the UE to said other node (110,125).