PCRF Default Policy Rules During OCS Interruption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless communication systems face challenges in managing bandwidth and charging policies when the communication link between the Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) and the Online Charging Server (OCS) is interrupted, leading to a lack of real-time data usage information, which can result in uncontrolled data usage by devices.
Innovation Solution
The PCRF system identifies communication interruptions and transfers default policy requirement notifications to the Packet Data Network Gateway (PGW), allowing it to request and implement default policy rules based on quality of service, preventing excessive data usage without relying on data usage information from the OCS.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the PCRF system relies on real-time data usage information from the OCS to manage bandwidth and charging policies, then charging accuracy and policy enforcement are improved, but system reliability deteriorates when the communication link between PCRF and OCS is interrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The PCRF system stores default policy rules and default quality of service information in advance, before any communication interruption occurs. When the link to OCS is interrupted, these pre-stored default rules are immediately activated, allowing the system to maintain policy enforcement capabilities without real-time OCS data.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a default policy rule mechanism as an intermediary between the PCRF system and the OCS. This intermediary layer provides fallback policy information when the direct communication channel is unavailable, ensuring continuous policy management despite information loss from OCS disconnection.
2Productivity
If the PCRF system implements strict real-time policy enforcement based on OCS data, then charging accuracy is improved, but network fairness deteriorates when OCS communication is interrupted as devices can exploit the interruption
Solution Approach 1:
Default quality of service information and policy rules are configured in advance for different device categories. When OCS communication fails, these pre-established default rules prevent devices from exploiting the interruption by immediately applying appropriate bandwidth limits and charging policies based on device quality of service levels.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the communication status between PCRF and OCS. When interruption is detected, the system switches to using default policy rules, and when connection is restored, it resumes normal real-time policy enforcement. This feedback mechanism ensures network fairness is maintained by preventing exploitation during interruption periods.
3Measurement precision
If the PCRF system continuously monitors communication with OCS to ensure accurate charging, then charging precision is improved, but system complexity increases due to the need for interruption detection and default rule management
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential policy enforcement functionality from the OCS dependency by implementing local default policy rules within the PCRF system. This separation allows the system to maintain charging precision for connected devices while simplifying the overall architecture by reducing the critical path dependency on continuous OCS communication.
Data Source
AI summary
Examples disclosed herein provide systems, methods, and software for providing default policy information from a policy and charging rules function (PCRF). In one example, a PCRF is configured to identify an interruption in communications with an online charging server. Responsive to this identification, the PCRF transfers a default policy requirement notification to a packet data network gateway. Based on the default policy requirement notification, the packet data network gateway transfers a default policy rule request to the PCRF. In response to the request, the PCRF identifies default policy rules and transfers the default policy rules to the packet data network gateway to be implemented.