PCRF Policy Provisioning for Recurring Time Intervals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current time-based policy provisioning in LTE networks experiences signaling storms and unnecessary signaling on the Gx interface due to recurring policies, leading to potential misapplication and increased load on the PCEF and PCRF, especially when preconfigured revalidation periods overlap with activation periods or when the same policies are repeatedly requested daily.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves indicating a recurring time interval in policy information for PCC rules and APN-AMBR values, allowing the PCEF to apply policies automatically at specified intervals without additional provisioning, using AVPs in CCA-initial, CCA-update, or RAR messages, enabling accurate and efficient enforcement of time-based policies without redundant signaling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If time-based policies are provisioned repeatedly for recurring time intervals, then policy enforcement accuracy is improved, but signaling storms occur on the Gx interface
Solution Approach 1:
The PCRF provisions the complete recurring time interval (e.g., 24 hours) in advance in the policy information sent to PCEF. The PCEF then automatically applies the policy at each occurrence within this interval without requiring additional provisioning requests. This preliminary action eliminates the need for repeated signaling while ensuring accurate policy enforcement at each time point.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of sending new policy information for each recurring time interval, the system sends a single policy information message that contains the complete recurring time interval definition. The PCEF then copies and applies this policy information automatically at each time point within the interval, eliminating redundant signaling while maintaining policy accuracy.
2Ease of operation
If preconfigured revalidation periods are used, then policy updates are simplified, but misapplication occurs when revalidation overlaps with activation periods
Solution Approach 1:
The PCRF calculates and provisions the complete recurring time interval in advance, considering both activation and revalidation requirements. This preliminary calculation ensures that the PCEF can automatically determine when to apply and revalidate policies without complex overlapping logic, maintaining both simplicity and accuracy.
3Extent of automation
If PCRF controls activation and deactivation of PCC rules, then policy control is centralized, but unnecessary signaling occurs for recurring policies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the recurring time interval definition from the detailed activation/deactivation control messages and places it in the policy information itself. The PCEF then uses this extracted information to automatically control activation and deactivation at each time point, eliminating the need for repeated PCRF intervention while maintaining centralized policy definition.
Solution Approach 2:
The PCEF is empowered to automatically activate and deactivate PCC rules based on the recurring time interval information provided by the PCRF. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for the PCRF to send repeated activation/deactivation commands, reducing signaling while maintaining centralized policy control through the initial provisioning message.
4Reliability
If PCEF requests policies at each time point, then policy freshness is ensured, but load on network entities increases
Solution Approach 1:
The PCRF provisions the complete recurring time interval and policy information in advance, enabling the PCEF to automatically determine when policies should be applied without needing to request updates at each time point. This ensures policy freshness while eliminating redundant request/response cycles that increase network load.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method performed at a Policy and Charging Rule Function, PCRF, entity for provisioning policy information. The method comprises preparing policy information for provision to a PCEF entity and then provisioning the policy information to the PCEF entity. The method also comprises indicating a recurring time interval for applying a policy associated with the policy information to the PCEF entity such that the policy can be applied at the PCEF repeatedly at the recurring time interval without further provisioning of the policy information to the PCEF entity. Correspondingly, there is also provided a method performed at a Policy and Charging Enforcement Function, PCEF, entity for applying a policy. Apparatuses embodied at the PCRF and PCEF are also provided.