Policy Charging Rules Entity Routing in Multi-Site Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
In multi-site communication networks, existing policy and charging control architectures face challenges in efficiently routing policy and charging information across sites, particularly when subscriber identities other than NAI are used, leading to overhead and inflexible deployment requirements.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for handling policy and charging information in a communication network with multiple sites, where a first network entity sends a request to a PCR network entity, determines if the user profile is accessible, and if not, generates a redirection message with the identity of the PCR network entity of another site, allowing efficient forwarding of messages to find the correct PCR network entity with access to the user profile, without relying on realm-based routing solutions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If realm-based routing solutions are used to route policy and charging information across sites, then routing can be established, but overhead and inflexible deployment requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a PCR network entity as an intermediary component that maintains a local cache of user profile information. This intermediary allows the first site to query locally before forwarding requests to other sites, reducing the need for extensive realm-based routing configurations and decreasing network overhead while maintaining reliable routing capability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If subscriber identities other than NAI are used, then more flexible subscriber identification is achieved, but efficient routing of policy and charging information becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a preliminary action by having the PCR network entity cache user profile information locally before it is needed for routing decisions. This pre-caching mechanism allows the system to support flexible subscriber identities (not limited to NAI) while maintaining efficient routing, as the local cache provides quick lookup capability without requiring complex real-time routing resolutions for diverse identity types.
3Loss of information
If user profile information is distributed across multiple sites, then data availability is improved, but message forwarding overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by enabling each PCR network entity to maintain a local cache of user profile information specific to its site. This allows the first site to query its local cache first, reducing the need to forward messages to other sites. User profile accessibility is improved through distributed caching, while message forwarding overhead is reduced by prioritizing local queries before inter-site communication.
Data Source
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AI summary
It is provided a method for handling policy and charging information, PCI, relating to a user, wherein the method is carried out in a communications network comprising a first and a second site at least (S1, S2). Each of these sites comprises at least a policy and charging rules, PCR, network entity. The method comprises sending (SIlO) from a first network entity of a first site (110; AF-1; PCEF-1) to a PCR network entity of said first site (PCRF-1) a request to obtain PCI dependent on a user profile; generating - if it is determined that said user profile is not accessible at the first site (PCRF-1) - a redirection message comprising an identity of the PCR network entity of the first site (PCRF-1); forwarding said redirection message to a PCR network entity of said second site (PCRF-2).