PCRF Session Association via Local Address
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Solution Overview
Problem
In the EPC architecture, gateway control sessions initiated by an untrusted non-3GPP access network cannot be associated with IP-CAN sessions due to the lack of HoA/CoA address and PDN identity information, making it difficult to establish correct policy control sessions.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that associate gateway control sessions and IP-CAN sessions using a local address allocated by a non-3GPP access network, ensuring consistent service policies across different sessions of the same user equipment without relying on HoA/CoA address or PDN identity information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If gateway control sessions are initiated by untrusted non-3GPP access network without HoA/CoA address and PDN identity information, then security of the EPC is improved through secure gateway ePDG, but the ability to associate sessions with IP-CAN sessions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a secure gateway ePDG as an intermediary component between the untrusted non-3GPP access network and the EPC. This mediator enables session association by translating and mapping session identifiers across different network domains, allowing gateway control sessions without HoA/CoA or PDN identity information to be correctly associated with IP-CAN sessions through the intermediary's coordination
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter used for session association from traditional HoA/CoA addresses or PDN identities to alternative identifiers that can be obtained through the secure gateway. By modifying the association criteria to use available parameters (such as session identifiers from the gateway control session), the system maintains adaptability even when conventional parameters are unavailable
2Ease of operation
If traditional association methods using HoA/CoA address or PDN identity are used, then session association works for trusted networks, but session association fails for untrusted non-3GPP access networks connected through ePDG
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal session association mechanism that functions across both trusted and untrusted network types. The PCRF is enhanced to handle multiple association scenarios: traditional HoA/CoA-based association for trusted networks, and alternative identifier-based association for untrusted networks through ePDG, making the system versatile across different network trust levels
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, an apparatus, and a system for associating sessions, which relate to the communications technology field, and are used to solve the problem where policy control sessions cannot be correctly associated when an access network is connected to a core network through a secure gateway ePDG. The method for associating sessions in an embodiment of the present invention includes: receiving a first policy control session establishment request or a first policy control session modification request that carries a local address of a user equipment; and associating the first policy control session and a second policy control session corresponding to the first policy control session according to the local address of the user equipment; where, the local address is allocated by a non-3GPP access network.