PCRF Server Coordinating Multiple TDF Sessions in PCC Architecture
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Solution Overview
Problem
In the PCC architecture, coordinating multiple Traffic Detection Functions (TDFs) with the Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) and Policy and Charging Enforcement Function (PCEF) is complex, especially in managing IP-CAN sessions, as existing methods lack efficient mechanisms for selecting and managing multiple TDFs for tasks like fraud detection, virus scanning, and content filtering across different TDFs.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for coordinating PCEF sessions with multiple TDF sessions, where the PCRF server selects and orders TDF devices, provides ADC rules, and manages routing information to ensure proper involvement of each TDF in IP-CAN sessions, allowing for specialized functions like content insertion, fraud detection, and virus scanning, and handles session establishment, modification, and termination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple TDF devices are selected for different specialized functions (fraud detection, virus scanning, content filtering), then service awareness and traffic control capability are improved, but session coordination complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the TDF functionality by selecting multiple specialized TDF devices (e.g., one for fraud detection, another for virus scanning, another for content filtering). Each TDF device is responsible for a specific detection function, allowing the system to handle diverse traffic control requirements through modular, specialized components rather than a single monolithic TDF.
Solution Approach 2:
The PCRF server acts as an intermediary that coordinates between the PCEF session and multiple TDF sessions. It receives ADC rules from the PCEF, selects appropriate TDF devices based on service requirements, establishes TDF sessions with each selected device, and manages the coordination between them. This intermediary role simplifies the complexity by centralizing the coordination logic in the PCRF rather than requiring direct peer-to-peer coordination between multiple TDF devices and the PCEF.
2Measurement precision
If ADC rules are provided to multiple TDF devices for comprehensive traffic detection, then detection precision is improved, but information management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ADC rules are segmented and distributed to different TDF devices based on their specialized functions. Each TDF device receives only the ADC rules relevant to its detection capability (e.g., fraud detection rules go to the fraud detection TDF, virus scanning rules go to the virus scanning TDF). This segmentation reduces information management complexity by ensuring each device handles only its specialized subset of rules rather than all rules centrally.
Solution Approach 2:
The PCRF server serves as an intermediary that manages the distribution and coordination of ADC rules to multiple TDF devices. It receives the ADC rules from the PCEF session, analyzes which TDF devices are needed based on the service requirements, and selectively provides the appropriate ADC rules to each selected TDF device. This intermediary management simplifies information flow by centralizing the rule distribution logic.
3Adaptability or versatility
If TDF sessions are established for each selected TDF device, then detection coverage is improved, but session management overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple TDF sessions are established, each corresponding to a specialized TDF device for different detection functions (fraud detection, virus scanning, content filtering). This segmentation allows comprehensive detection coverage by ensuring that each type of traffic can be detected by the appropriate specialized TDF device through its dedicated session, rather than relying on a single TDF session that would need to handle all detection types.
Solution Approach 2:
The PCRF server acts as an intermediary that manages the establishment, modification, and termination of multiple TDF sessions. It receives the PCEF session information, selects the appropriate TDF devices based on service requirements, and automatically establishes TDF sessions with each selected device. This intermediary automation reduces session management overhead by eliminating manual configuration and coordination, allowing the system to dynamically manage multiple sessions through centralized automated logic.
Data Source
AI summary
More than one TDF session for a user in a PCC architecture are coordinated. There are provided PCRF server, PCEF devices and TDF devices, and method of coordinating a PCEF session and the more than one TDF session. The method includes: establishing or modifying at a PCRF server a PCEF session for an IP-CAN session; selecting at the PCRF server more than one TDF device; determining at the PCRF server an order in which each selected TDF device is to be involved, and access information required by each selected TDF device; initiating a TDF session, providing applicable ADC rules and routing information indicating a next TDF device to be involved, from the PCRF server towards each selected TDF device; and submitting from the PCRF server to the PCEF device PCC rules for the IP-CAN session along with routing information indicating a first TDF device to be involved.