PCRN Rule Matching Engine for Multiple Result Retrieval
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Solution Overview
Problem
The 3GPP's LTE network lacks guidance on how the Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) should interpret requests, establish sessions, and create Policy and Charging Control (PCC) rules, leading to a need for a customizable process to influence PCRF responses based on local configuration and rules-driven operation.
Innovation Solution
A Policy and Charging Rules Node (PCRN) is developed to receive messages, determine policy decisions, and generate answer messages by retrieving rule sets with multiple values, reducing the number of required lookups through a rule matching engine and result interpreter.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the PCRF follows the standard 3GPP procedure for receiving requests and establishing sessions, then the network operation is standardized and reliable, but the system lacks flexibility in interpreting requests and creating PCC rules according to local configuration
Solution Approach 1:
The PCRF is divided into distinct functional modules: a message handler for receiving and transmitting messages, a rule matching engine for determining policy decisions and retrieving rule sets, and a result interpreter for generating answer messages. This segmentation allows each module to specialize in specific tasks, improving flexibility in request interpretation while maintaining manageable system complexity through clear separation of concerns.
2Reliability
If the PCRF retrieves multiple rule results through multiple lookups, then the policy decisions are comprehensive and accurate, but the processing time and operational efficiency are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The rule matching engine retrieves multiple rule sets and values in advance during the policy decision process, rather than performing sequential lookups when needed. By preliminarily gathering all necessary rule results from the rule set based on the information set in the request message, the system ensures comprehensive and accurate policy decisions while significantly reducing processing time and improving operational efficiency.
3Productivity
If the PCRF uses a customizable process with rule matching engine and result interpreter, then the speed and efficiency of policy operations are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rule matching engine serves multiple functions: it determines policy decisions, retrieves applicable rule sets based on information sets, and prepares data for the result interpreter. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise require separate components, improving the speed of policy operations while minimizing the increase in device complexity by making the rule matching engine a universal component.
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments relate to a Policy Charging and Rules Node (PCRN) and a related method and machine-readable medium for retrieving multiple results in response to a message. The PCRN may receive a message and, through handling the received message, may make a policy decision. The policy decision may require the PCRN to retrieve multiple related results. The PCRN may thereafter refer to a data arrangement that includes a rule set with at least one rule with multiple values. Based on the policy decision, the PCRN may retrieve the at least one rule. The PCRN may compile the rule from the rule set and may generate an answer message including at least one of these values included in the rule.