PFD Deployment Feedback in 5G Core Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
In communication technologies, particularly in 4G and 5G networks, third-party application servers face challenges in detecting when packet flow description (PFD) information is not successfully deployed on core network devices, leading to incorrect or invalid policy and charging control, which affects user experience.
Innovation Solution
A method where a first network element determines if PFD information is not deployed on a second network element and sends a message to a third network element, including an application server, with indication information and the second network element's details, allowing the application server to learn of deployment failures and execute corresponding policies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If PFD information is deployed to multiple PCEF network elements, then the coverage and reliability of policy enforcement are improved, but the complexity of deployment management increases and deployment failures may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where PCEF network elements report deployment status back to the application server. The server sends PFD information to multiple PCEF elements, receives deployment status reports from each, and can identify which elements successfully deployed the information and which failed. This feedback loop resolves the contradiction by enabling reliable multi-element deployment while maintaining manageable complexity through automated status tracking.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the deployment management process into independent operations for each PCEF network element. Instead of managing all elements as a single unit, the system independently deploys PFD information to each element and tracks their individual statuses. This segmentation reduces overall system complexity while improving reliability through distributed deployment.
2Ease of operation
If the application server receives only aggregate deployment status, then the communication protocol is simplified, but the server cannot identify specific PCEF elements with deployment failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an intermediary reporting mechanism where PCEF network elements act as intermediaries between the deployment system and the application server. Each PCEF element independently reports its deployment status to the server, carrying specific identification information about itself and the deployment outcome. This intermediary approach maintains protocol simplicity while preserving detailed information about which specific elements succeeded or failed in deployment.
3Productivity
If PFD information deployment is not monitored at the individual element level, then the monitoring overhead is reduced, but policy and charging control cannot be executed correctly on elements with deployment failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service monitoring where each PCEF network element autonomously reports its own PFD information deployment status to the application server. This eliminates the need for centralized active monitoring of each element, reducing monitoring overhead and improving productivity. At the same time, the server receives accurate status information from each element, ensuring that policy execution reliability is maintained by identifying and addressing deployment failures at specific elements.
Data Source
AI summary
In a packet flow description information management method, a network exposure function network element determines that packet flow description (PFD) information fails to be deployed on a user plane function network element. The network exposure function network element then sends a first message that includes first indication information, an application ID corresponding to the PFD information, and first information of the user plane function network element. The first information of the user plane function network element identifies the user plane function network element, and the first indication information indicates that the PFD information fails to be deployed.