Policy Control via Service Perception Function for QoS Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
In the 3GPP R7 system, the Quality of Service (QoS) authorization for User Equipment (UE) is not accurately determined as it relies on UE capabilities and service perception, leading to inefficient use of network resources and inability to provide differentiated services based on user history service usage.
Innovation Solution
A policy control method and apparatus that obtain and combine current and history service usage information to make informed QoS decisions, allowing for efficient resource utilization and differentiated service provision without altering the network architecture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If QoS is decided according to UE requested QoS and service perception, then the QoS authorization process is simple, but the QoS accuracy does not meet service layer requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a Service Perception Function (SPF) as an intermediary component that accurately perceives service layer requirements and translates them into QoS parameters. The SPF acts as a mediator between the service layer and the network layer, providing accurate service requirement information to the Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) without significantly increasing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the SPF continuously monitors and perceives actual service requirements, and feeds this information back to the PCRF for dynamic QoS adjustment. This feedback loop enables the system to adapt QoS decisions based on real-time service perception, improving accuracy while maintaining manageable complexity through automated control.
2Reliability
If QoS parameters are reported by UE through PDP context, then the authorization process follows standard procedures, but the QoS parameters are not completely trustable due to UE capability limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The SPF serves as a trusted intermediary that verifies and validates QoS requirements before they are processed by the network. Instead of relying solely on UE-reported parameters, the SPF independently perceives service requirements and provides verified QoS information to the PCRF, enhancing reliability without requiring complex verification mechanisms at the UE side.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by allowing the SPF to autonomously perceive and determine service requirements without manual intervention or complex verification procedures. The SPF independently assesses service needs and generates reliable QoS parameters, reducing the need for additional verification complexity while maintaining high trustability.
3Measurement precision
If the network does not perceive actual service transmission, then the network architecture remains simple, but the QoS decision cannot meet requirements accurately
Solution Approach 1:
The SPF is introduced as a dedicated intermediary component responsible for perceiving actual service transmission characteristics. The SPF monitors service layer interactions and extracts accurate service requirement information, providing this perception data to the PCRF for informed QoS decisions. This specialized perception function achieves high measurement precision without distributing complex perception mechanisms throughout the entire network.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by concentrating the service perception capability in a specific network element (the SPF) rather than distributing it across multiple components. The SPF is strategically positioned to perceive service requirements locally at the service layer, and then communicates this information to the PCRF, achieving accurate service perception with focused rather than diffuse complexity.
4Adaptability or versatility
If policy control is based on current service usage only, then the control process is fast, but differentiated services based on user history cannot be provided
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-collecting and storing user service usage history in a database before policy decisions are needed. When the PCRF needs to make a policy decision, the relevant historical data is already prepared and can be quickly retrieved, enabling differentiated service provision without significant time loss. The heavy lifting of data collection is done in advance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements continuity of useful action by maintaining continuous collection and updating of user service usage history. The system continuously monitors and records service usage patterns, ensuring that the history database is always up-to-date and ready for immediate use in policy decisions. This continuous data accumulation enables fast differentiated service provisioning without interrupting the service flow.
Data Source
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AI summary
A policy control method and apparatus are disclosed. The method includes: obtaining current service usage information of a user; calculating the current service usage information of the user and history service usage information of the user to obtain current history service usage information of the user, and storing the current history service usage information; and making a policy decision according to the current history service usage information of the user. With the present invention, a policy can be controlled according and history service usage information of the user, network resources are utilized efficiently, and differentiated services are provided for the user.