Policy Event Record Generation for IMS QoS Management
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Next-generation network architectures, such as IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) and long-term evolution (LTE), require a policy entity to link application signaling with data traffic to manage quality of service (QoS) effectively, as signaling and data transfer paths may not coincide, necessitating a method for policy event record generation to enforce policy rules and manage network resources.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for generating policy event records (PERs) by receiving policy event attributes, selecting associated policy definitions, analyzing these definitions to initiate actions, and generating records that identify the selected definitions, utilizing a policy definition selection module, policy action module, and policy event record module within a network architecture that includes a policy and charging rules function (PCRF) and policy enforcement point (PCEF).
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a policy entity is introduced to link application signaling with data traffic in next-generation networks, then quality of service management is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a Policy Event Record (PER) as an intermediary data structure that bridges application signaling and data traffic management. The PER captures policy event attributes, selected policy definitions, and associated actions in a standardized format, enabling the policy entity to effectively link signaling plane information with traffic plane control without requiring complex direct integration mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the policy management function into distinct modular components: policy event attribute reception, policy definition selection, policy action initiation, and PER generation. This segmentation allows each component to be independently implemented and managed, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining effective QoS control through the coordinated operation of these discrete functional blocks.
2Measurement precision
If policy event records are generated to identify selected policy definitions, then policy enforcement accuracy is improved, but information processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a simplified copy or representation of policy information through the PER structure. Instead of processing and storing complete policy definition data, the system generates a condensed PER that captures essential policy event attributes and selected policy identifiers. This copying approach maintains policy enforcement accuracy by preserving critical information while significantly reducing the volume of data that needs to be processed and stored.
3Productivity
If policy rules are enforced by querying subscription profile repository and sending to policy enforcement nodes, then network resource allocation control is improved, but communication overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by pre-defining policy rules and storing them in the Subscription Profile Repository (SPR) with associated event triggers. When policy events occur, the system quickly matches events against pre-configured rules and generates PERs with predetermined actions, eliminating the need for real-time complex rule evaluation and reducing communication overhead between policy decision and enforcement points.
Data Source
AI summary
According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a method for generating a policy event record (PER). The method includes receiving one or more policy event attributes (PEAs) and using the received PEAs to select one or more policy definitions that are associated with a communication session. The method also includes analyzing the selected one or more policy definitions and initiating one or more associated policy actions. The method further includes generating a policy event record that includes information that identifies the one or more selected policy definitions.