Network Control Node Policy Request Consolidation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The handling of policy information becomes complex when multiple network nodes storing subscriber-specific information are involved, particularly in scenarios where a user establishes sessions across multiple Policy Control Functions (PCFs), as existing mechanisms require multiple requests and decisions, complicating the process.
Innovation Solution
A method and system where a network control node forwards a single policy request message to multiple nodes storing subscriber-specific information, processes the responses to generate a single policy decision message, and sends it back to the user entity, simplifying the handling of policy information by reducing the number of messages required.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple policy request messages are sent to multiple PCFs for session establishment, then policy information can be obtained from all relevant nodes, but the complexity of the handling process increases and multiple requests are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary entity (the network control node or a designated PCF) that consolidates policy requests and distributes them to multiple PCFs. This intermediary aggregates the responses and presents a unified policy decision to the user entity, thereby maintaining reliability through comprehensive policy gathering while reducing the apparent complexity for the user entity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple policy request messages into a single consolidated request that is distributed to multiple PCFs. The responses from multiple PCFs are then combined into a single unified policy decision message. This merging approach maintains the completeness of policy information while simplifying the interaction from the user entity's perspective.
2Reliability
If multiple separate request and decision messages are exchanged with multiple PCFs, then all policy information is collected, but the number of messages increases and user entity complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate request messages into a single request message that is distributed to multiple PCFs. Similarly, multiple separate decision messages from different PCFs are merged into a single unified decision message presented to the user entity. This merging maintains complete policy decision reliability while significantly improving ease of operation for the user entity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs an intermediary mechanism that handles the multiple message exchanges between the user entity and multiple PCFs. This intermediary consolidates the communication, ensuring that the user entity only needs to send one request and receive one decision message, thereby improving ease of operation while maintaining complete policy decision reliability through comprehensive PCF consultation.
3Ease of operation
If a single request message is sent to multiple PCFs, then the number of messages is reduced and handling is simplified, but coordination between multiple nodes becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary node that receives the single request message from the user entity and coordinates the distribution to multiple PCFs. This intermediary handles the coordination complexity internally, managing the distribution of the request to relevant PCFs and the aggregation of their responses. This approach maintains simplicity of message handling for the user entity while containing the coordination complexity within the network infrastructure.
4Reliability
If multiple PCFs are involved in session establishment, then comprehensive policy coverage is achieved, but the network structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the policy control function into multiple independent PCFs, each responsible for specific aspects of policy management. This segmentation allows comprehensive policy coverage to be achieved through distribution across multiple specialized nodes, while the modular structure actually reduces overall network complexity compared to a monolithic PCF, as each segment can be independently managed and scaled.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention proposes a method for establishing sessions in a network comprising a user entity, a network control node and a plurality of network nodes storing subscriber specific information, the method comprising the steps of receiving a session establishing request at the network control node, forwarding a policy request message from the network control node to each network node of the plurality of network nodes storing subscriber specific information comprising policy information required for the session to be established, processing the policy request message to generate a policy decision message and sending the policy decision message to the network control node from each of the network nodes having received the policy request message, generating a single policy decision confirmation message based on the received policy decision messages in the network control node, and sending the single policy decision message to the user entity.