Policy Unit Selection Table for Wireless Data Traffic Consistency

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Solution Overview

Problem

In modern radio communication systems, there is a lack of reliable enforcement of consistent policies across components, leading to inconsistent policies being applied for the same data traffic due to independent access by the Application Function (AF) and the Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN), which can result in incorrect billing and quality of service (QoS) applications.

Innovation Solution

The method involves storing user data such as IP addresses and MSISDN in the policy entity (CRF/PDF) to determine which users are served by each policy entity, allowing for the selection of the responsible policy unit and ensuring that both the GGSN and AF access the same policy unit, thereby maintaining consistency and enabling dynamic load distribution through a policy unit selection table.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If independent access to policy functions is allowed for GGSN and AF, then system flexibility and operational independence are improved, but policy coordination and consistency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational independenceVSAvoidpolicy consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a selection table as an intermediary mechanism that both GGSN and AF components use to independently determine the correct policy function. This selection table contains mapping information between user identifiers and policy function addresses, allowing independent access while ensuring consistent policy enforcement through a common reference framework.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a feedback mechanism where the selection table is updated and synchronized across components based on policy function assignments. This feedback loop ensures that when policy functions are assigned or reassigned, all components (GGSN and AF) receive updated mapping information, maintaining consistency without requiring coordinated access.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If separate policy function access is implemented for GGSN and AF, then operational autonomy is improved, but policy assignment reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational autonomyVSAvoidpolicy assignment reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a copy of the policy function mapping information in the selection table that is distributed to both GGSN and AF components. Instead of requiring direct access to the same policy function instances, each component uses its own copy of the mapping table to independently locate and access the appropriate policy functions, ensuring both autonomy and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The selection table is pre-populated with policy function mapping information before GGSN and AF operations begin. This preliminary action establishes the correct policy assignments in advance, allowing both components to autonomously access the appropriate policy functions without requiring real-time coordination or decision-making about policy selection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Device complexity

If policy functions are accessed independently with time delay, then system modularity is improved, but policy coordination deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem modularityVSAvoidpolicy coordination
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the policy management system into independent components (GGSN, AF, policy functions) with a separate selection table mechanism. This segmentation allows each component to operate independently with its own policy access timeline, while the selection table provides the coordination layer that ensures consistency across the distributed system without requiring synchronized operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP1708434B1Method and system for enforcing targeted guidelines for data traffic in a wireless communication system
Publication Date: 2008.11.26 VODAFONE HOLDING GMBH
  • EP1708434B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1708434B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1708434B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The method involves providing a mobile terminal, a service network with a transportation network transmission-gateway-hub and a guideline unit and an application unit. A part of user data of the users served by a guideline unit, is stored in the guideline unit, and guideline functions store information about a terminal, where the information is transmitted to components of a communication system. An independent claim is also included for a system for implementation of suitable guidelines for data traffics in a wireless radio communication system.