Presence Reporting Areas for 5G UE Location Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
In 5G mobile communication networks, there is a lack of efficient methods for the Access Mobility Management Function (AMF) to determine the location of a User Equipment (UE) within the service areas of User Plane Functions (UPFs) and slices, leading to complications in registration area allocation and increased network signaling, especially due to the decoupling of Registration Areas (RA) from UPF service areas.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a UE Reporting Area (URA) defined as a sub-area of the Registration Area (RA), which is resolved by determining the overlap between the RA and Presence Reporting Area (PRA), allowing the UE to notify the AMF when crossing URA borders, reducing unnecessary signaling and enabling finer granularity in service area management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the AMF uses the traditional Registration Area (RA) allocation method aligned with SMF service areas, then the service coverage is ensured, but the device complexity and signaling overhead increase when dealing with UPF service area decoupling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the service area management by introducing a separate Presence Reporting Area (PRA) for UPF service areas, independent from the traditional Registration Area (RA) for AMF management. This segmentation allows RA and PRA to be allocated and managed independently, resolving the complexity caused by their coupling while ensuring both service coverage and simplified allocation procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a mapping relationship mechanism as an intermediary between RA and PRA. The AMF maintains a mapping between registration areas and presence reporting areas, enabling coordinated management without direct coupling. This intermediary mapping allows the system to handle UPF service area decoupling while maintaining service coverage guarantees
2Stability of the object's composition
If the RA is coupled with SMF service areas, then the service area alignment is maintained, but the network signaling increases due to frequent UPF relocation requirements
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting service area management into independent RA (for AMF) and PRA (for UPF), the patent eliminates the need for RA reallocation when UPF service areas change. This segmentation allows PRA to be adjusted independently to match UPF service areas, maintaining service area alignment without triggering frequent RA updates and reducing network signaling overhead
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the management parameter from coupled RA-PRA allocation to independent allocation with mapping. The AMF can now modify PRA parameters to align with UPF service areas without changing RA parameters, reducing signaling events while maintaining proper service area alignment through the mapping relationship
3Stability of the object's composition
If the AMF allocates RA considering UPF service areas, then the service area alignment is improved, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring UE location increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates location tracking responsibilities by introducing PRA as a dedicated structure for UPF service area tracking. The AMF uses PRA (not RA) to track UE location relative to UPF service areas, simplifying the detection and measurement process. The segmentation allows each area type to serve its specific purpose without confusion
Solution Approach 2:
The mapping relationship between RA and PRA acts as an intermediary that simplifies location tracking. The AMF tracks UE position in PRA (which aligns with UPF service areas) and uses the mapping to coordinate with RA allocation, making UE location detection relative to UPF areas straightforward without complex multi-dimensional tracking
4Adaptability or versatility
If the RA is decoupled from UPF service areas, then the allocation flexibility is improved, but the loss of information about UE position relative to service areas increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting area management into independent RA and PRA, the patent achieves allocation flexibility for RA while preserving UE position information through PRA. The PRA maintains the relationship with UPF service areas, ensuring that location information is not lost despite RA decoupling. Each segmented structure serves its specific function without information loss
Solution Approach 2:
The mapping relationship between RA and PRA serves as an intermediary that preserves information flow. When RA is decoupled from UPF service areas, the mapping mechanism ensures that UE position information tracked in PRA can still be correlated with registration area information, preventing information loss while maintaining allocation flexibility
Data Source
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AI summary
A communication network system comprising core network nodes, CNN, such as Session Management Function, a Policy Control function, PCF, an Online Charging System, OCS, and a Network Exposure Function, NEF, the system further comprising a radio access node, RAN, and a User Entity, UE, the system further comprising a user plane function, UPF, communi- cating with a data network, DN; and a control plane, which again comprises at least a control plane comprising an Access Mobility Function, AMF, the system being adapted for the AMF - retrieving (301,) or determining a registration area, RA, for the UE. The CNN - retrieving (4-2,) a service area such as a a TA or TAI, and – allocating a Presence Reporting Area, PRA, - informing (302;) the AMF of the PRA. The AMF - defining (303A) or retrieving (303B) a UE Reporting Area, URA, in dependence of the RA and the PRA, - transmitting (304) the URA, to the UE, or - transmitting (305) the URA to the RAN.