Proxy PCRF External PCEF Policy Enforcement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current telecommunications networks face challenges in ensuring the stability and operation of policy and charging control architectures, particularly when external entities need to enforce network policies without risking unintended or malicious interference with the network.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a proxy Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) with limited access, allowing it to monitor communications without transmitting messages, and using an external Policy and Charging Enforcement Function (PCEF) to enforce policies externally, ensuring the network's stability while allowing external entities to implement their own policies and charging functions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If external entities directly enforce network policies within the telecommunications network, then policy enforcement capability is improved, but network stability and security deteriorate due to potential interference
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the policy enforcement function into two separate components: an external PCEF that performs policy enforcement operations outside the core telecommunications network, and a network gateway that interfaces with the network. This segmentation allows external entities to enforce policies without directly accessing or interfering with the internal network operations, thus maintaining network stability while enabling versatile policy enforcement.
Solution Approach 2:
The network gateway acts as an intermediary between the external PCEF and the telecommunications network. It receives policy enforcement requests from external entities, processes them appropriately, and interacts with the network only through controlled interfaces. This intermediary layer prevents direct interference with network operations while still allowing external policy enforcement capabilities.
2Adaptability or versatility
If external entities are granted access to network information for policy enforcement, then policy control functionality is improved, but network security and protection from harmful factors worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The PCEF (Policy and Charging Enforcement Function) is extracted from the core telecommunications network and placed in an external location. This extraction removes the potential security risk of having external entities with direct access to network information, while still allowing them to perform policy enforcement by receiving only the specific information needed through controlled interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The network gateway serves as a secure intermediary that controls what information is shared with external entities. It filters and processes information requests, providing only the necessary data for policy enforcement while blocking access to sensitive network information, thus maintaining security while enabling policy control functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
A policy control component may be installed in a telecommunication network as a “supplemental” or “proxy” policy control component that may be given limited interaction with the telecommunication network. The proxy policy control component may communicate with policy enforcement devices in an external network. In one implementation, a method may include monitoring a first network to obtain information relating to a traffic flow through a gateway associated with the first network, the gateway connecting the first network to a second network. The method may further include establishing a communication session with a policy enforcement device located within the second network; and transmitting over the communication session, and to the policy enforcement device, information relating to enforcement of network policy functions for the traffic flow.