QoS Resource Allocation via Terminal Service Recognition

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Solution Overview

Problem

In the 3GPP PCC architecture, the PCRF cannot obtain terminal service information from encrypted service data flows, leading to inaccurate policy formulation and QoS control, as existing methods like deep packet inspection or recognizing service information by the AF are not effective due to network security constraints.

Innovation Solution

The terminal recognizes its service information and sends it to the AF, which then forwards this information to the PCRF using new logical interfaces, enabling the AF to request and manage QoS resource allocation accurately.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If the PCRF parses terminal service data flow to obtain terminal service information, then the service information can be obtained, but the method becomes ineffective when service data flow is encrypted for network security

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveterminal service informationVSAvoidservice information acquisition reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an AF (Application Function) as an intermediary between the terminal and PCRF. The AF receives service information from the terminal directly through a new logical interface, bypassing the encrypted data flow, and forwards it to the PCRF. This intermediary solution resolves the contradiction by providing an alternative information path that doesn't rely on parsing encrypted traffic.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If deep packet inspection is used to recognize service information in encrypted data flow, then service information can be extracted, but network security constraints make this method ineffective

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice information recognition accuracyVSAvoidnetwork security constraints
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of trying to extract service information from the encrypted data flow (bottom-up approach), the patent inverts the approach by having the terminal directly provide service information to the AF (top-down approach). This inversion bypasses the encryption barrier entirely by changing the information flow direction and source.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Loss of information

If new logical interfaces are added between terminal and AF, and AF and PCRF, then service information can be transmitted accurately, but the network architecture complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice information transmission accuracyVSAvoidnetwork architecture complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the information transmission path into two separate logical interfaces: one between terminal and AF, and another between AF and PCRF. This segmentation allows each interface to be optimized independently and maintains modularity, reducing the impact of added complexity while improving transmission accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3445085B1QOS resource allocation method and apparatus
Publication Date: 2021.08.04 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3445085B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3445085B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3445085B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

Embodiments of the present invention provide a QoS resource allocation method and apparatus. The method includes: First, service information sent by a terminal is received; then, a QoS resource request message that carries the service information is sent to a PCRF corresponding to the terminal, where the QoS resource request message is used to request the PCRF to allocate a QoS resource to a terminal service; and finally, a request response message that is sent by the PCRF and that is used to indicate whether the QoS resource is successfully allocated to the terminal service is received. The terminal can recognize the service information of the terminal service, and a specific implementation of sending, to the PCRF, the service information that is of the terminal service and that is recognized by the terminal is put forward, so that accuracy of a policy formulated by the PCRF is improved.