QoS Parameter Pre-configuration for Billing Cycle Reset
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current LTE network standards lack a mechanism to set command-level Quality of Service (QoS) parameters to take effect at a future time, leading to excessive message exchange and potential network congestion when resuming high-speed data access for customers with unlimited data plans at the start of a new billing cycle.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a mechanism to pre-set QoS parameters that can be activated at a future time, such as the start of a new billing cycle, to avoid excessive message exchange and reduce network traffic, by using predefined activation times and optional functions within the Gx interface standard, like Attribute-Value Pairs, to manage bandwidth throttling and resumption efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If bandwidth throttling is applied to customers with unlimited data plans when they exceed a certain threshold, then network congestion is prevented and network reliability is improved, but at the billing cycle reset time a high volume of messages need to be exchanged within the network to remove the speed restriction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring QoS parameters with future activation times before the billing cycle reset occurs. The network elements store these parameters in advance, so that when the activation time is reached, the speed restriction removal is already prepared and can be executed without generating a storm of messages. This is implemented through the Gx interface where the PCRF can set command level parameters to take effect at a future time, allowing the network to prepare throttling and un-throttling actions in advance rather than reacting with excessive messaging at the moment of change.
2Ease of manufacture
If current network standards are used without future time parameter mechanisms, then implementation is simple, but excessive message exchange occurs at billing cycle reset time causing network traffic overload
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by introducing a future activation time parameter into the QoS command level parameters exchanged over the Gx interface. This parameter modification allows the same basic messaging infrastructure to be used while changing the timing behavior of parameter application. The PCRF can now set parameters with a future activation time, and the PCEF stores and executes these parameters at the specified time, thereby reducing the volume of messages needed at billing cycle reset while maintaining implementation feasibility through existing interface standards.
Data Source
AI summary
A method is provided for enforcing quality of service parameters. A gateway receives a request for data usage from a mobile device. The gateway sends, to a controller, inquiry for allowed bit rate. Upon receiving a first bit rate value, the gateway sends, to a charging system, request for quota. In response to receiving the quota, the gateway provides data to the mobile device based on the first bit rate value. The gateway provides data to the mobile device until the quota is exhausted. Once a data usage threshold is reached, the gateway receives, from the controller, a second bit rate value. In response to receiving the second bit rate value, the gateway provides data to the mobile device based on the second bit rate value, until an activation-time is reached. When the activation-time is reached, the gateway resets the allowed bit rate to the first bit rate value.