Interoperable QoS Policy Negotiation for Cross-Network Traffic
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Solution Overview
Problem
The difference in Quality of Service (QoS) policies between networks can cause traffic processing inconsistencies, leading to suboptimal performance and user experience when communication sessions involve multiple networks.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an interoperable QoS policy system, where a Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) server obtains and applies QoS classification identifier (QCI) values from both the local and remote networks to ensure traffic is processed according to the remote network's policy, using a negotiation server to generate an interoperable QoS policy that aligns with both networks' policies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a local QoS policy is established by the IMS core, then traffic processing within the local network is optimized, but traffic processing consistency across different networks deteriorates due to policy differences
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a QoS policy negotiation server as an intermediary between the local PCRF server and remote networks. This mediator translates and reconciles QoS policies from different networks, enabling consistent traffic processing across network boundaries while maintaining local optimization. The negotiation server acts as a bridge that converts remote QoS parameters into local equivalents.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts QoS parameters (such as QCI values, bandwidth allocations, and priority levels) based on the specific network context and traffic requirements. The PCRF server modifies local QoS parameters to align with remote network policies, enabling adaptive traffic processing that maintains consistency across different network domains while optimizing local performance.
2Productivity
If QoS policies are customized for different networks, then network-specific performance is optimized, but system complexity increases due to multiple policy management requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The QoS policy negotiation server provides a universal solution that handles multiple network policies through a single interface. Rather than requiring separate policy management systems for each network, the negotiation server universally manages QoS parameters across different networks, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining network-specific optimizations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs QoS policy negotiation and parameter translation in advance, before actual traffic flow begins. By pre-establishing the mapping between remote and local QoS policies during session setup, the system avoids complex real-time policy management during traffic processing, thereby reducing operational complexity.
3Ease of operation
If traffic is processed according to local QoS policy, then local network control is maintained, but user experience deteriorates when communicating across networks with different QoS requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The QoS policy negotiation server implements a feedback mechanism where the local PCRF server receives information about remote network QoS capabilities and adjusts local policy accordingly. This feedback loop ensures that local network control is maintained while adapting to remote network requirements, thereby preserving user experience quality during cross-network communication.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adapts QoS parameters based on the communication context and network conditions. Rather than using static local policies, the PCRF server adjusts QoS settings in real-time based on feedback from the negotiation server about remote network requirements, ensuring optimal user experience while maintaining local control flexibility.
Data Source
AI summary
A system configured to receive a request to identify a quality of service (QoS) policy to be used to process traffic that is received from a user device associated with another network; obtain an interoperable QoS policy, where the interoperable QoS policy identifies a first QoS level, associated with the other network, that corresponds to a type of traffic received from the user device; obtain, from the interoperable QoS policy, a second QoS level that corresponds to the first QoS level; and send, to a device, an instruction to process the traffic based on the second QoS level.