Radio Access Technology Matching in Policy Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing Policy and Charging Control (PCC) architecture in 3GPP R7 requires new policies and rules for allowed access technology types to be provisioned in the Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) whenever a new service is launched, leading to inconsistencies and the need for specific solutions per service, which is inefficient and prone to errors.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that allows service providers to specify allowed radio access technology types during service deployment without modifying the PCRF, using a policy node to compare current and allowed radio access technology types, and dynamically switch to an alternative technology if necessary, based on priorities and preferences, to ensure seamless service delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If new policies and rules for allowed access technology types are provisioned in the PCRF whenever a new service is launched, then service delivery control can be implemented, but the system complexity and provisioning overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the service-specific access technology control logic from the PCRF and relocates it to the application server. This allows the PCRF to maintain generic, static policies while application servers handle dynamic service requirements, thereby reducing policy provisioning complexity in the PCRF while maintaining adaptability for new services
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where the application server acts as a mediator between the service requirements and the PCRF policy enforcement. The application server determines allowed access technology types and communicates them to the PCRF, which then enforces the policies without requiring direct provisioning changes for each new service
2Stability of the object's composition
If static policies are provisioned in the PCRF for allowed access technology types, then policy consistency can be maintained, but the system cannot adapt to new services without manual updates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamics by allowing the application server to dynamically determine and communicate allowed access technology types for each service. This enables the system to adapt to new services without manual PCRF updates while the PCRF maintains consistent policy enforcement mechanisms. The static nature of PCRF policies is preserved, but the overall system becomes dynamic through application server input
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention provides methods, an application node (104, 26, 300), a policy node (108, 24, 400), a system for service delivery control related to access technology types and in particular for service delivery control based on allowed access technology types. Based on radio access technology types as defined by an application node related to a service provider as communicated to the policy node over the inter node interface Rx (106), and an radio access technology type with which a mobile phone (102, 22) communicates on at the moment, a determination is made as to whether the radio access technology type with which the mobile phone communicate son is among the allowed radio access technology types or not. If it is not, the current access technology type may be updated such that there is a match between the allowed radio access technology type and the current radio access rate.