RAN User Plane Congestion Reporting With PCC Feedback Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
User plane congestion (UPCON) occurs in Radio Access Network (RAN) due to exceeding cell capacity or limitations in the 3GPP RAN to Evolved Packet Core (EPC) interface, leading to reduced quality of service and negative user experiences, as increased user traffic data outpaces network capacity growth.
Innovation Solution
The Core Network provisions UPCON detection rules to the access network, enabling the RAN to detect congestion conditions and report them to the CN, which communicates Policy and Control Charging (PCC) information to manage congestion by setting maximum bitrates and triggering actions to alleviate congestion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If network capacity is increased to handle user traffic, then user traffic capacity is improved, but network infrastructure cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary congestion detection by monitoring buffer occupancy levels before actual congestion occurs. The RAN node detects when buffer occupancy exceeds a threshold and proactively reports this to the PCRF, which then preemptively adjusts PCC rules to prevent congestion, avoiding the need for expensive capacity expansion.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback loop where the RAN node continuously monitors buffer occupancy and reports congestion status to the PCRF. The PCRF receives this feedback and dynamically adjusts PCC rules including maximum bitrates and QoS parameters, creating a closed-loop control system that optimizes network resource utilization without requiring additional infrastructure.
2Reliability
If congestion control actions are taken to alleviate UPCON, then quality of service is improved, but network control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex congestion control decision-making function from the RAN node and places it in the PCRF. The RAN node simply monitors buffer occupancy and reports to the PCRF, while the PCRF handles the complex PCC rule adjustments, QoS parameter modifications, and congestion alleviation decisions, thereby simplifying the RAN node's functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The PCRF acts as an intermediary between the RAN node and the core network elements. It receives congestion reports from the RAN node and translates them into appropriate PCC rule adjustments, QoS parameter changes, and coordination with other network elements, thereby managing the complexity of congestion control in a centralized manner.
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2A
AI summary
Technology for a radio access network (RAN) node that is operable to report user plane congestion (UPCON) is disclosed. The RAN node may include computer circuitry configured to receive, from a Core Network (CN), an information element (IE) including UPCON related Policy and Control Charging (PCC) information. The RAN node may identify a location of an UPCON event, at the RAN node, based on an UPCON event trigger included in the UPCON related PCC information. The RAN node may report Radio Access Network Congestion Information (RCI) about the UPCON event to one or more network elements in the CN.