RAN Flow Control for Mobile Station Data Suspension
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless communication networks, the lack of knowledge about the availability of mobile stations by the Packet Data Serving Node (PDSN) leads to inefficient data delivery attempts and billing errors, as it continues to transfer packet data to stations that are temporarily unavailable, causing the Packet Control Function (PCF) to repeatedly buffer and attempt delivery without establishing a radio connection.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a flow control method where the Radio Access Network (RAN) sends messages to the Packet Core Network (PCN) to suspend or resume packet data transfers based on the availability of mobile stations, using 'flow control on' and 'flow control off' messages to mark or unmark data connections associated with unavailable stations, allowing the PCN to stop futile data transfers and resume when the station becomes available.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the PDSN continues to transfer packet data to the PCF for unavailable mobile stations, then the data connection remains active and resource allocation is maintained, but network inefficiency increases due to repeated buffering and delivery attempts
Solution Approach 1:
The PCF monitors the availability status of mobile stations and provides feedback to the PDSN through flow control messages. When a mobile station becomes unavailable, the PCF sends a flow control message indicating that data transfer should be suspended, preventing further futile buffering attempts while maintaining the logical connection for future resumption
Solution Approach 2:
The system proactively suspends data transfer before actual data loss occurs by implementing flow control based on predicted unavailability. The PCF detects availability changes and preemptively notifies the PDSN to stop transferring data, avoiding the need for repeated buffering and delivery attempts
2Duration of action of stationary object
If the PDSN transfers packet data to the PCF without knowledge of mobile station availability, then the data connection can be maintained continuously, but billing errors occur due to unrecognized data delivery failures
Solution Approach 1:
The PCF provides feedback to the PDSN about mobile station availability status through flow control messages. This feedback loop enables the PDSN to distinguish between temporary unavailability and permanent disconnection, allowing accurate billing by recognizing when data transfer failures occur due to mobile station unavailability rather than network issues
Solution Approach 2:
The PCF acts as an intermediary between the PDSN and mobile stations, translating physical layer availability status into network layer flow control signals. This intermediary function bridges the information gap, allowing the PDSN to make informed decisions about data transfer based on actual mobile station availability without requiring direct knowledge of radio link status
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus provide network-based flow control for mobile station having data connections to the network. In an exemplary embodiment, a Packet Control Function (PCF) in a Radio Access Network (RAN) requests that a Packet Data Serving Node (PDSN) in a Packet Core Network (PCN) turn flow control on and off as needed for mobile station data connections. That is, if the PCF receives data from the PDSN for delivery to a mobile station that the PCF determines to be unavailable, the PCF requests that data transfers from the PDSN be suspended for that mobile station. Such suspension avoids needless continued transfer of undeliverable data to the PCF. The PCF monitors or otherwise determines whether a flow-controlled mobile station has become available again and, if so, notifies the PDSN so that it can lift the suspension and resume data transfers as needed.