RCAF Congestion Mitigation for Roaming UEs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless network congestion management systems face challenges in effectively relieving congestion for inbound roamers due to difficulties in reporting and mitigating network congestion across different network domains, particularly in home-routed roaming scenarios, where operators are reluctant to share network status information and there is a lack of trust in congestion mitigation policies.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a Radio Access Network (RAN) Congestion Awareness Function (RCAF) that collects cell-level congestion information and communicates with the Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) to modify Quality of Service (QoS) parameters for inbound roamers, using a locally configured policy table to manage QoS adjustments based on congestion levels, ensuring fair treatment of both roaming and local subscribers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If operators share network status information across different network domains, then congestion mitigation effectiveness is improved, but operator security and information privacy deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where the visited network operator collects congestion information and applies local policies to manage roamer traffic without requiring direct information sharing between home and visited operators. This mediator approach allows congestion mitigation while preserving operator information privacy.
2Productivity
If QoS parameters are dynamically adjusted for inbound roamers, then network performance is improved, but policy management complexity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-configuring policy tables in the visited network operator with QoS parameters for different home network operators. When congestion is detected, the pre-configured policies are automatically applied without requiring real-time complex negotiations, thus improving network performance while managing policy complexity.
3Measurement precision
If congestion information is collected and reported across network domains, then congestion detection accuracy is improved, but system complexity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing congestion management into separate functional components: congestion information collection at the radio access network level, policy management at the visited core network level, and automatic policy application. This segmentation allows accurate congestion detection while managing system complexity through modular architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure is directed at systems, methods and media for mitigating congestion for roamers in a wireless access network. In some embodiments, Radio Access Network (RAN) congestion information is reported from a base station to a RAN Congestion Awareness Function (RCAF) of a visited network. The RCAF can mitigate congestion by controlling Quality of Service (QoS) parameters for roaming User Equipment (UE) in a congested cell. The RCAF can further communicate with the Mobility Management Entity (MME) of the visited cell and the Policy Charging and Rules Function (PCRF) of the UE's home network. The RCAF can relieve congestion for roamers without informing the home network of the congestion at the cell.