Reauthorization Notification for Stale Session Data Removal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Network devices struggle to correctly remove session context data, leading to stale data being stored indefinitely, which wastes resources and can result in inaccurate provisioning of network services, causing performance issues and resource misallocation.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a reauthorization request notification system where a Session Management Function (SMF) device provides a notification to a Unified Data Management (UDM) or Unified Data Repository (UDR) device to reauthorize session context data, allowing for the removal of inactive sessions and maintaining accurate subscriber profiles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If session context data is stored indefinitely without removal, then data availability is maintained, but network resources are wasted and performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata availabilityVSAvoidnetwork resource waste

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by establishing reauthorization timers and subscription mechanisms before session context data becomes stale. The UDM/UDR devices proactively notify subscribers about upcoming reauthorization needs, allowing networks to refresh or remove session context data before it becomes invalid, thus preventing resource waste while maintaining data availability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where UDM/UDR devices monitor session context data status and provide notifications to subscribers when reauthorization is needed. This feedback loop enables the network to detect stale data conditions and take corrective actions (refreshing or removing data) before resources are significantly wasted, balancing data availability with resource efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If session context data is not reauthorized, then processing overhead is reduced, but inaccurate provisioning and performance issues occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing efficiencyVSAvoidprovisioning accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements periodic reauthorization actions through timers configured in UDM/UDR devices. Instead of continuous verification, the system periodically checks session context data validity at predetermined intervals, maintaining provisioning accuracy while minimizing processing overhead compared to continuous validation approaches.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables self-service mechanisms where the UDM/UDR devices automatically manage their own session context data through internal timers and self-triggered notification processes. The system autonomously identifies when reauthorization is needed and initiates the process without requiring external intervention, reducing overall processing overhead while maintaining accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Loss of energy

If reauthorization notifications are implemented, then stale data is removed and resource management improves, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresource management efficiencyVSAvoidsystem architecture complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal notification mechanism that serves multiple functions: it notifies subscribers of reauthorization needs, triggers session context data refresh operations, and enables stale data removal. This multi-functional approach consolidates what could be separate complex processes into a single unified system, reducing overall system complexity while achieving resource management goals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Loss of information

If session context data is accumulated without cleanup, then data completeness is maintained, but network performance and resource allocation deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata completenessVSAvoidnetwork performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements a discarding and recovering mechanism where stale session context data is identified through timer expiration and notification processes, then selectively removed or refreshed. This approach maintains data completeness for active sessions while discarding stale data that would otherwise accumulate and degrade network performance, enabling continuous operation with optimal resource utilization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Data Source

PatentUS20240406226A1Systems and methods for reauthorization request notification

Publication Date: 2024.12.05 VERIZON PATENT & LICENSING INC

AI summary

In some implementations, a network device may receive a subscription request to subscribe to receive notifications associated with context data related to a registered session associated with a user equipment (UE). The registered session may be associated with a reauthorization timer that is associated with triggering the network device to provide a request for reauthorization of the registered session. The network device may provide, based on an expiration of the reauthorization timer, the request for reauthorization of the registered session.