Route Selection Policy Rule Service Differentiator Granularity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current route selection policy rules in 5G systems lack the granularity to differentiate between various service types of traffic, leading to inefficient routing decisions based on application descriptors alone, which cannot identify traffic with different characteristics from a single application.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a service differentiator into the traffic descriptor of the route selection policy rule, allowing for the identification of specific service types, enabling distinct routing policies for different service types within an application, and allowing the service differentiator to be either part of or separate from the application descriptor.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If only application descriptors are used in traffic descriptor, then the route selection policy rule structure is simple, but the granularity of traffic differentiation is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveroute selection policy rule structureVSAvoidtraffic differentiation granularity
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the traffic descriptor into multiple independent components: application descriptor, service differentiator, and IP descriptor. This segmentation allows each component to serve a specific function - the application descriptor identifies the application, the service differentiator identifies the service type within the application, and the IP descriptor provides routing information. By dividing the traffic descriptor into these granular segments, the system achieves fine-grained traffic differentiation without creating an overly complex overall structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Measurement precision

If service differentiator is added to traffic descriptor, then the routing decision precision is improved, but the traffic descriptor complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverouting decision precisionVSAvoidtraffic descriptor structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the local quality principle by making the service differentiator an optional component within the traffic descriptor structure. Not all traffic descriptors require a service differentiator - only those cases where fine-grained service differentiation is needed. This allows the system to enhance routing precision for specific traffic types while maintaining simplicity for other traffic types, avoiding unnecessary complexity in the overall descriptor structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If service differentiator is made separate from application descriptor, then the flexibility of policy configuration is improved, but the processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepolicy configuration flexibilityVSAvoidprocessing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements universality by designing the service differentiator as a standalone component that can be independently configured and applied across multiple applications and services. The service differentiator structure is universal and can identify different service types (e.g., voice, video, data) regardless of which application generates the traffic. This universal design provides flexibility in policy configuration while the standardized structure actually reduces processing complexity compared to application-specific differentiation mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3886380B1Route selection policy rule execution method and apparatus
Publication Date: 2023.10.18 TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) CO LTD
  • EP3886380B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3886380B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3886380B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Disclosed are a route selection policy acquisition method and apparatus, a route selection policy rule execution method and apparatus, and a device and a computer-readable storage medium, belonging to the field of communications. The acquisition method comprises: receiving an application function request from an application function network element; generating a route selection policy rule for a terminal, wherein the route selection policy rule comprises a service specificator, and the service specificator is used for identifying a service type of traffic in an application program; sending an application function response to the application function network element; and providing the route selection policy rule to the terminal, wherein the route selection policy rule is executed when the terminal has traffic matching the service specificator.