Session Management Pause Signaling for Usage Report Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
In existing communication systems, the continuous reporting of network resource usage measurements, such as dropped downlink traffic, leads to unnecessary load and inefficiency when charging has been paused, resulting in invalid messages between the control plane and user plane functions.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a mechanism where the control plane function indicates the user plane function to inactivate or limit the measurement and reporting of usage rules, using flags or information elements in session management requests, to prevent unnecessary reporting when charging is paused.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the user plane function continuously measures and reports network resource usage according to provisioned usage reporting rules, then measurement precision and completeness are improved, but system load and message overhead increase unnecessarily when charging is paused
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control of measurement and reporting activities by introducing a pause indication mechanism. When the control plane function receives a pause indication, it dynamically adjusts the behavior of user plane functions to suspend reporting activities. This allows the system to adapt measurement intensity to actual operational needs, preventing unnecessary reports during paused charging periods while maintaining measurement capabilities when charging is active.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes a feedback loop where the control plane function monitors charging status and sends pause/resume indications to user plane functions. This feedback mechanism ensures that measurement and reporting activities are aligned with actual charging requirements, allowing the system to respond to changing conditions and adjust reporting behavior accordingly.
2Loss of information
If the user plane function sends usage reports whenever thresholds are reached, then reporting completeness is improved, but unnecessary invalid messages are generated when charging is already paused
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the control plane function send a pause indication to user plane functions before charging actually pauses. This advance notification allows user plane functions to proactively suspend threshold-based reporting activities, preventing the generation of unnecessary invalid messages while ensuring that no legitimate reporting opportunities are missed.
3Reliability
If usage reporting rules are continuously active, then monitoring reliability is improved, but resource consumption increases during paused charging periods
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the monitoring function by separating the control plane from user plane operations. The control plane function maintains awareness of charging status and manages reporting rules, while user plane functions execute measurements and reporting under controlled conditions. This segmentation allows reliable monitoring to be maintained at the control plane level while reducing processing load at the user plane level during paused periods.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide method and apparatus for session management. A method at a control plane function comprises generating an information element to indicate a number of reports that the user plane function can send a usage report to the control plane function. The method further comprises sending the information element to the user plane function.