SGW IP Attribute Notification for Accurate Charging

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In the Evolved Packet Core (EPC) network, a new Serving Gateway (SGW) cannot learn the attribute of a User Equipment's (UE) IP address in a timely manner, leading to inaccurate charging by the Charging Gateway Function (CGF) entity.

Innovation Solution

The method involves notifying the attribute of the UE's IP address during session establishment and mobility management procedures, ensuring the new SGW receives this information promptly, allowing the CGF to accurately charge the UE based on the IP address attribute.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If the new SGW is taken as the UE's SGW during mobility management, then mobility management is improved, but the new SGW cannot learn the attribute of the UE's IP address in time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemobility management speedVSAvoidtime to learn IP address attribute
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The MME includes the UE's IP address attribute information in the session establishment request message before the SGW needs to use it for charging. This preliminary inclusion ensures the SGW receives the attribute information proactively during the handover process, eliminating the time delay that would otherwise occur when the SGW needs to query the PGW separately.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Device complexity

If the SGW does not have the UE's IP address attribute information, then the network architecture is simplified, but charging accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveSGW information storageVSAvoidcharging accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The MME acts as an intermediary that collects the UE's IP address attribute information from the HSS and includes it in the session establishment request message to the SGW. This intermediary role ensures the SGW receives accurate charging information without the SGW needing to maintain complex storage mechanisms for all UE attributes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2736282B1Method, system and SGW for realizing IP address attribute notification
Publication Date: 2018.05.30 ZTE CORP
  • EP2736282B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2736282B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2736282B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A method and a system for notifying an attribute of an Internet Protocol (IP) address and a Serving Gateway (SGW) are disclosed. When an SGW is taken as a User Equipment's (UE's) SGW, the new SGW can be notified of an attribute of the UE's IP address. The technology of notifying an attribute of an IP address in the disclosure can ensure that the new SGW can learn the attribute of the UE's IP address in time when the new SGW is taken as the UE's SGW Therefore, a charging gateway function entity connected with the new SGW can accurately charge the UE according to the attribute of the IP address.