SMF Dynamic Packet Filter Generation for 5G IoT Coexistence
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current procedures for supporting Internet of Things (IoT) over 5G systems, specifically for detecting IoT-related Downlink Data Delivery (DDD) status and availability after Downlink Data Notification (DDN) failure events, do not effectively coexist with policy and charging control (PCC), as they lack integration with packet filters and priority management.
Innovation Solution
The Session Management Function (SMF) dynamically generates packet detection rules (PDRs) with higher priorities, associating them with notification actions for DDD and DDN events, ensuring proper handling and reporting of packets, even when PCC is used, by reusing or creating new PDRs with reserved priority values.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If PCC rules are used for packet filtering and policy control, then policy management and charging control are improved, but the ability to dynamically generate packet filters at SMF for IoT events is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the packet filtering functionality by introducing a priority field that divides PDRs into different tiers: PCC rules (higher priorities 1-7) and dynamically generated packet filters for IoT events (lower priorities 8-15). This segmentation allows both PCC and dynamic filters to coexist without conflict, each operating in their designated priority range while maintaining independent control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter structure of PDRs by adding a priority field and reserving specific priority ranges (8-15) for dynamically generated packet filters. This parameter change enables the SMF to distinguish between PCC rules and dynamic filters, allowing simultaneous operation of both PCC-based policy control and SMF-generated packet filters for IoT event detection without interference.
2Reliability
If packet filters are dynamically generated at SMF, then IoT event detection capability is improved, but integration with existing PCC framework becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the PDR structure universal by designing it to accommodate both PCC rules and dynamically generated packet filters through a common framework. The unified PDR structure with priority-based differentiation allows the same data structure to serve multiple functions: PCC-based policy control and SMF-generated IoT event detection, enabling seamless integration without requiring separate mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the PDR parameter set by introducing a priority field with reserved ranges, allowing the same PDR structure to represent both PCC rules (priorities 1-7) and dynamic IoT filters (priorities 8-15). This parameter extension enables the SMF to generate dynamic packet filters that are fully compatible with the existing PCC framework while maintaining distinct operational characteristics.
3Speed
If priority values are assigned to PDRs, then packet handling priority is improved, but conflict between PCC rules and dynamic filters arises
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the priority value space into distinct ranges: PCC rules occupy priorities 1-7 while dynamically generated packet filters for IoT events use priorities 8-15. This segmentation prevents priority conflicts by ensuring that PCC rules and dynamic filters operate in separate priority tiers, with PCC rules always taking precedence due to their higher priority values.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the priority parameter allocation by reserving specific ranges (1-7 for PCC, 8-15 for dynamic filters) rather than allowing overlapping or conflicting assignments. This parameter reservation strategy ensures that packet handling priority is maintained for both PCC rules and dynamic filters without causing conflicts, as the SMF only generates filters with priorities in the reserved 8-15 range.
Data Source
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AI summary
Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for UPF control with coexistence of policy control and packet filters dynamically generated at the SMF. For example, if the SMF obtains an event subscription with traffic descriptors from another entity, and if there is no installed PDR with the same traffic descriptor, the SMF may construct a PDR with an action according to the subscribed event. The SMF may configure the UPF with the constructed PDR. In certain embodiments, to construct the PDR, the SMF may copy the PDR that would have previously matched the incoming traffic described by the traffic descriptor in the notification subscription, and associates the PDR with a higher priority, the traffic descriptor and a notification action according to the subscribed event. To configure the UPF, the SMF may provide the PDR with the higher priority, the received traffic descriptor, and the notification action, according to some embodiments.