SMF-UDM Total GFBR Control for 5G QoS Flow Admission

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the SMF continuously monitors the total GFBR in use for a UE and compares it against the authorized GFBR limit stored in the UDR. When a new GBR flow is requested, the system checks whether adding this flow would exceed the total authorized GFBR, and only allows the flow if resources are sufficient. This feedback-based admission control ensures service flexibility while preventing resource depletion.

The system performs preliminary action by pre-authorizing a total GFBR limit for each UE and storing it in the UDR before any GBR flows are established. The SMF retrieves this authorized limit and uses it to make admission decisions before allocating resources to new flows. This preliminary setup of resource boundaries enables flexible service deployment while guaranteeing resource allocation efficiency.

The patent leverages existing multi-functional network elements in the 5G architecture. The SMF, which already handles session management and QoS control, is extended to also manage total GFBR authorization. The UDR, which already stores subscriber data, is enhanced to store authorized GFBR limits. This universal use of existing components implements total GFBR control without adding significant system complexity.

The UDR acts as an intermediary between the SMF and the authorized GFBR limit stored in the database. When the SMF needs to check or update the authorized GFBR for a UE, it communicates with the UDR, which mediates the interaction between the control plane (SMF) and the data repository. This intermediary approach simplifies the system architecture by centralizing authorization data management.