Unified TDF Session for Dual-Stack IP-CAN Application Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing IP-CAN session technologies do not effectively manage dual-stack scenarios, leading to resource wastage and increased signaling overhead due to the need for separate TDF sessions for IPv4 and IPv6 address detection and control within the same session.
Innovation Solution
The method involves informing the TDF of an IPv4 address via a TDF session established for an IP-CAN session supporting dual stack, allowing the TDF to perform application detection and control using ADC rules applied to both IPv4 and IPv6 addresses within a single TDF session, thereby eliminating the need for multiple TDF sessions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate TDF sessions are established for IPv4 and IPv6 address detection in dual-stack IP-CAN sessions, then application detection and control can be performed for both address types, but resource utilization decreases and signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the TDF session management for IPv4 and IPv6 addresses into a single unified session. Instead of establishing separate TDF sessions for each address type in dual-stack scenarios, the system creates one TDF session that handles both IPv4 and IPv6 address detection and control, thereby reducing resource consumption while maintaining full detection capability
Solution Approach 2:
The TDF session is designed to be universal and multi-functional, capable of handling application detection and control for both IPv4 and IPv6 addresses within a single session. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate specialized sessions for each address type, optimizing resource utilization
2Reliability
If separate TDF sessions are established for IPv4 and IPv6 address detection in dual-stack IP-CAN sessions, then application detection and control can be performed for both address types, but signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the signaling processes for IPv4 and IPv6 TDF session management into a single unified signaling flow. By merging the session establishment, modification, and termination signaling for both address types into one process, the system significantly reduces the amount of signaling overhead while ensuring that application detection and control functionality is maintained for dual-stack scenarios
3Loss of energy
If a single TDF session is used for dual-stack IP-CAN sessions, then resource utilization improves and signaling overhead reduces, but the system must manage multiple IP addresses within one session
Solution Approach 1:
The TDF session structure is enhanced to be universal and multi-functional, capable of accommodating multiple IP addresses (both IPv4 and IPv6) within a single session. The session management mechanism is designed to handle multiple addresses through unified procedures, avoiding the need for separate sessions while maintaining manageable complexity through standardized multi-address support
Data Source
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AI summary
The disclosure provides a method and a system for realizing application detection and control in an IP-Connectivity Access Network (IP-CAN) session supporting dual stack. The method includes: a Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) informs a Traffic Detection Function (TDF) of an IPv4 address via a TDF session established for the IP-CAN session if a gateway where the PCEF is located or another external network element allocates the IPv4 address according to a request of the UE and the UE accesses a service using the IPv4 address, after the UE establishes the IP-CAN session and accesses a service using an IPv6 address in the IP-CAN session supporting dual stack; and the TDF performs application detection and control on traffic, of which the source address and/or the destination address is/are the IPv4 address, according to an Application Detection and Control (ADC) rule related to the TDF session. With the method of the disclosure, the PCRF will no longer initiate a request for establishing a new TDF session, in this way, the service detection for one same IP-CAN session needs to be reported via one same TDF session only, thus, resources are saved and signalling overhead is reduced.