5G Traffic Routing Control with Fine-Grained UE Policy Matching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication technologies in 5G edge computing fail to provide traffic routing control with sufficient granularity, leading to suboptimal service latency and user experience, as they lack the ability to differentiate and manage user equipment (UE) groups effectively.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a network function (NF) such as PCF that receives and matches service-specific information of UEs with traffic routing information to generate policies for finer granularity traffic control, using service information like application client categories, allowance indications, and application identifiers to influence session management for optimized routing decisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traffic offload policy is provided per group using existing mechanisms, then basic traffic routing control is achieved, but the granularity is insufficient for fine-grained UE management
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the policy management system into distinct network functions: Application Function (AF) for service-level policy definition, Network Exposure Function (NEF) for secure information exposure, and Policy Control Function (PCF) for detailed policy enforcement. This segmentation enables fine-grained traffic routing control per UE while distributing system complexity across specialized components rather than concentrating it in a single monolithic system.
Solution Approach 2:
The Network Exposure Function (NEF) serves as an intermediary between the AF and PCF. It receives service information from the AF, applies security policies and authentication, then exposes the processed information to the PCF. This intermediary layer enables fine-grained policy control while managing the complexity of information flow and security requirements between different network functions.
2Measurement precision
If service information is exposed directly from AF to PCF, then fine-grained control is achieved, but security and authentication requirements increase complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The NEF acts as a secure intermediary between the AF and PCF. It receives service information from the AF, performs authentication and security policy verification, then selectively exposes the validated information to the PCF. This intermediary approach enables fine-grained service control while centralizing security management functions, reducing the overall system complexity compared to implementing security checks at every interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the NEF provides authentication results and security validation status back to both the AF and PCF. This feedback loop enables dynamic policy adjustment based on security status, allowing fine-grained control while maintaining manageable security complexity through automated validation and response protocols.
3Reliability
If traffic routing is optimized for specific UE groups, then user experience improves, but the complexity of matching and managing service information increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments service information into distinct categories: service level information (from AF), UE-specific information (from UDM), and policy rules (in PCF). This segmentation enables systematic matching between UE characteristics and appropriate service levels, improving QoS delivery while managing complexity through structured information organization rather than unstructured comprehensive matching.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual or rule-based information matching with automated network function processing. The NEF automatically retrieves, validates, and matches service information with UE data, while the PCF automatically enforces matching policies. This automation substitutes complex mechanical matching processes with standardized network function interactions, improving QoS while keeping system complexity manageable through procedural automation.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present application relate to a method and apparatus of traffic routing control. An exemplary method includes: receive or retrieve service specific information of a user equipment (UE) requesting to access an application; match the service specific information of the UE with service information for a set of UEs, wherein the service information is associated with traffic routing information targeting the set of UEs; and transmit a traffic routing policy based on the service information and the traffic routing information to influence a receiving NF of session management for routing decisions for traffic.