Unified Data Repository CHF-Group-ID Provisioning for 5G Signaling Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current 5G network configuration standards lack definitions for Charging Function (CHF) consumers to understand or utilize the CHF-Group-ID, which is essential for discovering the appropriate CHF instance and sending network traffic data, especially in regional segmentation scenarios.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves provisioning the Unified Data Repository (UDR) with CHF-Group-ID details for each subscriber, allowing CHF consumers to obtain the CHF-Group-ID as part of the subscriber profile during Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session establishment, thereby eliminating the need for additional signaling or steps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If CHF consumers use traditional discovery methods to find CHF instances in regional segmentation scenarios, then they can discover CHF instances, but additional signaling between network functions is required and the process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines CHF instance identification information with the subscriber profile data in the UDR. When a CHF consumer retrieves subscriber profile information, they simultaneously obtain the CHF-Group-ID without requiring separate discovery signaling. This merging eliminates additional communication steps between network functions while ensuring accurate CHF instance identification for regional segmentation scenarios.
2Loss of information
If CHF consumers retrieve subscriber profile information from UDR, then they obtain subscriber data, but they do not obtain CHF-Group-ID for CHF instance identification
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the CHF-Group-ID with subscriber profile information in the UDR database. The CHF consumer performs a single information retrieval operation to obtain both subscriber profile data and CHF instance identification (CHF-Group-ID). This eliminates the need for separate discovery procedures while ensuring that all necessary information is available in one operation.
3Measurement precision
If multiple CHF instances are deployed for regional segmentation, then real-time consumption tracking accuracy improves, but data replication between CHFs increases system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements segmentation by deploying multiple CHF instances across different regional segments, with each CHF responsible for tracking consumption data for subscribers in its specific region. The UDR stores CHF-Group-ID information that enables CHF consumers to identify and communicate with the appropriate regional CHF instance, ensuring accurate real-time tracking without requiring complex data replication across all CHFs.
Solution Approach 2:
The UDR acts as an intermediary that stores and provides CHF-Group-ID information to CHF consumers. This intermediary enables CHF consumers to automatically identify the correct regional CHF instance for a given subscriber without requiring complex routing logic or data replication mechanisms. The UDR mediates between the CHF consumer and multiple regional CHF instances, simplifying the overall system architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods described herein enable distribution of a Charging Function group identifier (“CHF-Group-ID”) and other CHF selection data to CHF consumers during Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session establishment in a 5G network. A Unified Data Repository (UDR) is provisioned with CHF-Group-ID details for each subscriber of the network. In one aspect, during PDU session establishment, CHF consumers obtain CHF-Group-ID information as part of a subscriber profile that is provided to all CHF consumers. No additional step or hop is needed for the CHF consumers to obtain the CHF-Group-ID. Thus, regionally segmented CHFs can be implemented without replication of data between CHFs in different regional segments and without additional signaling between network functions.