UE Registration Policy Request for PCF Service Support Feedback
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
There is no existing procedure for a user equipment (UE) to request policy provisioning for services like Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) or Proximity based Services (ProSe) at the time of registration in a mobile network, leading to uncertainty about the Policy Control Function's (PCF) support for these services.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a UE transmitting a registration request message with a requested UE policies information element, starting a timer, and upon timer expiration without a policy message, sending a UE policy provisioning request message to ensure policy provisioning is requested at the time of registration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the UE uses the existing UE-requested state indication procedure at registration time, then the procedure is simple and uses a single message, but the UE cannot determine whether the PCF supports the requested services (V2X/ProSe)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a two-way communication mechanism where the UE sends a policy provisioning request and waits for a response from the PCF within a timer interval. The PCF's response (either granting or rejecting the policy request) provides feedback that enables the UE to determine whether the PCF supports the requested services. This resolves the information asymmetry problem while maintaining procedural efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs the policy provisioning request at the time of UE registration, before the UE engages in service-specific procedures. By initiating the policy request early in the registration phase, the UE can determine PCF service support capabilities upfront, avoiding later uncertainties and enabling more efficient service setup.
2Reliability
If the UE requests policy provisioning after successful registration using existing procedures, then the UE can obtain policies for V2X/ProSe services, but the request cannot be made at the time of registration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the registration procedure to include a policy provisioning request sent by the UE to the PCF during the registration phase. This preliminary action allows the UE to request policies before completing full service setup, reducing the overall time required for service provisioning and eliminating the need for separate post-registration policy requests.
3Loss of information
If the network implements a two-way communication mechanism for policy requests at registration, then the UE can determine PCF service support, but the procedure complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the policy provisioning request with the existing registration procedure by having the UE send the policy request in the same signaling flow used for registration. The PCF responds within the same procedure context, combining multiple functions (registration and policy request) into a single integrated procedure. This reduces overall procedure complexity compared to separate independent requests.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a timer mechanism that dynamically controls the policy request procedure. The UE starts a timer after sending the policy request and stops it upon receiving the PCF's response. This dynamic timing control allows the system to adapt to different network conditions and response times, managing complexity through structured temporal control rather than rigid procedural steps.
Data Source
AI summary
Various aspects of the present disclosure relate to techniques for user equipment policy management. A method includes transmitting, to a first network entity, a registration request message comprising a requested UE policies information element, the registration request message identifying a second network entity; receiving, from the first network entity, a registration accept message; starting a first timer; and if a policy message is received from the second network entity via the first network entity before the first timer has reached a first time threshold, stopping the first timer or transmitting, to the second network entity via the first network entity, a reply message; or if the first timer has reached the first time threshold without a policy message being received from the second network entity via the first network entity, transmitting, to the second network entity via the first network entity, a UE policy provisioning request message.