UMTS Gateway for QoS Session Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current UMTS specifications require special versions of application software to implement interfaces for session control in wireless communication networks, which standard PCs with standard applications cannot support, limiting their ability to manage packet flows with different QoS parameters for various applications.

Innovation Solution

Applying stateful inspection in UTRA systems to detect application-specific packet flows and create PDP contexts with required QoS parameters, allowing standard PCs to manage packet sessions without explicit application software cooperation by using stateful inspection session monitors to activate secondary PDP contexts for specific services like email downloads and VoIP sessions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If special versions of application software are used to implement interfaces for session control, then packet flows with different QoS parameters can be managed, but standard PCs with standard applications cannot support such interfaces

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveQoS management capabilityVSAvoidsoftware interface requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A gateway entity is introduced as an intermediary between the application layer and the network layer. This gateway monitors application traffic, detects session establishment patterns, and automatically creates appropriate PDP contexts with suitable QoS parameters. This intermediary approach allows standard applications to benefit from QoS management without requiring modified software, as the gateway translates application traffic patterns into network-level session control actions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements self-service by having the gateway automatically monitor application traffic and autonomously create PDP contexts based on detected session patterns. Instead of requiring applications to explicitly request QoS services or implement special interfaces, the gateway observes traffic characteristics and automatically configures appropriate packet data protocol contexts, enabling standard PCs to receive QoS management services without modification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If tight coupling between applications and mobile device is implemented for session control, then QoS characteristics can be communicated, but standard PCs cannot support the required interfaces

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveQoS parameter communicationVSAvoidplatform compatibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The gateway acts as a mediator that decouples the tight coupling requirement between applications and mobile devices. It monitors application traffic at the network layer and infers QoS requirements from traffic patterns, eliminating the need for applications to directly communicate QoS characteristics through special interfaces. This allows standard PCs with conventional applications to benefit from reliable QoS parameter communication without platform-specific modifications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of having applications explicitly communicate QoS requirements to the network (the conventional approach requiring special interfaces), the system inverts the approach by having the gateway monitor application traffic and automatically determine QoS parameters from observed traffic patterns. This inversion eliminates the need for application-level interface changes while maintaining reliable QoS communication.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Adaptability or versatility

If application-specific packet flows are monitored and PDP contexts are created, then QoS parameters can be applied to different services, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice-specific QoS applicationVSAvoidsession monitoring and context management

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The gateway combines multiple functions into a single entity: application traffic monitoring, session pattern detection, PDP context creation, and QoS parameter management. By merging these previously separate functions into one integrated gateway component, the system achieves service-specific QoS application capability while minimizing the increase in overall system complexity, as the gateway handles all these tasks through unified processing logic.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS8068421B2Arrangement and method for session control in wireless communication network

Publication Date: 2011.11.29 INTELLECTUAL VENTURES II LLC

AI summary

An arrangement and method for session control in a wireless UMTS radio access network (100) by performing creation and deletion of application-specific packet sessions (PDP contexts) in the network, with application-specific QoS parameters, without requiring the explicit cooperation of the application software (either via software API or modem AT command). This allows session set-up and tear-down control of dedicated packet sessions for particular data services, in a UMTS 3G mobile wireless network, with application-specific QoS parameters, with umodified applications operating over the network.