UPF Event Exposure for Sponsored Data Charging in 5G
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems lack efficient methods for managing sponsored data services, particularly in 5G and beyond, which require enhanced UPF event exposure services for accurate charging and resource allocation.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a UPF event exposure service in a wireless communication system that allows for sponsored data services by enabling a user plane function (UPF) to monitor and report usage to a charging function (CHF) through network entities like NEF and NRF, facilitating subscription and discovery of UPFs supporting this service.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional charging methods are used in 5G networks, then system simplicity is maintained, but accurate monitoring and reporting of sponsored data usage cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The charging system is segmented into multiple specialized functions: UPF for data plane processing and usage monitoring, CHF for charging management, and NEF for event exposure. This segmentation allows each component to focus on specific tasks, enabling accurate sponsored data usage monitoring while maintaining overall system manageability through clear functional boundaries.
Solution Approach 2:
The NEF (Network Exposure Function) acts as an intermediary between the UPF and external charging systems. It exposes UPF events and usage information to external entities without requiring complex direct integration between monitoring and charging components, thus enabling precise usage reporting while simplifying system architecture through standardized interfaces.
2Reliability
If UPF event exposure service is implemented for sponsored data services, then charging accuracy is improved, but network entity complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The UPF event exposure service is designed with universal interfaces that can serve multiple purposes: sponsored data charging, standard data charging, and future charging models. The NEF provides a universal event exposure mechanism that can report various UPF events (data usage, session establishment, etc.) to different external systems, enhancing charging reliability without requiring separate specialized systems for each charging scenario.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses configurable parameters in subscription requests to control the level of detail and frequency of usage reports. By adjusting parameters such as reporting thresholds, time intervals, and event types, the system can optimize between charging accuracy and network entity complexity based on specific service requirements, allowing flexible adaptation to different reliability needs.
3Manufacturing precision
If detailed usage monitoring is performed for sponsored data, then resource allocation accuracy is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The UPF performs preliminary monitoring and aggregation of usage data as data flows through the network, preparing usage reports in advance before charging decisions are required. This preliminary action allows the CHF to receive pre-processed usage information, enabling accurate resource allocation without adding significant processing delays at the charging decision point.
Solution Approach 2:
The usage monitoring is performed continuously in the background by the UPF as part of its normal data plane processing, without interrupting the data flow or requiring separate processing steps. This continuous monitoring ensures accurate resource allocation information is available while minimizing additional processing time, as the UPF leverages its existing data inspection capabilities for charging purposes.
Data Source
AI summary
A method performed by a UPF for processing sponsored data in a wireless communication system is provided. The method comprises receiving, from a NEF, a subscription request message for subscribing to a UPF event exposure service based on the NEF receiving a charging generation request from an AF providing a sponsored data service, performing, based on information included in the subscription request message, a sponsored charging monitoring operation on the sponsored data provided to a UE from the AF, and transmitting, based on the sponsored charging monitoring operation, a usage report message to a CHF for the sponsored data, the CHF being in charge of charging processing.