UPF Pre-configured Profiles for Detection Rules

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current systems face challenges in efficiently handling large numbers of detection and enforcement rules, leading to increased signaling bandwidth consumption, delayed session establishment, and scalability issues for Control Plane Functions (CPF).

Innovation Solution

Implementing a method where the User Plane Function (UPF) pre-configures profiles for sets of detection and enforcement rules, allowing bulk provisioning and minimizing the need for individual rule installations during session establishment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If individual detection and enforcement rules are installed during session establishment, then the system can handle diverse traffic requirements, but signaling bandwidth consumption increases and session establishment time is delayed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to handle diverse traffic requirementsVSAvoidsession establishment time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent pre-configures detection and enforcement rules in the UPF before session establishment. The UPF receives a pre-configuration message containing multiple rules from the CPF, stores them locally, and can quickly activate them during session setup without waiting for individual rule provisioning. This preliminary action significantly reduces session establishment time while maintaining the ability to handle diverse traffic requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If individual detection and enforcement rules are installed during session establishment, then the system can handle diverse traffic requirements, but signaling bandwidth consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to handle diverse traffic requirementsVSAvoidsignaling bandwidth consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple individual detection and enforcement rules into a single pre-configuration message that is sent from the CPF to the UPF. Instead of transmitting each rule separately during session establishment, the system combines them into one bulk provisioning message, significantly reducing signaling bandwidth consumption while maintaining full adaptability to diverse traffic requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If the CPF provisions a large number of detection and enforcement rules, then comprehensive traffic control is achieved, but the scalability requirements and CAPEX for the CPF increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomprehensive traffic controlVSAvoidscalability requirements for CPF

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the system into two functional parts: the CPF maintains a database of detection and enforcement rules, while the UPF performs the actual rule activation and packet processing. This segmentation allows the CPF to provision rules in bulk without handling individual rule installations, reducing its processing burden and scalability requirements while maintaining comprehensive traffic control capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The UPF is designed to autonomously activate pre-configured rules based on session parameters without requiring the CPF to individually provision each rule. The UPF receives a pre-configuration message, stores the rules locally, and automatically activates them when needed, making the system self-sufficient and reducing the complexity and CAPEX requirements for the CPF.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3900262B1Functions and methods for handling pre-configured profiles for sets of detection and enforcement rules

Publication Date: 2025.06.18 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3

AI summary

The embodiments herein relate to a method performed by a UPF (303) for handling pre- configured profiles for sets of detection and enforcement rules. The UPF (303) comprises one or more pre-configured profiles applicable to any user session. Each pre-configured profile comprises a set of detection and enforcement rules. Each pre-configured profile comprises a profile ID and the set of detection or enforcement rules. The UPF (303) receives, from a CPF (301) a first request for session establishment comprising at least one indication for profile activation. The at least one indication profile activation comprises the profile ID of the pre-configured profile to be activated. The UPF (303) establishes the session indicated in the first request. For the established session, the UPF (303) activates the at least one pre-configured profile identified by the profile ID by instantiating the set of detection and enforcement rules for the pre-configured profile.