UPF Traffic Redirection via Pre-installed PCC Rules
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mobile phone network architectures face significant signal congestion due to frequent redirection of traffic rules, leading to excessive signaling traffic and network overload, particularly when rules are updated or changed based on user quotas or congestion thresholds.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system where the Policy and Charging Function/Policy and Charging Rule Function (PCF/PCRF) supplies both PCC rules contemporaneously to the Control Plane, which installs corresponding User Plane rules with timers, allowing the User Plane Function (UPF) to analyze traffic flows and perform redirection only when necessary, reducing repetitive rule installations and signaling traffic.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traffic redirection rules are frequently updated and reinstalled based on network conditions and user quotas, then traffic management flexibility is improved, but signaling traffic volume increases causing network congestion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-installing multiple PCC rules (PCCRule1, PCCRule2, etc.) in the CP equipment before they are needed. When a rule becomes active, the corresponding UP rule is already available for immediate installation on the UP equipment, eliminating the need for repeated rule transmission and reducing signaling traffic while maintaining the ability to respond to changing network conditions
2Measurement precision
If the UP equipment queries the CP equipment for every new packet to determine redirection rules, then traffic routing accuracy is improved, but signaling overhead increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by preliminarily installing the UPRule on the UP equipment along with the PCCRule in the CP. The UP equipment receives the rule installation message containing both the PCC rule and the corresponding UP rule, allowing it to execute redirection decisions locally without querying the CP for each packet, thus maintaining routing accuracy while dramatically reducing signaling overhead
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where the CP equipment acts as a mediator that pre-processes and bundles PCC rules with their corresponding UP rules into rule installation messages. This intermediary action allows the UP equipment to obtain all necessary redirection information in advance, eliminating the need for continuous querying and reducing the signaling burden while maintaining accurate traffic routing
3Measurement precision
If the PCF/PCRF continuously activates and removes PCC rules to manage user quotas and congestion, then traffic control precision is improved, but network stability deteriorates due to continuous rule changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the PCF/PCRF pre-install multiple PCC rules (PCCRule1, PCCRule2, PCCRule3, etc.) in the CP equipment before they are needed. When a rule becomes active, the corresponding UP rule is already available for immediate installation, eliminating the need for continuous rule activation and removal cycles. This maintains precise traffic control while significantly improving network stability by reducing the frequency of rule changes
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the continuous periodic activation and removal of rules into a more stable periodic structure where multiple rules are pre-installed and simply activated/deactivated as needed. This reduces the disruptive impact of rule changes on network stability while maintaining the precision of traffic control through timely rule activation
Data Source
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AI summary
Minimizing signaling traffic between a User Plane (UP) and a Control Plane (CP), where Policy and Charging Function / Policy and Charging Rule Function (PCF/PCRF) software transmits a first and a second Policy and Charging Control rule (PCCRule1 and PCCRule2) to CP equipment. The CP equipment installs both PCCRule1 and PCCRule2 on UP equipment as UPRule1 and UPRule2 respectively, where UPRule1 is set as active during a first time period and the UPRule2 set as active during a second time period. User Plane Function (UPF) software matching data traffic with a Packet Detection Rule (PDR) to generate identified traffic during the first and second time periods and automatically redirecting data traffic to a predetermined location at the expiration of the first and second time periods respectively. UPRule1 and UPRule2 are automatically enabled and disabled alternatively after expiration of their respective timers by the UPF software.