V-PCRF IP Flow Mobility Reporting in Roaming Scenarios
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems lack a comprehensive solution for policy and charging control in supporting IP flow mobility, particularly in a roaming scenario, especially for Visited Access (VA) roaming scenarios known as Local Breakout, where optimizing policy and charging control is a challenge.
Innovation Solution
A policy and charging control method and system that includes a Visited Policy and Charging Rules Function (V-PCRF) reporting IP flow mobility routing rule information to a Home Policy and Charging Rules Function (H-PCRF) for installing, modifying, or removing IP flow mobility routing rules, with the ability to handle local IP flow mobility if the H-PCRF does not subscribe to specific event triggers, thereby reducing signaling overhead.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the V-PCRF always reports IP flow mobility routing rule information to the H-PCRF, then policy control consistency is improved, but signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic reporting by the V-PCRF to the H-PCRF based on event triggers. The V-PCRF only reports IP flow mobility routing rule information when specific events occur (such as installation, modification, or removal of routing rules), rather than continuously or unconditionally reporting. This dynamic approach maintains policy control consistency while significantly reducing unnecessary signaling overhead during normal operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The V-PCRF is designed to autonomously determine when reporting to the H-PCRF is necessary based on predefined event triggers. The system enables the V-PCRF to self-manage the reporting process by monitoring its own state changes and initiating reports only when required, reducing dependency on constant H-PCRF intervention and minimizing signaling overhead.
2Loss of energy
If the V-PCRF handles IP flow mobility locally without H-PCRF interaction, then signaling overhead is reduced, but policy control capability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the policy control functionality between the V-PCRF and H-PCRF. The V-PCRF handles local IP flow mobility management and routine operations autonomously, while the H-PCRF maintains overall policy authority and receives reports only when necessary. This segmentation enables local handling to reduce signaling overhead while preserving comprehensive policy control capability through the H-PCRF's oversight role.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary configuration by establishing event triggers and reporting mechanisms in advance. The V-PCRF is pre-configured with knowledge of which events require H-PCRF notification, enabling it to handle routine matters locally while automatically escalating appropriate events. This preliminary setup ensures both reduced signaling overhead and maintained policy control capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A policy and charging control method for supporting IP flow mobility in a roaming scenario includes: when a Visited Policy and Charging Rules Function (V-PCRF) receives IP flow mobility routing rule information reported by a Policy and Charging Enforcement Function (PCEF), and if a Home Policy and Charging Rules Function (H-PCRF) subscribes to an IP-CAN type change (IP-CAN_CHANGE) event trigger or to an access node gateway change (AN_GW_CHANGE) event trigger, the V-PCRF reporting the IP flow mobility routing rule information to the H-PCRF. With the present method, a visited network can execute the IP flow mobility locally, or compared with a method in which an interaction with the H-PCRF is required at any time, signaling overhead between the V-PCRF and the H-PCRF can be saved.