Virtualized Policy Charging System Adaptability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies face challenges in efficiently managing service plans, subscriber provisioning, and fraud detection in mobile operator networks, particularly in integrating with diverse network architectures and protocols.
Innovation Solution
The Service Controller platform provides a set of APIs and interfaces that enable seamless interaction with various network elements, allowing for real-time management of service plans, subscriber provisioning, and fraud detection across different network architectures and protocols.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional network management systems are used to manage service plans and subscriber provisioning, then integration with existing network infrastructure is maintained, but the system lacks scalability and adaptability to diverse network architectures and protocols
Solution Approach 1:
The Service Controller is designed as a universal platform that can interact with multiple network elements (GGSN, HSS, PCRF, OCS) through standardized APIs. It provides protocol translation capabilities and supports diverse charging models (online, offline, hybrid) within a single system architecture, enabling one system to serve multiple network functions and architectures.
Solution Approach 2:
The Service Controller acts as an intermediary layer between network elements and service management functions. It provides abstraction through standardized interfaces, translating between different network protocols and service management requirements, thereby simplifying integration with diverse network architectures without increasing overall system complexity.
2Reliability
If real-time fraud detection and service plan management are implemented across multiple network elements, then fraud detection capability is enhanced, but the operational complexity and resource consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The Service Controller consolidates multiple management functions (service plan management, subscriber provisioning, fraud detection, charging) into a single unified platform. This merging of functions reduces operational complexity by providing centralized control while maintaining enhanced fraud detection capabilities through coordinated monitoring of multiple network elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements real-time feedback mechanisms where the Service Controller continuously monitors usage data from network elements, compares it against service plan rules and fraud detection criteria, and dynamically adjusts service delivery and charging parameters. This automated feedback loop enhances fraud detection while reducing manual operational complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple charging models (online, offline, hybrid) are supported simultaneously, then service flexibility is improved, but the system complexity and management overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The Service Controller implements dynamic charging model selection that can adapt to different service scenarios, subscriber types, and network conditions. The system can switch between online, offline, and hybrid charging models based on service requirements, providing flexibility while managing complexity through automated decision-making algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system manages multiple charging models by parameterizing service plans with configurable attributes that define charging behavior. By changing parameters such as charging frequency, reporting intervals, and authorization thresholds, the system can flexibly support different charging models without requiring separate management procedures for each model.
4Reliability
If the Service Controller is deployed as a distributed system across multiple locations, then system reliability and fault tolerance are improved, but the integration complexity and synchronization requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The Service Controller is designed as a distributed system that can be segmented into multiple independent instances deployed across different locations. Each instance maintains local state and can operate autonomously, improving reliability through redundancy while reducing integration complexity by minimizing inter-instance communication requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses copying mechanisms where service plan rules, subscriber profiles, and fraud detection criteria are replicated across distributed instances. This ensures consistency and reduces synchronization complexity by allowing instances to operate with local copies while maintaining eventual consistency through standardized update protocols.
Data Source
AI summary
A network system for providing one or more services to one or more end-user devices communicatively coupled to the network system over a wireless access network. The network system includes a policy enforcement function, a policy element, and a network element communicatively coupled to the policy enforcement function and the policy element, and configured to communicate policy information between the policy enforcement function and the policy element, the policy element includes a virtual policy element instance or thread that executes in a policy element cloud system, and the network element includes a load balancer configured to select or assign the virtual policy element instance or thread for communication of the policy information.