Visited Network Route Selection Policy Rules
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing UE Route Selection Policy (URSP) rules are only set by the Home PLMN and applied universally by a UE without regard for the registered PLMN, leading to potential conflicts and inefficiencies due to differing traffic profiles among PLMNs.
Innovation Solution
Implement procedures in network nodes and user equipment to dynamically determine and apply route selection policy rules based on the specific wireless communication network the UE is connected to, by receiving an indication of required rules and sending policy delivery requests with lists of applicable network identities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If URSP rules are set universally by the Home PLMN and applied in all visited networks, then the UE can maintain consistent routing policies across different networks, but the rules may not be optimal for specific visited networks with different traffic profiles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments URSP rules into two distinct types: home PLMN URSP rules (provisioned by H-PCF) and visited PLMN URSP rules (provisioned by V-PCF). This segmentation allows each type of rule to be optimized for its specific network context, with home rules providing default routing and visited rules providing network-specific optimizations, thereby resolving the contradiction between adaptability and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic URSP rule application based on the UE's current registration status. The UE dynamically switches between applying home PLMN URSP rules and visited PLMN URSP rules depending on whether it is registered in the home network or a visited network. This dynamic behavior enables adaptability to different network environments without requiring complex static configuration management.
2Reliability
If the UE applies home PLMN URSP rules in visited networks, then the UE maintains routing policies from its home network, but conflicts may arise when visited networks have different traffic profiles and routing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by allowing visited PLMNs to provision their own URSP rules that are specifically tailored to their network's traffic profiles and routing requirements. The V-PCF can create rules that match the local network characteristics, eliminating conflicts that would arise from applying home PLMN rules in visited networks with different requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the V-PCF receives information about the UE's registration in the visited network and responds by provisioning appropriate visited PLMN URSP rules. This feedback loop ensures that the correct rules are applied in the correct network context, preventing rule conflicts and maintaining reliable route selection.
3Productivity
If the Home PLMN provisions URSP rules for multiple visited networks, then the UE can use optimized routing policies in those networks, but the Home PLMN loses control over which networks can use its provided rules
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces the visited PLMN as an intermediary that receives and provisions URSP rules to the UE. Instead of the home PLMN directly controlling rule application in visited networks, the V-PCF acts as a mediator that provisions both home PLMN URSP rules (when authorized) and visited PLMN URSP rules, thereby maintaining home PLMN control while enabling efficient routing in visited networks.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the UE uses only URSP rules signaled by the PCF of the SNPN access, then the UE can access the SNPN network, but the UE cannot use operator services that require routing to the HPLMN
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges home PLMN URSP rules with visited PLMN URSP rules in the UE's rule set. The UE maintains both types of rules and applies the appropriate ones based on its registration status. This merging enables the UE to access SNPN networks using visited rules while retaining the ability to route operator services to the HPLMN using home rules, thereby resolving the contradiction between access capability and service reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a network node in a first wireless communication network, the network node comprising a receiver a processor and a transmitter. The receiver is arranged to receive an indication from a user equipment apparatus that the user equipment apparatus requires route selection policy rules, wherein the user equipment apparatus is a subscriber to the first wireless communication network. The processor is arranged to determine a list of network identities, each network identity identifying a wireless communication network that the network node is authorized to set route selection policy rules for the user equipment apparatus to apply when connected to the wireless communication network. The transmitter is arranged to send at least one route selection policy rule to the user equipment apparatus together with a policy delivery request, wherein the policy delivery request includes the list of network identities for which route selection policy rules provisioned from the network node must be applied.