KR20130019961A - Dynamic pcc provisioning control system, apparatus and method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A dynamic PCC(Policy And Charging Control) provisioning control system, a device, and a method are provided to implement limit inquiries with OCS(Online Charging System) only about CC(Charging Characteristic) defining the inquiring condition of the OCS, thereby reducing unnecessary PCC or OCS inquiries. CONSTITUTION: An HSS(Home Subscriber Server) or an HLR(Home Location Resister)(104) provides the registered CC information per subscriber of a terminal device connected to a communication network. A PDN-GW(Packet Data Network Gateway)(110) analyzes the characteristics of a call from the terminal device using the provided CC information. The PDN-GW implements the PCC against the call according to the PCC set-up information corresponding to the characteristics of the call. The PDN-GW previously stores a CC table in which the PCC set-up information is defined.

Description

DYNAMIC PCC PROVISIONING CONTROL SYSTEM, APPARATUS AND METHOD

The present invention relates to a policy & charging control (PCC) provisioning method in an Evolved Packet Core (EPC) network. In particular, in dynamic PCC provisioning control to minimize dynamic PCC provisioning in an EPC network, dynamic PCC control Receives session information required as CC information, applies dynamic PCC policy only to calls requiring dynamic PCC control, performs a policy & charging rule function (PCRF) query, and applies an online charging system (OCS) query condition. The present invention relates to a dynamic PCC provisioning control system, apparatus, and method for reducing the load of a communication network by reducing an unnecessary PCC or OCS query by performing a limit query with only a defined charging characteristic (CC).

3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) mobile communication systems based on Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) radio access technology are widely deployed around the world. HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access), which can be defined as the first evolutionary phase of WCDMA, provides 3GPP mobile communication system with highly competitive wireless access technology in the mid-term future.

However, as the requirements and expectations of users and operators continue to increase and competition for developing wireless access technologies continues, there is a need to evolve new technologies in 3GPP mobile communication systems in order to gain competitiveness in the future. Reduced cost per bit, increased service availability, the use of flexible frequency bands, simple structure and open interface, and adequate power consumption of the terminal are demanding requirements. In addition, the prevention of unnecessary latency in the network node and the efficient use of network resources can also promote the technology evolution in 3GPP.

In 3GPP Release 8, a Network Architecture called Evolved Packet Core (EPC) is described as one of mobile communication systems for meeting the above-mentioned requirements. EPC is a set of network nodes for 3GPP LTE (Long Term Evolution) system. The EPC evolves the core network of the existing 3GPP system architecture to support Evolved-UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN), which is an evolved RAN, And has an efficient network structure that simplifies the network node. A wireless communication system including an EPC and an E-UTRAN is called an EPS (Evolved Packet System).

The above EPC network is divided into three logical entities: Packet Data Network Gateway (PDN-GW), Serving Gateway (S-GW), and Mobility Management Entity (MME). Are separated.

First, in the user plane, the PDN-GW is a global mobility anchor for mobility between 3GPP access technology and non-3GPP access technology (such as CDMA2000, WiMAX, or WIFI) and a gateway to an external network. It is a session control and user plane that interworks with external internet network and non-3GPP network, and maintains routing information with S-GW and external network for packet service, tunneling and IP. Has routing function.

Next, as another user plane entity, the S-GW is a mobility anchor for mobility between 3GPP accesses (E-UTRAN, UTRAN, GERAN). S-GW is a session control and user plane node that handles payload traffic according to the established session, interworking with the access node (eNodeB) and the S1-U interface, and inter LTE / 3GPP handover ).

Next, the MME is a control plane entity that is responsible for mobility management of a terminal device (User Element: UE) moving between eNodeBs of different EUTRANs, and is also responsible for session management.

Korean Patent Application Publication No. 10-2010-0107075 Publication Date October 04, 2010 In a wireless communication system having multiple access nodes, a technology for maintaining a home address for a mobile node so that a home agent can establish an IP session is disclosed. It is. Republic of Korea Patent Application Publication No. 10-2010-0038563 Publication Date April 15, 2010 In the wireless local communication system in the method of localization of traffic, the first terminal and the second terminal to communicate with each other through the same PDN through a different serving gateway A technique for establishing a data transmission tunnel up to -GW is disclosed.

Meanwhile, in the above EPC network, in performing PCC provisioning according to call access of subscribers subscribed to various plans, in accordance with 3GPP standard, all IP can sessions according to call connection of terminal device for PCC provisioning in EPC network (CAN session). PCRF query is performed for.

However, when a part of the call from the terminal equipment in the EPC network requires a dynamic PCC control such as a PCRF or OCS query, performing a PCRF or OCS query for all calls for PCC provisioning is an unnecessary load weighting factor in the communication network. There was a problem working.

Therefore, in the present invention, in the dynamic PCC provisioning control that minimizes the dynamic PCC provisioning in the EPC network, the session information requiring the dynamic PCC control is provided as CC information and the dynamic PCC policy is applied only to the call requiring the dynamic PCC control. The present invention provides a dynamic PCC provisioning control system, apparatus and method for reducing the load on a communication network by reducing the unnecessary PCC or OCS query by performing limit lookup with OCS only for CCs for which OCS query conditions are defined.

As described above, the present invention is a dynamic PCC provisioning control system, comprising: an HSS or HLR providing registered CC information for each subscriber of a terminal device connected to a communication network, and generated from the terminal device using CC information provided from the HSS or HLR. PDN-GW for analyzing the characteristics of the call, and performs PCC control for the call according to the PCC configuration information corresponding to the characteristics of the call.

The PDN-GW may store a CC table defining PCC configuration information corresponding to CC information of the terminal device in advance and perform PCC control on the call according to PCC configuration information matched in the CC table. It is done.

The present invention also provides a dynamic PCC provisioning control device, comprising: a CC table for storing PCC setting information corresponding to registered CC information for each subscriber of a terminal device connected to a communication network, and a PCC local policy according to the PCC setting information. Receiving CC information of the terminal device from the HSS or HLR on the communication network when the call from the terminal device and the local policy table, and performs PCC control for the call according to the PCC configuration information matched in the CC table It includes a network connection processing unit.

In addition, when the PCC configuration information corresponding to the CC information is set not to perform PCC control, the network access processing unit performs a query for dynamic PCC control with a PCRF or OCS on the communication network for a call of the terminal device. It is characterized by not.

The network connection processing unit may perform dynamic PCC control through session establishment with a PCRF or OCS on the communication network for a call of the terminal device when the PCC configuration information corresponding to the CC information is set to the dynamic PCC. do.

In addition, when the PCC configuration information corresponding to the CC information is set to a local policy, the network access processing unit performs PCC control on the call according to the corresponding PCC local policy stored in the local policy table. .

In addition, the PCC local policy is characterized in that the bit rate information for the uplink and downlink for the call.

In addition, the present invention provides a dynamic PCC provisioning control method, the method comprising the steps of storing the PCC configuration information corresponding to the registered CC information for each subscriber of the terminal device connected to the communication network, HSS or HLR on the communication network when a call is generated from the terminal device Receiving CC information registered in the terminal device from the terminal device; retrieving PCC configuration information corresponding to the received CC information, and performing PCC control on the call according to the retrieved PCC configuration information.

Further, in the step of performing the PCC control, if the PCC configuration information corresponding to the CC information is set not to perform the PCC control, for the dynamic PCC control to the PCRF or OCS on the communication network for the call of the terminal device It does not perform a query.

In the step of performing the PCC control, if the PCC configuration information corresponding to the CC information is set to the dynamic PCC, the dynamic PCC control through the session setup with the PCRF or OCS for the call of the terminal device characterized in that do.

In the present invention, in the dynamic PCC provisioning control that minimizes the dynamic PCC provisioning in the EPC network, the session information requiring the dynamic PCC control is provided as CC information, and the PCRF query is applied by applying the dynamic PCC policy only to the call requiring the dynamic processing of the PCC. And by limiting the query to OCS only for the CC in which the OCS query conditions are defined, there is an advantage that can reduce the load on the communication network by reducing unnecessary PCC or OCS query.

1 is an overall network configuration of an EPC network according to an embodiment of the present invention,
2 is a detailed block diagram of a PDN-GW according to an embodiment of the present invention;
3 is a diagram illustrating a CC table for PCC control included in a PDN-GW according to an embodiment of the present invention;
4 is an exemplary diagram of a PCC policy table for PCC control provided in a PDN-GW according to an embodiment of the present invention;
5 is an operation control flowchart for PCC control in PDN-GW according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail the operating principle of the present invention. In the following description of the present invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of a known function or configuration may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted. The following terms are defined in consideration of the functions of the present invention, and may be changed according to the intentions or customs of the user, the operator, and the like. Therefore, the definition should be based on the contents throughout this specification.

1 illustrates a network configuration of an EPC network according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The user equipment (UE) 100 may be network nodes or other terminal devices configuring a core network through a radio access network (RAN) such as an Evolved-UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN). It is a device to communicate with. Such terminal devices include, but are not limited to, fixed or mobile subscriber units, cellular telephones, digital personal digital assistants (PDAs), computers, or any other type of user device capable of operating in a wireless environment.

In addition, the terminal apparatus 100 includes a processor for transmitting and receiving a radio signal with a processor, which is a signal generating and processing means, and a radio access network (RAN). Although not shown in the drawing, the terminal device 100 may include a memory for storing user data or programs, a display unit for displaying various information or data of the terminal, a keypad or a touch screen. and a user interface such as a screen).

Meanwhile, a core network includes a plurality of network nodes that constitute a core of a mobile communication system. The core network is, for example, network nodes of a PS communication system such as a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) system, a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), or an Evolved PacketCore (EPC) system that is a 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) system. It may be configured, but is not limited thereto.

In FIG. 1, only the minimum components of the core network required to describe an embodiment of the present invention are disclosed, and the configuration of the core network is not limited to the components disclosed in FIG. 1. In the following, the core network is described in the case of being composed of network nodes of the EPC, but this is merely for convenience of description and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments of the present invention.

Hereinafter, each component in the core network will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 1.

First, the access node (eNodeB) 102 is an equipment supporting next-generation technologies and services such as LTE, and the radio frequency (RF) of the transmission signal and the transmission and reception signal strength and quality measurement, baseband signal processing, channel card (Channel Card) It is a device that performs functions such as resource management.

The Serving-Gateway (S-GW) 108 is a session control and user plane node that handles payload traffic according to the established session. Interworking with S1-U interface and supporting Inter LTE / 3GPP handover, setting up packet data network gateway (PDN-GW) 110 and EPS bearer and tunneling Use PDU (Packet Data Unit) to deliver.

The mobility management entity (MME) 106 is a node that manages subscriber information and mobility of the terminal device 100, and is responsible for session management, idle subscriber management, paging, and subscriber authentication functions. do. That is, the MME 106 processes a control signal when there is a join request or a radio bearer setup request from the terminal apparatus 100 or another network node such as the PDN-GW 110 or the S-GW 108. It is responsible for various functions of a control plane such as a control plane, etc., and performs functions such as setting of EPS bearer or IP tunnel and mobility management.

A Home Subscriber Server (HSS) 104 is a network node that includes a database containing subscriber information for a wireless communication system, and includes profile information, authentication, and Location-related data is stored. Policy & Charging Rule Function (PCR) 112 provides dynamic QoS and charging rules according to service data flow to perform communication policy and charging processing in a communication network.

The PDN-GW 110 allocates an IP of the terminal device 100 and performs a packet control as a session control and user plane for interworking with an external Internet network and a Non-3GPP network. It maintains routing information with the S-GW 108 and the external network, and has tunneling and IP routing functions. In addition, it delivers a packet data unit (PDU) to the S-GW 108 and the external network.

Online Charging Server (OCS) 116 receives the billing information of subscribers who need real time billing information and provides credit management functions such as limit services, and EPC-GW provides packet based on the billing information provided by OCS. Generates charging information of the packet flow. The OFCS (OFflineCharging System) 114 collects the billing information generated by the EPC-GW, processes the billing data required by the billing system 120, and transmits the billing data. In addition, OFCS 114 provides a unified BS interface by accommodating various billing protocols such as Radius, Diameter, and GTPP.

Meanwhile, in the above EPC network, in performing PCC provisioning according to call access of subscribers subscribed to various plans, PCRF queries are performed for all IP can sessions (CAN session) according to call access of a terminal device. As described above, when the session requiring dynamic PCC control such as PCRF or OCS query is a part, the load on the communication network is increased by performing unnecessary PCRF or OCS query.

Therefore, in the present invention, the PDN-GW 110 does not perform dynamic PCC control such as PCRF or OCS query on the call generated from the terminal device, but rather through the HSS 104, the MME 106, or the like. By identifying the characteristics of the call using the provided CC information and selectively performing dynamic PCC control according to the characteristics of the call by using the information on the PCC control policy that stores whether or not the PCC / OCS query is set for each call characteristic, unnecessary network It is possible to prevent the load from occurring.

2 illustrates a detailed block configuration of the PDN-GW 110 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The PDN-GW 110 of the present invention includes a UE context manager 200, a packet filter 202, and a user. A packet tunnel manager 204, a network connection processor 206, and the like.

Hereinafter, the operation of each component of the PDN-GW 110 of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 2.

The UE context manager 200 allocates context management and IP of the terminal 100. The packet filtering unit 202 selects only packets destined for the terminal device 100 in the eNodeB 102 currently managed by the PDN-GW 110 among user data flowing from the external Internet network. The user packet tunnel manager 204 transmits the user packet to the eNodeB 102 through a logical path called a tunnel.

The storage unit 208 defines a CC table 210 that stores PCC configuration information for dynamic PCC control and a PCC local policy for calls that do not require dynamic PCC according to an embodiment of the present invention. A table 212 is included and referred to by the network connection processing unit 206.

3 illustrates a CC table 210 for dynamic PCC control provided in the PDN-GW 110 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, the CC table 210 may include CC information, a service description of a subscriber subscribed to a carrier, PCC setting information according to CC information, and OCS setting information according to CC information. At this time, the PCC setting information is required to use the dynamic PCC control according to the characteristics of the call by using the CC information including the information such as the plan or service as shown in Figure 3 (Dynamic), if the dynamic PCC control is not required ( No PCC), or a case in which a local rule is applied (Local rule # 1, Local rule # 3), or the like.

4 illustrates a local policy table 212 that defines a PCC local policy for calls that do not require dynamic PCC provided in the PDN-GW 110 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, the local policy table 212 may include information on local policy and information on performance. Local policy is information that distinguishes an internal call processing policy for calls that do not require dynamic PCC control. For example, the local policy may be defined as local policy # 1 or local policy # 3. At this time, local policy # 1 may be set to limit the maximum bit rate of uplink / downlink QoS to 64 kbps, for example, for web browsing calls, and mVoIP such as skype. It can be set to limit the maximum bit rate of the uplink / downlink QoS for the 15kbps. Local policy # 3 may also be set to ensure the lowest bit rate of uplink / downlink QoS for streaming services, for example, up to 5 kbps.

The network connection processing unit 206 identifies the interface to the access network connected to the PDN-GW 110, reads the RAT-TYPE parameter information of the access network, and then stores the RAT-TYPE parameter information in the PCRF 112 and OFCS. 114, provided to the OCS 116 so that QoS or charging according to the access network can be applied.

In addition, when a call is generated from the terminal device 100 connected to the communication network according to an embodiment of the present invention, the CC information for the call is received through the HSS 104, MME 106, and the like, and the CC table 210 After searching whether the call generated from the terminal device 100 is a call requiring dynamic PCC control using the local policy table 212, the PCRF or OCS query is performed only for the call requiring dynamic PCC control.

That is, the network connection processing unit 206 is an operation for determining whether to control the dynamic PCC for the call received from the terminal device 100, first, the CC information provided from the HSS 104 for the call to the MME 106 or the like. Receive through. Subsequently, it is determined whether dynamic PCC control such as PCRF / OCS query is applied to the corresponding call using the received CC information and the CC table 210 as shown in FIG. 3.

In this case, for example, when the CC information is H'80, since the call does not require dynamic PCC control as an emergency call, the network access processing unit 206 may set the call as set in the CC table 210. By processing without performing the PCRF query and the OCS query, it is possible to reduce the load on the communication network due to the session setup to the unnecessary PCRF 112, OCS (116).

5 illustrates a PCC control operation processing flow in the PDN-GW 110 for minimizing dynamic PCC provisioning in an EPC network according to an embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.

First, when a call is generated from a terminal device 100 connected to an EPC network access node (eNodeB) 102, the PDN-GW 110 receives a call generated from the terminal device 100 through the S-GW 108. do.

Subsequently, the PDN-GW 110 establishes a session with the PCRF 112 or the OCS 116 to perform the PCRF or OCS query for PCC provisioning for the call. CC information on the call is received through the HSS 104, MME 106, etc. for PCC processing according to the characteristics of the call.

Subsequently, the PDN-GW 110 receives a call generated from the terminal device 100 using the CC table 210 in which the received CC information and the PCC setting information for the dynamic PCC control as shown in FIG. 3 are stored in advance. Retrieve the corresponding PCC setting information.

In this case, for example, when the CC information is H'80, since the call does not require dynamic PCC control as an emergency call, the PDN-GW 110 is configured for the corresponding call as set in the CC table 210. By processing the PCRF query and the OCS query without performing them, it is possible to reduce the load on the communication network due to unnecessary session setup to the PCRF 112 and the OCS 116.

Also, for example, if the CC information is H'AE, as set in the CC table 210, this is a call subscribed to the streaming VIP plan, which does not require dynamic PCC control, but the PCC setting information is defined by local policy # 3. Therefore, the PDN-GW 110 retrieves the performance defined in local policy # 3 in the PCC policy table 212 for the call, and selects the lowest bit rate of the uplink / downlink QoS for the streaming service. The PCC control is performed by guaranteeing the bit rate up to 5kbps.

As described above, in the present invention, in the dynamic PCC provisioning control that minimizes the dynamic PCC provisioning in the EPC network, the dynamic PCC policy is applied only to a call requiring the dynamic processing of the PCC by receiving session information requiring CCC control as CC information. By applying the PCRF query and limiting the query to OCS only for the CC where the OCS query condition is defined, unnecessary PCC or OCS query can be reduced to reduce the load on the communication network.

While the invention has been shown and described with reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should not be limited by the described embodiments but should be defined by the appended claims.

In the present invention, the session information requiring the dynamic PCC control is provided as CC information in the EPC network, the PCRF query is performed by applying the dynamic PCC policy only to the call requiring the dynamic processing of the PCC, and the OCS query condition is defined only for the CC in which the OCS query condition is defined. By reducing the unnecessary PCC or OCS inquiry by performing the limit inquiry, it can be applied to the EPC network.

100: terminal 102: eNodeB
104: HSS 106: MME
108: S-GW 110: PDN-GW
112: PCRF 114: OFCS
116: OCS

Claims (10)

HSS or HLR providing the registered CC information for each subscriber of the terminal device connected to the communication network,
PDN-GW for analyzing the characteristics of the call generated from the terminal device using the CC information provided from the HSS or HLR, and performs PCC control for the call according to the PCC configuration information corresponding to the characteristics of the call.
Dynamic PCC provisioning control system comprising a. The method of claim 1,
The PDN-GW,
Dynamic PCC provisioning control system, characterized in that for pre-store the CC table that defines the PCC configuration information corresponding to the CC information of the terminal device according to the PCC configuration information matched in the CC table. A CC table for storing PCC setting information corresponding to the registered CC information for each subscriber of the terminal device connected to the communication network;
A local policy table that stores a PCC local policy according to the PCC configuration information;
Network connection processing unit for receiving the CC information of the terminal device from the HSS or HLR on the communication network when the call is generated from the terminal device, and performs PCC control for the call according to the PCC configuration information matched in the CC table
Dynamic PCC provisioning control device comprising a. The method of claim 3, wherein
The network connection processing unit,
Dynamic PCC, characterized in that if the PCC configuration information corresponding to the CC information is set not to perform the PCC control, the query for the dynamic PCC control to the PCRF or OCS on the communication network for the call of the terminal device Provisioning Control Unit. The method of claim 3, wherein
The network connection processing unit,
And when the PCC configuration information corresponding to the CC information is set to dynamic PCC, performing dynamic PCC control through session establishment with a PCRF or OCS on the communication network for a call of the terminal device. The method of claim 3, wherein
The network connection processing unit,
And when the PCC setting information corresponding to the CC information is set to a local policy, performing PCC control on the call according to the corresponding PCC local policy stored in the local policy table. The method according to claim 6,
The PCC local policy is
And bit rate information for the uplink and downlink for the call. Storing PCC setting information corresponding to the registered CC information for each subscriber of the terminal device connected to the communication network;
Receiving CC information registered in the terminal device from the HSS or HLR on the communication network when a call is generated from the terminal device;
Retrieving PCC configuration information corresponding to the received CC information and performing PCC control on the call according to the retrieved PCC configuration information
Dynamic PCC provisioning control method comprising a. The method of claim 8,
In the step of performing the PCC control,
Dynamic PCC, characterized in that if the PCC configuration information corresponding to the CC information is set not to perform the PCC control, the query for the dynamic PCC control to the PCRF or OCS on the communication network for the call of the terminal device Provisioning control method. The method of claim 8,
In the step of performing the PCC control,
And if the PCC configuration information corresponding to the CC information is set to dynamic PCC, performing dynamic PCC control through session establishment with a PCRF or OCS for a call of the terminal.

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