WO2021258330A1

WO2021258330A1 - Effective predefined policy and charging control pcc instruction handling mechanism for communication systems

Info

Publication number: WO2021258330A1
Application number: PCT/CN2020/098050
Authority: WO
Inventors: Giorgi Gulbani; Caixia Qi; Peter Schmitt
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2020-06-24
Filing date: 2020-06-24
Publication date: 2021-12-30
Also published as: CN115486032A; CN115486032B

Abstract

Examples of the invention relates to an effective PCC instruction handling mechanism for communication systems such as 3GPP NR. A first control plane device (e.g. a SMF) configures and instructs a user plane device (e.g. a UPF) to install Policy and Charging Control (PCC) instructions that are relevant for at least one client device (e.g. a UE) by transmitting a control message to the user plane device. The control message transmitted to the user plane device comprises a first information element instructing the user plane device to install a received PCC instruction as a predefined PCC instruction and a second information element instructing the user plane device to activate the received PCC instruction. The first control plane device receives the PCC instruction in a control message from a second control plane device (e.g. a CPF). Thereby, e.g. reduced complexity in the first control plane device is possible and bulky signalling messages over communication interfaces is avoided in the communication system.

Description

EFFECTIVE PREDEFINED POLICY AND CHARGING CONTROL PCC INSTRUCTION HANDLING MECHANISM FOR COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS

Technical Field

Examples of the invention relates to an effective PCC instruction handling mechanism for communication systems. More specifically, examples of the invention relate to a first and second control plane devices and a user plane device for such PCC instruction handling. Furthermore, examples of the invention also relate to corresponding methods and a computer program.

Background

3GPP specifications TS 23.501 (stage 2) and TS 29.244 (stage 3) specify predefined Policy and Charging Control (PCC) rule functionality. A predefined PCC rule is preconfigured in a Policy and Charging Enforcement Function (PCEF) or in a Session Management Function (SMF) and in a User Plane Function (UPF) via an Operations and Maintenance (O&M) . Predefined PCC rules can be activated or deactivated by the PCRF or a Policy Control Function (PCF) at any time. The predefined PCC rules may be grouped allowing the PCF to dynamically activate a set of PCC rules. Each PCC rule has a name which is encoded as an Octet String.

O&M based PCC rule provision is the prevailing conventional solution. In addition to the O&M based PCC rule provision, 3GPP TS 29.244 provides for a proprietary alternative. The Operator may specify a tailored vendor-specific Information Element (IE) and order its support from own UPF providers or vendors.

Summary

An objective of examples of the invention is to provide a solution which mitigates or solves the drawbacks and problems of conventional solutions.

The above and further objectives are solved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Further advantageous examples of the invention can be found in the dependent claims.

According to a first aspect of the invention, the above mentioned and other objectives are achieved with a first control plane device for a communication system, the first control plane device being configured to

receive a first control message from a second control plane device, wherein the first control message comprises at least one Policy and Charging Control, PCC, instruction;

upon determining that the received PCC instruction is to be activated for a user plane device transmit a second control message to the user plane device, wherein the second control message comprises:

a first information element instructing the user plane device to install the received PCC instruction as a predefined PCC instruction, and

a second information element instructing the user plane device to activate the received PCC instruction.

The first control plane device may also be denoted a first control plane function in a 3GPP context.

A PCC instruction may be understood as one or more rules, which are given to a user plane (UP) device or function to handle incoming and/or outgoing traffic in the way the operator desires. Hence a PCC instruction may also be referred to as PCC rule in this disclosure.

An advantage of the first control plane device according to the first aspect is that the implementation and complexity of the first control plane device may be simplified. Another advantage is that bulky signalling messages over communication interfaces, such as the N4 interface in 3GPP NR, is avoided. Yet another advantage is that reduced signalling in the communication system is possible since a PCC instruction can be defined as a predefined PCC instruction and activated by sending only the PCC instruction name dynamically. Yet another advantage is that an operator can apply user plane policy to own user plane devices or functions without revealing sensitive information to outsiders which means competitive advantages of applied user plane policy.

In an implementation form of a first control plane device according to the first aspect, at least one of

the first information element comprises an identity of the received PCC instruction to be installed, and

the second information element comprises an identity of the predefined PCC instruction to be activated.

An advantage with this implementation form is that identifying the received PCC instruction to be installed and the predefined PCC instruction to be activated is simplified due to the identities in the first and second information elements, respectively.

In an implementation form of a first control plane device according to the first aspect, the received PCC instruction is a Packet Detection Rule, PDR, indicating at least one of a Forwarding Action Rule, FAR, a Quality-of-Service Enforcement Rule, QER, and a Usage Reporting Rule, URR; and wherein

the second information element instructs the user plane device to activate at least one of:the FAR, the QER, and the URR.

In an implementation form of a first control plane device according to the first aspect, the first control message is comprised in a Protocol Data Unit, PDU, session establishment procedure.

That the first control message is comprised in the PDU session establishment procedure may mean that the first control plane device receives one or more PCC instructions within a PDU session establishment procedure.

In an implementation form of a first control plane device according to the first aspect, the second control message is a Packet Forwarding Control Protocol, PFCP, session establishment request message.

In an implementation form of a first control plane device according to the first aspect, determining that that the received PCC instruction is to be activated comprises

determine that the received PCC instruction matches a predefined PCC instruction based on an identity of the received PCC instruction and an identity of the predefined PCC instruction.

An advantage with this implementation form is that by using the identity of the received PCC instruction and the predefined PCC instruction the matching in the first control plane device is simplified.

receive a third information element comprised in the first control message, wherein the third information element instructs the first control plane device to activate the received PCC instruction as a predefined PCC instruction for the use plane device.

An advantage with this implementation form is that the PCC instruction handling in the first control plane device is simplified since the first control plane device is directly instructed by the second control plane device and therefore does not have to perform any matching.

According to a second aspect of the invention, the above mentioned and other objectives are achieved with a user plane device for a wireless communication system, the user plane device being configured to

receive a second control message from a first control plane device, wherein the second control message comprises:

a first information element instructing the user plane device to install at least one PCC instruction as a predefined PCC instruction, and

The user plane device may also be denoted a user plane function in a 3GPP context.

An advantage of the user plane device according to the second aspect is that bulky signalling messages over communication interfaces, such as the N4 interface in NR, is avoided. Another advantage is that reduced signalling in the communication system is possible since a PCC instruction can be defined as a predefined PCC instruction and activated by sending only the PCC instruction name dynamically. Yet another advantage is that an operator can apply user plane policy to own user plane devices or functions without revealing sensitive information to outsiders which means competitive advantages of applied user plane policy.

In an implementation form of a user plane device according to the second aspect, the user plane device being configured to

enforce the predefined PCC instruction for at least one client device upon reception of the second control message.

To enforce the predefined PCC instruction may be understood as that the user plane function applies the predefined PCC instruction. For example, the predefined PCC instruction may be understood as a set of instructions which are given to the user plane device handle incoming traffic in the way the operator desires. Hence, by enforcing the predefined PCC instructions the user plane function will following the instructions.

In an implementation form of a user plane device according to the second aspect, at least one of

An advantage with this implementation form is that the identification of the PCC instruction to be installed and the predefined PCC instruction to be activated is simplified in the user plane device.

In an implementation form of a user plane device according to the second aspect, the received PCC instruction is a PDR indicating at least one of a FAR, a QER, and a URR; and wherein

the second information element instructs the user plane device to activate at least one of: the FAR, the QER, and the URR.

In an implementation form of a user plane device according to the second aspect, the second control message is a PFCP session establishment request message.

According to a third aspect of the invention, the above mentioned and other objectives are achieved with a second control plane device for a communication system, the second control plane device being configured to

transmit a first control message to a first control plane device, wherein the first control message comprises:

at least one PCC instruction, and

a third information element instructing the first control plane device to activate the PCC instruction as a predefined PCC instruction for a user plane device.

The second control plane device may also be denoted a second control plane function in a 3GPP context.

An advantage of the second control plane device according to the third aspect is that there is no need to preconfigure PCC instructions in the first control plane device since the second control plane device instructs the first control plane device thereby reducing complexity in the first control plane device.

In an implementation form of a second control plane device according to the third aspect, the first control message is comprised in a PDU session establishment procedure.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, the above mentioned and other objectives are achieved with a method for a first control plane device, the method comprises

receiving a first control message from a second control plane device, wherein the first control message comprises at least one PCC instruction;

upon determining that the received PCC instruction is to be activated for a user plane device transmitting a second control message to the user plane device, wherein the second control message comprises:

The method according to the fourth can be extended into implementation forms corresponding to the implementation forms of the first control plane device according to the first aspect. Hence, an implementation form of the method comprises the feature (s) of the corresponding implementation form of the first control plane device.

The advantages of the methods according to the fourth aspect are the same as those for the corresponding implementation forms of the first control plane device according to the first aspect.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention, the above mentioned and other objectives are achieved with a method for a user plane device, the method comprises

receiving a second control message from a first control plane device, wherein the second control message comprises:

The method according to the fifth aspect can be extended into implementation forms corresponding to the implementation forms of the user plane device according to the second aspect. Hence, an implementation form of the method comprises the feature (s) of the corresponding implementation form of the user plane device.

The advantages of the methods according to the fifth aspect are the same as those for the corresponding implementation forms of the user plane device according to the second aspect.

According to a sixth aspect of the invention, the above mentioned and other objectives are achieved with a method for a second control plane device, the method comprises

transmitting a first control message to a first control plane device, wherein the first control message comprises:

at least one PCC instruction, and

The method according to the sixth aspect can be extended into implementation forms corresponding to the implementation forms of the second control plane device according to the second aspect. Hence, an implementation form of the method comprises the feature (s) of the corresponding implementation form of the second control plane device.

The advantages of the methods according to the sixth aspect are the same as those for the corresponding implementation forms of the second control plane device according to the second aspect.

The invention also relates to a computer program, characterized in program code, which when run by at least one processor causes said at least one processor to execute any method according to examples of the invention. Further, the invention also relates to a computer program product comprising a computer readable medium and said mentioned computer program, wherein said computer program is included in the computer readable medium, and comprises of one or more from the group: ROM (Read-Only Memory) , PROM (Programmable ROM) , EPROM (Erasable PROM) , Flash memory, EEPROM (Electrically EPROM) and hard disk drive.

Further applications and advantages of the examples of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The appended drawings are intended to clarify and explain different examples of the invention, in which:

- Fig. 1 shows a client device according to an example of the invention;

- Fig. 2 shows a method for a client device according to an example of the invention;

- Fig. 3 shows a network access node according to an example of the invention;

- Fig. 4 shows a method for a network access node according to an example of the invention;

- Fig. 5 shows a network access node according to an example of the invention;

- Fig. 6 shows a method for a network access node according to an example of the invention;

- Fig. 7 shows a signalling diagram illustrating the interaction between a first control plane device, a second control plane device and a user plane device according to examples of the invention;

- Fig. 8 shows a signalling diagram illustrating the interaction between the first control plane device and the user plane device according to examples of the invention; and

- Fig. 9 illustrates a wireless communication system according to an example of the invention.

Detailed Description

Aforementioned conventional solutions for PCC handling involving O&M and/or SMF have some drawbacks as identified in the disclosure. The SMF internal functionality becomes complex with such a SMF based solutions. Further, the SMF need to be configured with hundreds of predefined PCC instructions/rules which involve a huge load of data transfer over the N4 interface and increased signalling in the communication system. Further, if a mixed O&M and SMF based solution is implemented there is a huge risk that such a mixed solution will lead to misconfiguration and/or protocol errors in the communication system. It would be very challenging to resolve such conflicts and keep user data flowing and accurately reporting this to charging functions in the communication system.

Therefore, it is herein disclosed an effective solution for handling PCC instructions/rules in communication systems involving a first control plane device, a second control plane device and a user plane device according to examples of the invention.

Fig. 1 shows a first control plane device 100 according to an example of the invention. In the example shown in Fig. 1, the first control plane device 100 comprises a processor 102, a transceiver 104 and a memory 106. The processor 102 may be coupled to the transceiver 104 and the memory 106 by communication means 108 known in the art. The first control plane device 100 may further comprise a communication interface 110 coupled to the transceiver 104 and hence configured for communications in a communication system 500. That the first control plane device 100 may be configured to perform certain actions can in this disclosure be understood to mean that the first control plane device 100 comprises suitable means, such as e.g. the processor 102 and the transceiver 104, configured to perform said actions.

The processor 102 of the first control plane device 100 may be referred to as one or more general-purpose central processing units (CPUs) , one or more digital signal processors (DSPs) , one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) , one or more field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) , one or more programmable logic devices, one or more discrete gates, one or more transistor logic devices, one or more discrete hardware components, and one or more chipsets. The memory 106 of the first control plane device 100 may be a read-only memory, a random access memory, or a non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM) . The transceiver 104 of the first control plane device 100 may be a transceiver circuit, a power controller, an antenna, or an interface which communicates with other modules or devices. In examples, the transceiver 104 of the first control plane device 100 may be a separate chipset or being integrated with the processor 102 in one chipset. While in some examples, the processor 102, the transceiver 104, and the memory 106 of the first control plane device 100 are integrated in one chipset.

According to examples of the invention the first control plane device 100 is configured to receive a first control message 510 from a second control plane device 600, which is shown in Fig. 7. The first control message 510 comprises at least one Policy and Charging Control, PCC, instruction. The first control plane device 100 is further configured to upon determining that the received PCC instruction is to be activated for a user plane device 300, transmit a second control message 520 to the user plane device 300, which is also shown in Fig. 7. The second control message 520 comprises first information element IE1 and a second information element IE2. The first information element IE1 instructs the user plane device 300 to install the received PCC instruction as a predefined PCC instruction, and the second information element IE2 instructs the user plane device 300 to activate the received PCC instruction.

Generally, a PCC instruction may be understood as a set of instructions given to a user plane device or function on how to handle incoming data traffic defined by an operator, hence to the desire of the operator. Therefore, different operators may provide different instructions, i.e. different PCC instructions. The instructions may relate to how a user plane device should detect and handle data traffic in the form of user data. Handling data traffic may e.g. relate to forward, buffer, drop, etc. It is also implied that a PCC instruction that is applied for one client device but not for another client device. To activate a PCC instruction for a user plane device may be understood as that the PCC instruction is taken in use, i.e. applied by the user plane device for incoming traffic to/from a client device.

Fig. 2 shows a flow chart of a corresponding method 200 which may be executed in a first control plane device 100, such as the one shown in Fig. 1. The method 200 comprises receiving 202 a first control message 510 from a second control plane device 600. The first control message 510 comprises at least one PCC instruction. The method 200 further comprises upon determining 204 that the received PCC instruction is to be activated for a user plane device 300 transmitting 206 a second control message 520 to the user plane device 300. The second control message 520 comprises: a first information element IE1 instructing the user plane device 300 to install the received PCC instruction as a predefined PCC instruction, and a second information element IE2 instructing the user plane device 300 to activate the received PCC instruction.

Fig. 3 shows a user plane device 300 according to an example of the invention. In the example shown in Fig. 3, the user plane device 300 comprises a processor 302, a transceiver 304 and a memory 306. The processor 302 is coupled to the transceiver 304 and the memory 306 by communication means 308 known in the art. The user plane device 300 is configured for communication in the communication system 500 which e.g. may be provided by a communication interface 310 coupled to the transceiver 304. That the user plane device 300 is configured to perform certain actions can in this disclosure be understood to mean that the user plane device 300 comprises suitable means, such as e.g. the processor 302 and the transceiver 304, configured to perform said actions.

The processor 302 of the user plane device 300 may be referred to as one or more general-purpose CPUs, one or more DSPs, one or more ASICs, one or more FPGAs, one or more programmable logic devices, one or more discrete gates, one or more transistor logic devices, one or more discrete hardware components, and one or more chipsets. The memory 306 of the user plane device 300 may be a read-only memory, a random access memory, or a NVRAM. The transceiver 304 of the user plane device 300 may be a transceiver circuit, a power controller, an antenna, or an interface which communicates with other modules or devices. In examples, the transceiver 304 of the user plane device 300 may be a separate chipset or being integrated with the processor 302 in one chipset. While in some examples, the processor 302, the transceiver 304, and the memory 306 of the user plane device 300 are integrated in one chipset.

According to examples of the invention the user plane device 300 is configured to receive a second control message 520 from a first control plane device 100, which is shown in Fig. 7. The second control message 520 comprises: a first information element IE1 instructing the user plane device 300 to install at least one PCC instruction as a predefined PCC instruction, and a second information element IE2 instructing the user plane device 300 to activate the received PCC instruction.

Fig. 4 shows a flow chart of a corresponding method 400 which may be executed in a user plane device 300, such as the one shown in Fig. 3. The method 400 comprises receiving 402 a second control message 520 from a first control plane device 100. The second control message 520 comprises: a first information element IE1 instructing the user plane device 300 to install at least one PCC instruction as a predefined PCC instruction, and a second information element IE2 instructing the user plane device 300 to activate the received PCC instruction.

Fig. 5 shows a second control plane device 600 according to an example of the invention. In the example shown in Fig. 1, the second control plane device 600 comprises a processor 602, a transceiver 604 and a memory 606. The processor 602 may be coupled to the transceiver 604 and the memory 606 by communication means 608 known in the art. The second control plane device 600 may further comprise a communication interface 610 coupled to the transceiver 604 and hence configured for communications in a communication system 500. That the second control plane device 600 may be configured to perform certain actions can in this disclosure be understood to mean that the second control plane device 600 comprises suitable means, such as e.g. the processor 602 and the transceiver 604, configured to perform said actions.

The processor 602 of the second control plane device 600 may be referred to as one or more general-purpose central processing units (CPUs) , one or more digital signal processors (DSPs) , one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) , one or more field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) , one or more programmable logic devices, one or more discrete gates, one or more transistor logic devices, one or more discrete hardware components, and one or more chipsets. The memory 606 of the second control plane device 600 may be a read-only memory, a random access memory, or a non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM) . The transceiver 604 of the second control plane device 600 may be a transceiver circuit, a power controller, an antenna, or an interface which communicates with other modules or devices. In examples, the transceiver 604 of the second control plane device 600 may be a separate chipset or being integrated with the processor 602 in one chipset. While in some examples, the processor 602, the transceiver 604, and the memory 606 of the second control plane device 600 are integrated in one chipset.

According to examples of the invention the second control plane device 600 is configured to transmit a first control message 510 to a first control plane device 100, which is shown in Fig. 7. The first control message 510 comprises: at least one PCC instruction, and a third information element IE3 instructing the first control plane device 100 to activate the PCC instruction as a predefined PCC instruction for a user plane device 300.

Fig. 6 shows a flow chart of a corresponding method 700 which may be executed in a second control plane device 600, such as the one shown in Fig. 5. The method 700 comprises transmitting 702 a first control message 510 to a first control plane device 100. The first control message 510 comprises: at least one PCC instruction, and a third information element IE3 instructing the first control plane device 100 to activate the PCC instruction as a predefined PCC instruction for a user plane device 300.

By the above interaction between the first control plane device 100, the second control plane device 600 and the user plane device 300 a new and improved PCC instruction handling mechanism is provided which makes the PCC handling more effective compared to conventional solutions.

For example, it may be assumed that an operator wants to lease a newly commissioned UPF to another operator, e.g. a vertical network operator. The two operators agree that certain number of predefined PCC instructions should be installed over the N4 interface in the newly commissioned UPF. Instead of sending these instructions in bulk over the N4 interface according to conventional solutions, it is herein proposed to install predefined PCC instructions only when at least one client device, such as a User Equipment (UE) , will benefit. This will also distribute the PCC instruction installation signalling over a larger time period meaning reduced signalling per time period. The new mechanism/feature according to examples of the invention may be supported by both SMF (i.e. a control plane device) and UPF (i.e. a user plane device) in NR systems. Therefore, the support for the PCC instruction handling mechanism may be negotiated between the peers (such as communication endpoint devices) during a PFCP association setup procedure. This may e.g. require a Change Request (CR) to clause 8.2.58 in 3GPP TS 29.244, which may add a new flag, e.g. a Predefined Rule Installation (PRI) flag to the CP Function Features IE.

Furthermore, in the following disclosure more implementation examples of the invention are herein described in more detail with reference to Fig. 7 and 8, respectively. However, for providing deeper understanding of the implementation examples the following non-limiting examples are set in a 3GPP NR system context. This e.g. means that the terminology, expressions, system design, protocols, etc. that are used may refer to the ones used in NR. Hence, the first control plane device 100 is herein denoted a SMF, the second control plane device 600 is herein denoted a PCF, whilst the user plane device 300 is herein denoted a UPF. The previously mentioned client device is herein denoted a UE.

Further, the configuration and functioning of the SMF, PCF, UPF and UE are well defined by 3GPP standards. It is noted though that examples of the invention are not limited thereto and may be implemented in any suitable communication system.

Fig. 7 illustrates examples of the invention in an initial procedure when predefined PCC instructions are installed and enforced by the UPF 300.

In step I in Fig. 7, a PCF 600 may initiate a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session establishment procedure, such as a Npcf_SMPolicyControl_Create service operation within a PDU session establishment procedure. This may mean that an application, e.g. a VoIP, requires a session that shall match specific Quality of Service (QoS) parameters. Therefore, in examples of the invention, a first control message 510 is comprised in or is part of a PDU session establishment procedure.

Further, in examples of the invention, the PCC of the first control message 510 may be a Packet Detection Rule (PDR) which indicates at least one of a FAR for how to forward matching data packets, a QER for how to enforce QoS, and a URR for how and when to report events. Generally, the FAR, QER, and URR are indicated by their respective IDs which implies that the first control message 510 in this case comprises the mentioned IDs of the FAR, QER, and URR.

In step II in Fig. 7, the PCF 600 sends at least one PCC instruction (i.e. one or more PCC instructions) in the first control message 510 to the SMF 100 over the N7 interface. A PCC instruction is a complete set of instructions and may therefore be considered as a dynamic instruction.

In order to activate a dynamic PCC instruction, a Control Plane (CP) function needs to send the whole PCC instruction to a User Plane (UP) function. This is often a large chunk of data. A PCC instruction is not dynamic instruction per se, but the way it is provisioned makes it dynamic or predefined. In order to activate a predefined PCC instruction, the CP function may need to send an instruction name to the UP function. Therefore, prior to activation of a predefined instruction, the UP function is configured with an actual PCC instruction. This is typically done with O&M tools in NR. A PCC instruction is not predefined per se, but the way it is provisioned makes it predefined or dynamic.

In step III in Fig. 7, the SMF 100 receives the first control message 510 from the PCF 600.

In examples of the invention, the SMF 100 handles the PCC instruction during a PFCP session establishment procedure. This may mean that the SMF 100 needs to instruct the UPF to activate certain set of PCC instructions.

The SMF 100 has to determine if the received dynamic PCC instructions match any PCC instructions that are marked or indicated at the SMF 100 as a predefined PCC instruction and hence to be activated for a UPF. There are two main cases how the SMF 100 may determine that the received PCC instruction is to be activated for the UPF.

In examples of the invention, determining that that the received PCC instruction is to be activated comprises determine that the received PCC instruction matches a predefined PCC instruction based on an identity ID1 of the received PCC instruction and an identity ID2 of the predefined PCC instruction. For example, if the identifier is a string or a number, the strings or the numbers are compared according to known methods. They match if the identities, e.g. in the form of strings or numbers, are the same.

In examples of the invention, determining that that the received PCC instruction is to be activated instead comprises receiving a third information element IE3 from the PCF 600. The third information element IE3 directly instructs the SMF 100 to activate the received PCC instruction as a predefined PCC instruction for the UPF 300. Hence, in examples of the invention the first control message 510 indicates or comprises the third information element IE3 which is also illustrated in Fig. 7. In this case the SMF 100 does not need to do any instruction comparison or matching as in the previous case. The SMF 100 simply executes the instruction received from the PCF 600. Thereby, the SMF functionality is further simplified when the PCF 600 also sends the indication that the dynamic instruction ID (s) shall be used as predefined instruction (s) . This may however require a CR to 3GPP TS 29.512 that specifies how the indication on a predefined instruction name can be sent along with dynamic instruction IDs.

If it is determined by the SMF 100 that the received PCC instruction is to be activated for the UPF in step III in Fig. 7, the SMF 100 instructs the UPF 300 over the N4 interface to install the predefined PCC instructions by the transmission of a second control message 520.

To activate a PCC instruction may be understood as applying the PCC instruction to incoming and outgoing traffic for a client device.

In step IV in Fig. 7, the SMF 300 therefore generates and transmits the second control message 520 to the UPF 300. The second control message 520 indicates or comprises at least two information elements, i.e. a first IE1 and a second IE2 information elements. The first information element IE1 instructs the UPF 300 to install the received PCC instruction as a predefined PCC instruction, and the second information element IE2 instructs the user plane device 300 to activate the received PCC instruction.

In examples of the invention at least one of the first information element IE1 comprises an identity ID1 of the received PCC instruction to be installed, and the second information element IE2 comprises an identity ID2 of the predefined PCC instruction to be activated. The identities may be given as a name string, e.g. as octet strings.

It was previously mentioned that the signalling between the SMF 100 and the UPF 300 may be comprised in a PFCP session establishment procedure and in such cases the second control message 520 may be a PFCP session establishment request message.

Furthermore, if the PCC instructions in the first control message 510 from the PCF 600 was a PDR the second information element IE2 of the second control message 520 may further instruct the UPF 300 to activate at least one of: the FAR, the QER, and the URR of the PDR. This means that any combinations of the mentioned FAR, QER and URR may be indicated, together or alone depending on application. It is noted that the PDR may contain pointers to respective FAR, QER and URR in that the IDs of the FAR, QER and URR are indicated by the pointers.

In 3GPP NR, during a PFCP session activation, the SMF 100 sends a PDR IE to the UPF 300, which contains packet detection instructions and also packet handling instructions, such as FAR and QER. Also, how the UPF 300 should report the data usage i.e. a URR. Once the SMF 100 detects (e.g. SMF 100 gets an indication from the PCF 600) that the PFCP session, which is being activated can be handled by predefined PCC instructions, instead of sending a full set of PDR IEs to the UPF 300, the SMF 100 will send the PCC instruction name (within the “Activate Predefined Rules” IE) and also the essential session specific parameters, which either cannot be known in advance or may change over time, e.g. a UE IP address, Traffic Endpoint ID, Local F-TEID, or any other relevant session specific parameters. The UPF 300 will therefore apply the predefined PCC instructions to the UP traffic for this particular session. To summarize, currently the operator configures predefined PCC instructions in UPFs. The predefined PCC instructions instruct the UPF 300 how to detect the packets (PDR, PDI) that are subject to some enforcement instructions. Enforcement instructions instruct the UPF which packets shall be forwarded (FAR) , what kind of QoS (QER) shall be applied to the forwarded packets and how the data usage shall be reported (URR) . The SMF 100 uses the above explained procedure to active one or more predefined PCC instructions for a UE at a session, bearer or traffic flow granularity.

In step V in Fig. 7, the UPF 300 receives the second control message 520 from the SMF 100 over the N4 interface. Upon reception of the second control message 520 in an initial PCC instruction handling procedure, the UPF 300 installs the PPC instructions.

In step VI in Fig. 7, the UPF 300 enforces the predefined and installed PCC instruction for at least one UE 800 upon reception of the second control message 520. The UPF 300 that supports the new feature shall install the FAR, URR and QER (also respective IDs) as predefined PCC instructions.

In an optional step VII in Fig. 7, upon successful execution of the request of activating the PCC instruction, the UPF 300 sends a response message 530 to the SMF 100. In examples of the invention, in a PFCP session establishment procedure the response message 530 may be a PFCP session establishment response message.

In an optional step VIII in Fig. 7, the SMF 100 receives the response message 530 from the UPF 300. Upon reception of the response message 530 the SMF 100 marks the PCC instruction as installed in the UPF, so that the SMF 100 does not need to install the instruction into the UPF next time.

Moreover, next time the same PCC instructions are required for same or different UEs, the SMF 100 may utilize the already installed predefined PCC instructions. Therefore, Fig. 8 illustrates examples of the invention when predefined PPC instructions already has been installed in the UPF 300. If the SMF 100 determines that a predefined PCC instruction will not be used anymore, the SMF 100 may instruct the UPF 300 to remove the predefined PCC instruction. This may require a CR to 3GPP TS 29.244, which shall add new IE type definitions, e.g. a Modify Predefined Instruction IE, Remove Predefined IE and also adding this new IEs to the respective PFCP procedures.

Further, when the SMF 100 establishes a session for an UE by sending dynamic PCC instructions, if the SMF 100 determines that the dynamic PCC instruction matches certain predefined PCC instruction, in addition to the dynamic instruction the SMF 100 may also send an indication to the UPF 300 to reuse the dynamic PCC instruction by installing it as a predefined PCC instruction. This may require a CR to 3GPP TS 29.244, which shall add a new IE type definition, e.g. Install predefined Instruction IE and also adding this new IE to the PFCP session establishment request.

In step I in Fig. 8, the SMF 100 determines if a new PFCP session shall use predefined PCC instructions. For example, if a PCC instruction matches an already installed predefined PCC instruction, instead of sending dynamic PCC instructions to the UPF 300, the SMF 100 may instruct the UPF 300 to enforce predefined PCC instructions already installed in the UPF 300.

In step II in Fig. 8, in a PFCP session establishment request the SMF 100 instructs the UPF 300 to enforce the already installed predefined PCC instructions for the given PDR by sending a third control message 540 to the UPF 300. The third control message 540 may comprise the PDI IE within the PDR IE already contains Activate Predefined Instructions IE (contains the instruction name) .

In step III in Fig. 8, the UPF 300 receives the third control message 540 from the SMF 100.

In step IV in Fig. 8, based on the received Activate Predefined Instructions IE in the third control message 540, the UPF 300 enforces the already installed PCC instructions, e.g. at least one of a FAR, a QER and an URR if the PCC instruction is a PDR.

In step V in Fig. 8, upon success, the UPF 300 sends a PFCP session establishment response message 530 to the SMF 100.

In step VI in Fig. 8, the SMF 100 receives the PFCP session establishment response message 530 from the UPF 300.

Procedures similar to the one described in Fig. 8 can be executed if the SMF 100 decides to either modify or remove the already installed predefined PCC instructions. For these cases the SMF 100 may use a Modify Predefined Instruction IE and a Delete Predefined Instruction IE, respectively. The Activate/Modify/Remove Predefined Instructions IEs may contain the instruction name and also three flags, indicating any combinations of FAR, QER and URR as previously mentioned. In other words, Activate/Modify/Remove Predefined Instructions will indicate to the UPF 300 if the action (such as forward data unit, and apply quality enforcement) relates to only FAR, QER or URR, or to any combination of these.

The instruction name and the use of flags may also be used for Modify Predefined Instruction IE and Delete Predefined Instruction IE. Alternatively, instead of adding flags to the Activate/Modify/Remove Predefined Instructions IEs, it is possible to utilize Most Significant Bit (MSB) setting in octet 5 for FAR/QER/URR IDs, as given in clauses 8.2.54, 8.2.74 and 8.2.75 in 3GPP TS 29.244. When this bit is set to 1, this indicates the respective instruction carried in the message is a predefined instruction, i.e. it is not a dynamic instruction, for which the MSB is set to 0.

The following non-limiting protocol level details may be proposed to 3GPP TS 29.244:

As an option, a Predefined PCC instruction/rule may be installed in an UPF by an SMF during PFCP Session Establishment procedure, if both support the Predefined Instruction/Rule Management over N4 interface (PRM-N4, see clause 8.2.25) and if the following condition is met. If an SMF activates a dynamic PCC instruction/rule in the UPF and the SMF has a matching Predefined Instruction/Rule that has not been installed in the UPF, then the SMF shall send Install the Predefined Instruction/Rule IE to the UPF (see clause 7.5.2.2) . How an SMF identifies matching Predefined Instruction/Rule is either implementation dependent, or the PCF may send the instruction/rule name within the PCC instructions/rules. SMF installed Predefined PCC instructions/rules may be modified or removed by the SMF during PFCP Session Modification or Deletion procedures, respectively.

In this respect the following non-limiting IEs may also be proposed according to sections in the below Tables.

Table 7.5.2.2-1: Create PDR IE within PFCP Session Establishment Request

Table 7.5.4.2-1: Update PDR IE within PFCP Session Modification Request

Fig. 9 illustrates a non-limiting communication system 500 according to an example of the invention. The communication system 500 comprises a client device 800 (e.g. a UE) and a radio network access node 810 (e.g. a BS, eNodeB, gNB, etc. ) configured to operate in the wireless communication system 500, e.g. by uplink (UL) and downlink (DL) communications according to predefined standards. The communication system 500 further comprises a UPF 300 which is communicatively coupled to the radio network access node 810. The UPF 300 is in turn communicatively coupled to a SMF 100 which is configured to transmit a second control message 520 to the UPF 300 for PCC handling. Further, a PCF 600 is communicatively coupled to the SMF 100 and configured to transmit first control message 510 to the SMF 100.

A network access node in this disclosure includes but is not limited to: a NodeB in wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) system, an evolutional Node B (eNB) or an evolved NodeB (eNodeB) in LTE systems, or a relay node or an access point, or an in-vehicle device, a wearable device, or a gNB in the fifth generation (5G) networks. Further, the network access node herein may be denoted as a radio network access node, an access network access node, an access point, or a base station, e.g. a radio base station (RBS) , which in some networks may be referred to as transmitter, “gNB” , “gNodeB” , “eNB” , “eNodeB” , “NodeB” or “B node” , depending on the technology and terminology used. The radio network access nodes may be of different classes such as e.g. macro eNodeB, home eNodeB or pico base station, based on transmission power and thereby also cell size. The radio network access node can be a station (STA) , which is any device that contains an IEEE 802.11-conformant MAC and PHY interface to the wireless medium. The radio network access node may also be a base station corresponding to the 5G wireless systems.

A client device in this disclosure includes but is not limited to: a UE such as a smart phone, a cellular phone, a cordless phone, a session initiation protocol (SIP) phone, a wireless local loop (WLL) station, a personal digital assistant (PDA) , a handheld device having a wireless communication function, a computing device or another processing device connected to a wireless modem, an in-vehicle device, a wearable device, an integrated access and backhaul node (IAB) such as mobile car or equipment installed in a car, a drone, a device-to-device (D2D) device, a wireless camera, a mobile station, an access terminal, an user unit, a wireless communication device, a station of wireless local access network (WLAN) , a wireless enabled tablet computer, a laptop-embedded equipment, an universal serial bus (USB) dongle, a wireless customer-premises equipment (CPE) , and/or a chipset. In an Internet of things (IOT) scenario, the client device may represent a machine or another device or chipset which performs communication with another wireless device and/or a network equipment.

The UE may further be referred to as a mobile telephone, a cellular telephone, a computer tablet or laptop with wireless capability. The UE in this context may e.g. be portable, pocket-storable, hand-held, computer-comprised, or vehicle-mounted mobile device, enabled to communicate voice and/or data, via the radio access network, with another entity, such as another receiver or a server. The UE can be a station (STA) , which is any device that contains an IEEE 802.11-conformant media access control (MAC) and physical layer (PHY) interface to the wireless medium (WM) . The UE may also be configured for communication in 3GPP related LTE and LTE-Advanced, in WiMAX and its evolution, and in fifth generation wireless technologies, such as NR.

Furthermore, any method according to examples of the invention may be implemented in a computer program, having code means, which when run by processing means causes the processing means to execute the steps of the method. The computer program is included in a computer readable medium of a computer program product. The computer readable medium may comprise essentially any memory, such as a ROM (Read-Only Memory) , a PROM (Programmable Read-Only Memory) , an EPROM (Erasable PROM) , a Flash memory, an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable PROM) , or a hard disk drive.

Moreover, it is realized by the skilled person that examples of the first control plane device 100, the second control plane device 600 and the user plane device 300 comprises the necessary communication capabilities in the form of e.g., functions, means, units, elements, etc., for performing the solution. Examples of other such means, units, elements and functions are: processors, memory, buffers, control logic, encoders, decoders, rate matchers, de-rate matchers, mapping units, multipliers, decision units, selecting units, switches, interleavers, de-interleavers, modulators, demodulators, inputs, outputs, antennas, amplifiers, receiver units, transmitter units, DSPs, MSDs, TCM encoder, TCM decoder, power supply units, power feeders, communication interfaces, communication protocols, etc. which are suitably arranged together for performing the solution.

Especially, the processor (s) of the first control plane device 100, the second control plane device 600 and the user plane device 300 may comprise, e.g., one or more instances of a Central Processing Unit (CPU) , a processing unit, a processing circuit, a processor, an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) , a microprocessor, or other processing logic that may interpret and execute instructions. The expression “processor” may thus represent a processing circuitry comprising a plurality of processing circuits, such as, e.g., any, some or all of the ones mentioned above. The processing circuitry may further perform data processing functions for inputting, outputting, and processing of data comprising data buffering and device control functions, such as call processing control, user interface control, or the like.

Finally, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the examples described above, but also relates to and incorporates all examples within the scope of the appended independent claims.

Claims

A first control plane device (100) for a communication system (500) , the first control plane device (100) being configured to

receive a first control message (510) from a second control plane device (600) , wherein the first control message (510) comprises at least one Policy and Charging Control, PCC, instruction;

upon determining that the received PCC instruction is to be activated for a user plane device (300) transmit a second control message (520) to the user plane device (300) , wherein the second control message (520) comprises:

a first information element (IE1) instructing the user plane device (300) to install the received PCC instruction as a predefined PCC instruction, and

a second information element (IE2) instructing the user plane device (300) to activate the received PCC instruction.
The first control plane device (100) according to claim 1, wherein at least one of

the first information element (IE1) comprises an identity (ID1) of the received PCC instruction to be installed, and

the second information element (IE2) comprises an identity (ID2) of the predefined PCC instruction to be activated.
The first control plane device (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the received PCC instruction is a Packet Detection Rule, PDR, indicating at least one of a Forwarding Action Rule, FAR, a Quality-of-Service Enforcement Rule, QER, and a Usage Reporting Rule, URR; and wherein

the second information element (IE2) instructs the user plane device (300) to activate at least one of: the FAR, the QER, and the URR.
The first control plane device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first control message (510) is comprised in a Protocol Data Unit, PDU, session establishment procedure.
The first control plane device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second control message (520) is a Packet Forwarding Control Protocol, PFCP, session establishment request message.
The first control plane device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein determining that that the received PCC instruction is to be activated comprises

determine that the received PCC instruction matches a predefined PCC instruction based on an identity (ID1) of the received PCC instruction and an identity (ID2) of the predefined PCC instruction.
The first control plane device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein determining that that the received PCC instruction is to be activated comprises

receive a third information element (IE3) comprised in the first control message (510) , wherein the third information element (IE3) instructs the first control plane device (100) to activate the received PCC instruction as a predefined PCC instruction for the use plane device (300) .
A user plane device (300) for a communication system (500) , the user plane device (300) being configured to

receive a second control message (520) from a first control plane device (100) , wherein the second control message (520) comprises:

a first information element (IE1) instructing the user plane device (300) to install at least one PCC instruction as a predefined PCC instruction, and

a second information element (IE2) instructing the user plane device (300) to activate the received PCC instruction.
The user plane device (300) according to claim 8, configured to

enforce the predefined PCC instruction for at least one client device (800) upon reception of the second control message (520) .
The user plane device (300) according to claim 8 or 9, wherein at least one of

the first information element (IE1) comprises an identity (ID1) of the received PCC instruction to be installed, and

the second information element (IE2) comprises an identity (ID2) of the predefined PCC instruction to be activated.
The user plane device (300) according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the received PCC instruction is a PDR indicating at least one of a FAR, a QER, and a URR; and wherein

the second information element (IE2) instructs the user plane device (300) to activate at least one of: the FAR, the QER, and the URR.
The user plane device (300) according to any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein the second control message (520) is a PFCP session establishment request message.
A second control plane device (600) for a communication system (500) , the second control plane device (600) being configured to

transmit a first control message (510) to a first control plane device (100) , wherein the first control message (510) comprises:

at least one PCC instruction, and

a third information element (IE3) instructing the first control plane device (100) to activate the PCC instruction as a predefined PCC instruction for a user plane device (300) .
The second control plane device (600) according to claim 13, wherein the first control message (510) is comprised in a PDU session establishment procedure.
A method (200) for a first control plane device (100) , the method (200) comprising

receiving (202) a first control message (510) from a second control plane device (600) , wherein the first control message (510) comprises at least one PCC instruction;

upon determining (204) that the received PCC instruction is to be activated for a user plane device (300) transmitting (206) a second control message (520) to the user plane device (300) , wherein the second control message (520) comprises:

a first information element (IE1) instructing the user plane device (300) to install the received PCC instruction as a predefined PCC instruction, and

a second information element (IE2) instructing the user plane device (300) to activate the received PCC instruction.
A method (400) for a user plane device (300) , the method (400) comprising

receiving (402) a second control message (520) from a first control plane device (100) , wherein the second control message (520) comprises:

a first information element (IE1) instructing the user plane device (300) to install at least one PCC instruction as a predefined PCC instruction, and

a second information element (IE2) instructing the user plane device (300) to activate the received PCC instruction.
A method (700) for a second control plane device (600) , the method (700) comprising

transmitting (702) a first control message (510) to a first control plane device (100) , wherein the first control message (510) comprises:

at least one PCC instruction, and

a third information element (IE3) instructing the first control plane device (100) to activate the PCC instruction as a predefined PCC instruction for a user plane device (300) .
A computer program with a program code for performing a method according to claim 16 or 17 when the computer program runs on a computer.