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EP-4736568-A1 - SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PCF - SD INTERFACE SUPPORT IN A COMMUNICATION NETWORK

EP4736568A1EP 4736568 A1EP4736568 A1EP 4736568A1EP-4736568-A1

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a system (100) and method (500) for policy control function (PCF) - Sd interface support in a communication network The system includes a Session Management Function (SMF) responsible for generating session 5 management (SM) policy control messages and the PCF (106) coupled with the SMF (104) to collect and process these messages. The PCF extracts diameter attribute value pair (AVP) from the SM policy control messages to create diameter messages, which are transmitted to a Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) node (114) via a Diameter Routing Agent (DRA) (112). The DPI node forwards these messages to 10 the User Plane Function (UPF) (108), which provides regulatory services within the network, enabling effective traffic management and control.

Inventors

  • BHATNAGAR, AAYUSH
  • Shetty, Mukta
  • Jha, Alok
  • KUMAR, SANJEEV
  • ANJALI, Kunuguntla
  • Jadhav, Sayali
  • Khamesra, Apoorva
  • GUPTA, ADITYA

Assignees

  • Jio Platforms Limited

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20240604

Claims (20)

  1. 1. A system (100) for catering traffic in a communication network, said system (100) comprising: a session management function (SMF) (104) configured to generate a plurality of session management (SM) policy control messages; a policy control function (PCF) (106) coupled with said SMF (104) to receive said plurality of generated SM policy control messages and is further configured to: extract at least one diameter attribute value pair (A VP) from said received SM policy control messages to generate a plurality of diameter messages; and transmit said plurality of generated diameter messages to a deep packet inspection (DPI) node (114), via a diameter routing agent (DR A) (112); and said DPI node (114) is configured to cater the traffic by forwarding said plurality of diameter messages to at least one User Plane Function (UPF) (108), wherein said at least one UPF (108) is configured to provide at least one regulatory service in said communication network.
  2. 2. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of SM policy control messages includes one or more of a policy creation message and a policy updation message.
  3. 3. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one diameter AVP includes a destination-Host AVP, a Server-Name AVP, a Subscription ID AVP, a Framed IP Address AVP, an Origin-Host AVP, an Origin-Realm AVP, a Destination-Realm AVP, an ADC-Rule-Install AVP, an Event- Trigger AVP, a Subscription-id AVP, a User-Equipment-Info AVP, a Framed-IP-Address AVP, a Framed-IPv6-Prefix AVP, a Called-Station-id A VP, a 3GPP-SGSN-MCC-MNC AVP, and a 3GPP-User-Location-Info AVP.
  4. 4. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of diameter messages includes a number of data messages, a plurality of diameter interface messages, and at least one diameter AVP.
  5. 5. The system (100) as claimed in claim 4, wherein said plurality of diameter interface messages includes at least one or more of a traffic detection function (TDF) -Session-Request (TSR) message, a TDF-Session-Answer (TSA) message, a Re-Auth-Request (RAR) message, a Re-Auth-Answer (RAA) message, and a Credit-Control (CC) Request (CCR) message and a CC-Answer (CCA) message.
  6. 6. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said DPI node (114) is coupled with said PCF (106) or a policy and charging rules function (PCRF) via an Sd interface.
  7. 7. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said DPI node (114) is configured to manage traffic of at least one UPF cluster having three active UPF data plane (DP) servers.
  8. 8. The system (100) as claimed in claim 7, wherein said DRA (112) is configured to control distribution of said plurality of diameter messages among said three active UPF DP servers of said at least one UPF cluster.
  9. 9. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said PCF (106) is configured to maintain a runtime configurable table having values of a control plane information, at least one data network name (DNN), a Diameter-Host DPI, a Diameter-Realm DPI, a primary DRA Internet Protocol (IP) address, and a secondary DRA IP address.
  10. 10. The system (100) as claimed in claim 9, wherein said PCF is configured to extract at least one control plane information from said SM policy control messages and map said extracted control plane information with the control plane information stored in said runtime configurable table corresponding to said at least one UPF to take an action accordingly.
  11. 11. The system (100) as claimed in claim 10, wherein said action includes triggering a Sd session, terminating an existing Sd session, and establishing a new Sd session.
  12. 12. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one regulatory service is an application-level barring service.
  13. 13. A method (500) of catering traffic in a communication network, said method (500) comprising: generating (502), by a session management function (SMF) (104), a plurality of session management (SM) policy control messages; receiving (504), by a policy control function (PCF) (106), said generated plurality of SM policy control messages; extracting (506), by said PCF (106), at least one diameter attribute value pair (AVP) from said received SM policy control messages to generate a plurality of diameter messages; transmitting (508), by said PCF (106), said plurality of generated diameter messages to a deep packet inspection (DPI) node (114), via a diameter routing agent (DR A) (112); and catering (510), by said DPI node (114), the traffic by forwarding said plurality of diameter messages to at least one User Plane Function (UPF) (108), wherein said at least one UPF (108) is configured to provide at least one regulatory service in said communication network.
  14. 14. The method (500) as claimed in claim 13, wherein said plurality of SM policy control messages includes one or more of a policy creation message and a policy updation message.
  15. 15. The method (500) as claimed in claim 13, wherein said at least one diameter AVP includes a destination-Host AVP, a Server-Name AVP, a Subscription ID AVP, a Framed IP Address AVP, an Origin-Host AVP, an Origin-Realm AVP, a Destination-Realm AVP, an ADC-Rule-Install AVP, an Event- Trigger AVP, a Subscription-id AVP, a User-Equipment-Info AVP, a Framed-IP-Address AVP, a Framed-IPv6-Prefix AVP, a Called-Station-id AVP, a 3GPP-SGSN-MCC-MNC AVP, and a 3GPP-User-Location-Info AVP.
  16. 16. The method (500) as claimed in claim 13, wherein said at least one diameter message includes a number of data messages, a plurality of diameter interface messages, and at least one diameter AVP.
  17. 17. The method (500) as claimed in claim 16, wherein said plurality of diameter interface messages includes at least one or more of a traffic detection function (TDF) -Session-Request (TSR) message, a TDF-Session-Answer (TSA) message, a Re-Auth-Request (RAR) message, a Re-Auth-Answer (RAA) message, and a Credit-Control (CC) Request (CCR) message and a CC-Answer (CCA) message.
  18. 18. The method (500) as claimed in claim 13, wherein said DPI node (114) is coupled with said PCF (106) or a policy and charging rules function (PCRF) via an Sd interface.
  19. 19. The method (500) as claimed in claim 13, wherein said DPI node (114) is configured to manage traffic of at least one UPF cluster having three active UPF data plane (DP) servers.
  20. 20. The method (500) as claimed in claim 19, wherein said DRA (112) is configured to control distribution of said plurality of diameter messages among said three active UPF-DP servers of said at least one UPF cluster.

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PCF - SD INTERFACE SUPPORT IN A COMMUNICATION NETWORK RESERVATION OF RIGHTS [0001] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material, which is subject to intellectual property rights such as, but are not limited to, copyright, design, trademark, Integrated Circuit (IC) layout design, and/or trade dress protection, belonging to Jio Platforms Limited (JPL) or its affiliates (hereinafter referred as owner). The owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all rights whatsoever. All rights to such intellectual property are fully reserved by the owner. FIELD OF DISCLOSURE [0002] The embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to a communication network. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a system and method for policy control function (PCF) - Sd interface support in the communication network. DEFINITION [0003] As used in the present disclosure, the following terms are generally intended to have the meaning as set forth below, except to the extent that the context in which they are used indicate otherwise. [0004] The expression ‘SMF’ used hereinafter in the specification refers to session management function for collecting information related to packet data unit (PDU) session management from various network components in the 5G core network. [0005] The expression ‘PCF’ used hereinafter in the specification refers to policy control function specifying policy rules for application and service data flow detection, gating, quality of service (QoS), and flow-based charging to the SMF. [0006] The expression ‘AMF’ used hereinafter in the specification refers to access and mobility management function providing control plane network functions (NF) of the 5G core network. [0007] The expression ‘UPF’ used hereinafter in the specification refers to user plane function for connecting the actual data coming over the Radio Area Network (RAN) to the Internet. [0008] The expression ‘DPI node’ used hereinafter in the specification refers to a deep packet inspection node for examining the content of data packets as these data packets pass by a checkpoint in a communication network. [0009] These definitions are in addition to those expressed in the art. BACKGROUND OF DISCLOSURE [0010] The following description of related art is intended to provide background information pertaining to the field of the disclosure. This section may include certain aspects of the art that may be related to various features of the present disclosure. However, it should be appreciated that this section be used only to enhance the understanding of the reader with respect to the present disclosure, and not as admissions of prior art. [0011] In recent times, there have been many users subscribing to fifth generation (5G) network services, and it is essential to provide proper service delivery and high-quality experience to the users. In the existing fourth generation (4G) network, a deep packet inspection (DPI) node supports regulatory requirements to enhance user experience. With the growing 5G subscribers, it is required that the DPI node performs regulatory functions for the 5G network. The existing 4G DPI node may be used in the 5G core network (5GCN) production environment to fulfil such regulatory requirements. However, there needs to be specifications related to the techniques for interfacing the existing 4G DPI node with the 5G network. [0012] There is, therefore, a need in the art to provide a method and a system that can overcome the shortcomings of the existing prior arts. OBJECTS OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE [0013] Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfies are as listed herein below. [0014] An object of the present disclosure is to enable the existing 4G deep packet inspection (DPI) node to provide regulatory services for the 5G network. [0015] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a policy control function (PCF) to send diameter messages to the diameter routing agent (DRA). [0016] An object of the present disclosure is to enable PCF to collect diameter attribute value pair (A VP) information from session management (SM) policy control hypertext transfer protocol (http2) messages. [0017] An object of the present disclosure is to enable PCF to collect information related to a user plane function control place (UPF-CP) from a session management function (SMF). [0018] An object of the present disclosure is to enable the PCF to send the Sd traffic to the 4G DPI nodes for specific UPF which may be connected with DPI. [0019] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a standby DPI node to perform the functions of the active DPI node during a failure. SUMMARY [0020] The present disclosure discloses a system for catering traffic in a communication network.