EP-4740694-A1 - METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MANAGING NETWORK RESOURCE CLEANUP IN A TELECOMMUNICATION NETWORK

EP4740694A1EP 4740694 A1EP4740694 A1EP 4740694A1EP-4740694-A1

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a method and system for managing network resource cleanup in a telecommunication network. The disclosure encompasses initiating, by an initiating unit [202], a guard timer when a user equipment (UE) is in a connected state, wherein the guard timer comprises at least a first configuration parameter and a second configuration parameter; freezing, by a processing unit [204], the guard timer upon determining that the UE moves from the connected state to a disconnected state; upon determining execution of a connected mode procedure, re-initiating, by the initiating unit [202], the guard timer; upon determining that a value of the second configuration parameter reaches a threshold timeout count when the UE is in the connected state, invoking, by the processing unit [204], a timeout-procedure; and initiating, by the initiating unit [202], a resource cleanup operation across network function (NF) nodes to which the UE is connected.

Inventors

BISHT, BIRENDRA
BHATNAGAR, AAYUSH
Singh, Harbinder Pal
LUTHRA, GAURAV
SINGH, SUMIT
JAISWAL, Rakesh Kumar
JAT, Saniya
KUMAR, RAHUL
GUPTA, ANSHUL

Assignees

Jio Platforms Limited

Dates

Publication Date: 20260513
Application Date: 20240626

Claims (15)

1. A method for managing network resource cleanup in a telecommunication network, the method comprising: initiating, by an initiating unit [202], a guard timer when a user equipment (UE) is in a connected state, wherein the guard timer comprises at least a first configuration parameter and a second configuration parameter; freezing, by a processing unit [204], the guard timer upon determining that the UE moves from the connected state to a disconnected state; upon determining execution of a connected mode procedure, re-initiating, by the initiating unit [202], the guard timer; upon determining that a value of the second configuration parameter reaches a threshold timeout count when the UE is in the connected state, invoking, by the processing unit [204], a timeout procedure; and initiating, by the initiating unit [202], a resource cleanup operation across one or more network function (NF) nodes to which the UE is connected.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first configuration parameter comprises a guard timer value and the second configuration parameter comprises the threshold timeout count.
3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the timeout procedure comprises: sending, by a transceiver unit [206], a de-regi strati on request to the UE upon invoking the timeout procedure; and in response to the de-regi strati on request, receiving, by the transceiver unit [206], a deregistration response from the UE.
4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the timeout procedure further comprises: determining, by the processing unit [204], whether the UE has established at least one packet data unit (PDU) session based at least on one session identifier; upon determining that the UE has established at least one PDU session, sending, by the transceiver unit [206], at least one release session request corresponding to at least one PDU session to a Session Management Function (SMF); and receiving, by the transceiver unit [206], at least one release session response in response to the at least one release session request from the SMF.
5. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the timeout procedure further comprises: determining, by the processing unit [204], whether the UE is associated with a policy control function (PCF); and initiating, by the initiating unit [202], a policy association termination procedure.
6. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the timeout procedure further comprises: sending, by the transceiver unit [206], a de-regi strati on request to Unified Data Management (UDM); and in response to the de-regi strati on request, receiving, by the transceiver unit [206], a de-regi strati on response from the UDM.
7. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: maintaining, by the processing unit [204], a checkpointed state of the guard timer, wherein the checkpointed state ensures continuation of the guard timer in a standby process of an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) in case of a failover of an active process; upon a failover event where an active AMF process becomes non-functional, automatically activating, by the processing unit [204] via the standby process, the continuation of the guard timer based on the checkpointed state; and in response to the guard timer reaching its timeout in the activated standby process, initiating, by the initiating unit [202] via the standby process, the resource cleanup operation across the one or more network function (NF) nodes.
8. A system for managing network resource cleanup in a telecommunication network, the system comprises: an initiating unit [202] configured to initiate a guard timer when a user equipment (UE) is in a connected state, wherein the guard timer comprises at least a first configuration parameter and a second configuration parameter; a processing unit [204] configured to freeze the guard timer upon determination that the UE moves from the connected state to a disconnected state; the initiating unit [202] configured to re-initiate the guard timer, upon determination of execution of a connected mode procedure; the processing unit [204] configured to invoke a timeout-procedure, upon determination that a value of the second configuration parameter reaches a threshold timeout count when the UE is in the connected state; and the initiating unit [202] configured to initiate a resource cleanup operation across one or more network function (NF) nodes to which the UE is connected.
9. The system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first configuration parameter comprises a guard timer value and the second configuration parameter comprises the threshold timeout count.
10. The system as claimed in claim 8, wherein upon invoking the timeout procedure, a transceiver unit [206] is configured to send a de-registration request to the UE upon invoke of the timeout procedure; and the transceiver unit [206] is configured to receive a de-registration response from the UE in response to the de-registration request.
11. The system as claimed in claim 10, wherein upon invoking the timeout procedure, the processing unit [204] is configured to determine whether the UE has established at least one packet data unit (PDU) session based at least on one session identifier; the transceiver unit [206] is configured to send, upon determination that the UE has established at least one PDU session, at least one release session request corresponding to at least one PDU session to a Session Management Function (SMF); and the transceiver unit [206] is configured to receive at least one release session response in response to the at least one release session request from the SMF.
12. The system as claimed in claim 10, wherein upon invoking the timeout procedure, the processing unit [204] is further configured to determine whether the UE is associated with a policy control function (PCF); and the initiating unit [202] configured to initiate a policy association termination procedure.
13. The system as claimed in claim 10, wherein upon invoking the timeout procedure, the transceiver unit [206] is configured to send a de-registration request to Unified Data Management (UDM); and the transceiver unit [206] is configured to receive, in response to the de-registration request, a de-registration response from the UDM.
14. The system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the system comprises: the processing unit [204] to maintain a checkpointed state of the guard timer, wherein the checkpointed state ensures continuation of the guard timer in a standby process of an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) in case of a failover of an active process; the processing unit [204] to automatically activate, via the standby process, the continuation of the guard timer based on the checkpointed state, upon a failover event where an active AMF process becomes non-functional; and the initiating unit [202] to initiate, via the standby process, the resource cleanup operation across the one or more network function (NF) nodes, in response to the guard timer reaching its timeout in the activated standby process.
15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instruction for managing network resource cleanup in a telecommunication network, the storage medium comprising executable code which, when executed by one or more units of a system [200], causes: an initiating unit [202] to initiate a guard timer when a user equipment (UE) is in a connected state, wherein the guard timer comprises at least a first configuration parameter and a second configuration parameter; a processing unit [204] to freeze the guard timer upon determination that the UE moves from the connected state to a disconnected state; the initiating unit [202] to re-initiate the guard timer, upon determination of execution of a connected mode procedure; the processing unit [204] to invoke a timeout-procedure, upon determination that a value of the second configuration parameter reaches a threshold timeout count when the UE is in the connected state; and the initiating unit [202] to initiate a resource cleanup operation across one or more network function (NF) nodes to which the UE is connected.

Description

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MANAGING NETWORK RESOURCE CLEANUP IN A TELECOMMUNICATION NETWORK FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to the field of wireless communication systems. More particularly, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to methods and systems for managing network resources clean-up in a telecommunication network. BACKGROUND [0002] 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. [0003] Wireless communication technology has rapidly evolved over the past few decades, with each generation bringing significant improvements and advancements. The first generation of wireless communication technology was based on analog technology and offered only voice services. However, with the advent of the second-generation (2G) technology, digital communication and data services became possible, and text messaging was introduced. 3G technology marked the introduction of high-speed internet access, mobile video calling, and location-based services. The fourth-generation (4G) technology revolutionized wireless communication with faster data speeds, better network coverage, and improved security. Currently, the fifth-generation (5G) technology is being deployed, promising even faster data speeds, low latency, and the ability to connect multiple devices simultaneously. With each generation, wireless communication technology has become more advanced, sophisticated, and capable of delivering more services to its users. [0004] When a user equipment (UE) needs to connect with a 5G core network, it needs to establish a connection to an Access Management Function (AMF). The UE initiates the initial registration procedure followed by a Packet Data Unit (PDU) session establishment. After registration and the PDU establishment, the UE successfully latches to the 5G core network (5GCN). Thus, the connection management (CM) between the UE and the AMF has two states i.e., transition CM- Idle and CM-Connected. The CM-Idle defines a state when UE does not have signaling with AMF e.g., Radio Resource Control (RRC) Idle, and the CM-Connected means UE performs signaling connection with the AMF e.g., RRC-Connected and RRC -Inactive. [0005] Once the UE is successfully attached to the network, the AMF allocates resources for the UE and maintains the user state so that AMF is in sync with UE and gNB. As per 3 GPP standards, when the UE state becomes idle, the AMF needs to start either the Mobile Reachability Timer (MRT), Implicit Detach Timer (IDT), or PURGE timer to initiate the implicit detach procedure and needs to perform the de-registration procedure if the purge timer expires. However, when the UE is in CM-connected state, no such rules are defined in the existing solutions. Furthermore, due to any issue in the network and/or network node, if the procedure (say UE initiated PDU Release/Session Management Function (SMF) initiated PDU Release/Access Network (AN) Release, etc.) responsible to release the PDU sessions are not getting executed or completed, then the state of the UE at 5GC can be stale and resource remains stuck at AMF along with other 5GC nodes. Similarly, PDU session resources are also unnecessarily stuck at SMF and UPF. Thus, there is no synchronization between the UE and 5G-core node states. [0006] Therefore, there exists an imperative need in the art for a method and system for managing network resource cleanup in a telecommunication network. More particularly, the method and system to clean up network resources stuck in the connected mode of the UE. SUMMARY [0007] This section is provided to introduce certain aspects of the present disclosure in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify the key features or the scope of the claimed subject matter. [0008] An aspect of the present disclosure may relate to a method for managing network resource cleanup in a telecommunication network. The method includes initiating, by an initiating unit, a guard timer when a user equipment (UE) is in a connected state, wherein the guard timer comprises at least a first configuration parameter and a second configuration parameter. Next, the method includes freezing, by a processing unit, the guard timer upon determining that the UE moves from the connected state to a disconnected state. Next, the method includes, upon determining the execution of a connected mode procedure, re-initiating, by the initiating unit, the guard timer. Next, the method includes, upon determining that a value of the second configuration parameter reaches