Method and apparatus for handling user service profile information in a communications network implementing mobile edge computing (MEC)

    公开(公告)号:US11159936B2

    公开(公告)日:2021-10-26

    申请号:US16963627

    申请日:2018-01-25

    Abstract: A method of handling user service profile information in a communications network, the communications network including a core network (CN) and a radio access network (RAN), includes receiving, at a first network element located in the CN, a first application status change message from a first mobile edge computing (MEC) server located in the RAN, the first application status change message indicating one or more applications currently running on the first MEC server; detecting a location update message received at the CN from a UE attached to the RAN; and in response to detecting the location update message, obtaining service profile data of the UE for at least one service corresponding to at least one of the one or more applications, and providing the obtained service profile data to the first MEC server.

    QUOTA MANAGEMENT IN A SESSION MANAGEMENT FUNCTION (SMF) FOR ONLINE CHARGING

    公开(公告)号:US20210051235A1

    公开(公告)日:2021-02-18

    申请号:US16978437

    申请日:2018-03-20

    Abstract: Systems, methods, and software for performing online charging in next generation networks. In one embodiment, a Session Management Function (SMF) of a next generation network implements a Charging Trigger Function (CTF) that directly interfaces with an Online Charging System (OCS). The CTF transmits a charging request to the OCS requesting a quota of service units for the SMF, and receives a charging response from the OCS indicating the quota of service units granted to the SMF by the OCS. The CTF then manages the quota by allocating slices of the quota to User Plane Functions (UPF) implemented in a user plane of the next generation network.

    Method and device for obtaining resources and information of SDN networks of different operators

    公开(公告)号:US10805838B2

    公开(公告)日:2020-10-13

    申请号:US16348539

    申请日:2017-12-05

    Inventor: Xin Qu Yigang Cai

    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a method for obtaining information and resources of SDN networks of different operators and a corresponding device. The method includes UE of the first operator transmits a resource request to an SDN controller of the first operator. Afterwards, the SDN controller of the first operator transmits a resource request to an SDN controller of the second operator via an interface newly introduced by the present invention, obtains information of the SDN network of the second operator and utilizes resources of the SDN network of the second operator based on the information. The present invention also discloses a device capable of implementing the above method.

    Random access procedures for MTC devices

    公开(公告)号:US11432125B2

    公开(公告)日:2022-08-30

    申请号:US16609864

    申请日:2017-05-03

    Abstract: Systems, methods, and software for handling random access procedures. In one embodiment, an access network element that stores an MTC reservation pattern that defines at least one MTC-On interval where MTC is allowed, and defines at least one MTC-Off interval where MTC is prohibited. During an MTC-On interval, the access network element receives preambles for random access procedures from MTC devices, and performs the random access procedures for the MTC devices in response to the preambles. The access network element detects a transition from the MTC-On interval to a next MTC-Off interval, and determines whether the random access procedures for the MTC devices will complete before the transition. If not, the access network element modifies the MTC reservation pattern to expedite completion of the random access procedures.

    SHARING OF RADIO RESOURCES BETWEEN MTC AND NON-MTC USING SHARING PATTERNS

    公开(公告)号:US20220256558A1

    公开(公告)日:2022-08-11

    申请号:US17731854

    申请日:2022-04-28

    Abstract: Systems and methods for sharing radio resources on an air interface. One embodiment comprises an access network element (e.g., base station) that stores a plurality of sharing patterns each comprising a different mapping of the radio resources on a physical layer of the air interface between Machine-Type Communications (MTC) and non-MTC. The access network element identifies a resource sharing window, receives input indicating conditions in the access network, selects a sharing pattern from the plurality of sharing patterns in the pattern database for the resource sharing window based on the conditions in the access network, schedules MTC transmissions on the air interface at a beginning of the resource sharing window based on the sharing pattern, and schedules non-MTC transmissions on the air interface at the beginning of the resource sharing window based on the sharing pattern.

    Efficient computing of application data in mobile communication network

    公开(公告)号:US11197209B2

    公开(公告)日:2021-12-07

    申请号:US16862032

    申请日:2020-04-29

    Abstract: There is provided a solution for balancing application content processing in a mobile communication network. According to an aspect, a method comprises: determining to handover content processing of application data of a terminal device from a first network element to a second network element, wherein one of the first network element and the second network element is configured to perform multi-access edge computing and the other one of the first network element and the second network element is an application server in a core network or beyond the core network from a perspective of the multi-access edge computing; and transmitting at least one handover message to handover the content processing of the application data from the first network element to the second network element.

    QUOTA MANAGEMENT IN MOBILE EDGE COMPUTING (MEC)

    公开(公告)号:US20210099316A1

    公开(公告)日:2021-04-01

    申请号:US16978465

    申请日:2018-03-20

    Inventor: Zhi Wang Yigang Cai

    Abstract: Systems, methods, and software for performing online charging in next generation networks. In one embodiment, a Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) server is implemented at a Radio Access Network (RAN) of a next generation network. The MEC server hosts a plurality of edge applications provisioned to provide MEC services for a session. The MEC server communicates with a Session Management Function (SMF) of the next generation network to acquire a quota of service units for the session. The MEC server then manages the quota by allocating slices of the quota to the edge applications, and transmitting messages to the edge applications indicating the slices allocated to the edge applications.

    Charging policies in network entities that have separate control plane and user plane

    公开(公告)号:US11575796B2

    公开(公告)日:2023-02-07

    申请号:US17052883

    申请日:2018-05-08

    Abstract: A control plane entity selects a subset of a plurality of user plane entities to support a charging session associated with a user based on charging policies for the plurality of user plane entities. The control plane entity allocates portions of a quota for the charging session to the control plane entity and the subset of the plurality of user plane entities based on the charging policies. In some cases, the control plane entity modifies the quotas that are allocated to the control plane entity or the subset of the plurality of user plane entities. Modifying the quotas can include redistributing unused portions of the quotas among the control plane entity and the subset of the plurality of user plane entities, e.g., in response to handover of the user equipment between user plane entities.

    Enhanced interfaces for network slice selection based on charging rules

    公开(公告)号:US11044664B2

    公开(公告)日:2021-06-22

    申请号:US16611842

    申请日:2017-06-29

    Abstract: Systems and methods of a network that implements network slicing. In one embodiment, the system includes an account charging server that determines a plurality of charging rules for a UE that are each mapped to a different network slice of the network, a policy control server that identifies the charging rules, and a slice selection server that selects a network slice for the UE based on the charging rules. The system further includes an interface between the policy control server and the account charging server that supports a transaction based on Diameter protocol that includes a request/response. A first Attribute Value Pair (AVP) is defined for the response to identify a charging rule, and a second AVP is defined for the response to identify a network slice that is mapped to the charging rule.

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