IP Library › Patent Application 16830684
Patent Application
App. No. 16/830,684

Systems and Methods Using a Centralized Node to Collect RAN User Plane Congestion Information

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
16/830,684
Abstract

A centralized node collects and stores radio access network (RAN) user plane congestion information (RCI) that is reported from the RAN to a core network. The centralized node provides a congestion information collection function (CICF) and includes one or more interface to communicate with a mobility management entity (MME) and/or a serving general packet radio service (GPRS) support node (SGSN). The MME and/or SGSN allows the centralized node to determine user equipments (UEs) and associated access point name (APNs) impacted by RAN congestion. The centralized node reports the RCI to a policy and charging rules function (PCRF) associated with the APNs for congestion mitigation.

Claims (42)

1 . The following listing of claims will replace all prior versions, and listings, of claims in the application.

1 - 22 (canceled)

23 . A centralized node comprising:

a first interface;

a second interface; and

a processor operably connected to the first interface and the second interface and configured to cause the centralized node to:

receive, via the first interface, congestion information;

determine, based at least on the congestion information, a congestion level of a radio access network (RAN) element;

receive, via the second interface, a list of identifiers associated with user equipment (UE) devices (UEs) served by the RAN element;

receive, via the second interface, a respective list of access point names (APNs) associated with active packet data network (PDN) connections for respective identifiers in the list of identifiers; and

report the congestion information to a network function serving the active PDN connections.

24 . The centralized node of claim 23 , wherein the RAN element comprises a base station.

25 . The centralized node of claim 23 , wherein the RAN element comprises a cell.

26 . The centralized node of claim 23 , wherein the congestion information indicates a congested interface direction.

27 . The centralized node of claim 23 , wherein the congestion information includes packet data protocol (PDP) context information.

28 . The centralized node of claim 23 , wherein the congestion information indicates a change in the congestion level.

29 . The centralized node of claim 23 , wherein the congestion information includes a bearer identifier.

30 . A method for operating a cellular network, the method comprising:

at a node of the cellular network:

receiving, via a first interface, congestion information;

determining, based at least on the congestion information, a congestion level of a radio access network (RAN) element of the cellular network;

receiving, via a second interface, a list of identifiers associated with user equipment (UE) devices (UEs) served by the RAN element;

receiving, via the second interface, a respective list of access point names (APNs) associated with active packet data network (PDN) connections for respective identifiers in the list of identifiers; and

reporting the congestion information to a network function serving the active PDN connections.

31 . The method of claim 30 , wherein the RAN element comprises a base station or a cell.

32 . The method of claim 30 , wherein the RAN element comprises a cell.

33 . The method of claim 30 , wherein the congestion information indicates a congested interface direction.

34 . The method of claim 30 , wherein the congestion information includes packet data protocol (PDP) context information.

35 . The method of claim 30 , wherein the congestion information includes a bearer identifier.

36 . An apparatus for operating a centralized node of a cellular network, the apparatus comprising:

a processor configured to cause the centralized node to:

receive, via a first interface, congestion information;

determine, based at least on the congestion information, a congestion level of a radio access network (RAN) element;

receive, via a second interface, a list of identifiers associated with user equipment (UE) devices (UEs) served by the RAN element;

receive, via the second interface, a respective list of access point names (APNs) associated with active packet data network (PDN) connections for respective identifiers in the list of identifiers; and

report the congestion information to a network function serving the active PDN connections.

37 . The apparatus of claim 36 , wherein the RAN element comprises a base station.

38 . The apparatus of claim 36 , wherein the RAN element comprises a cell.

39 . The apparatus of claim 36 , wherein the congestion information indicates a congested interface direction.

40 . The apparatus of claim 36 , wherein the congestion information includes packet data protocol (PDP) context information.

41 . The apparatus of claim 36 , wherein the congestion information indicates a change in the congestion level.

42 . The apparatus of claim 36 , wherein the congestion information includes a bearer identifier.