IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,244,435
Granted Patent B2
US 12,244,435 · App. 18/517,440 · Granted Mar 4, 2025

Policy control function fallback

Inventor: Mallika Deshpande (Sammamish, WA)
Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc.
H04L12/2876H04L12/1407H04L41/0663H04L65/1069H04W8/08H04W8/18H04W28/0925H04W72/53G06F11/2023H04L69/40
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,244,435
App. No.
18/517,440
Granted
Mar 4, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems, methods, and devices can be utilized for policy control function (PCF) fallback during the set up of a session utilizing a 5th Generation (5G) core network. An example method includes receiving, from a session management function (SMF), a request for a policy corresponding to a session. The request includes a first policy identifier corresponding to a first policy control function (PCF). The example method further includes determining that the first PCF is unavailable, generating a modified request by replacing the first policy identifier with a second policy identifier in the request. The second policy identifier corresponds to a second PCF. The example method also includes transmitting, to the second PCF, the modified second request.

Claims (72)

1. A system, comprising:

one or more processors; and

a memory storing components executable by the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

receiving, from a session management function (SMF), a first request for a policy corresponding to a session, the first request comprising a first policy identifier corresponding to a first policy control function (PCF);

determining that the first PCF is unavailable;

generating a modified first request by replacing the first policy identifier with a second policy identifier in the first request, the second policy identifier corresponding to a second PCF;

transmitting, to the second PCF, the modified first request;

receiving, from the SMF, a second request that requests the policy associated with the session;

transmitting, to the first PCF, the second request;

receiving, from the first PCF, a response that comprises the first policy identifier;

forwarding, to the SMF, the response;

transmitting, to the second PCF, the second request; and

receiving, from the second PCF, a second response that comprises the second policy identifier.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors and the memory are comprised in at least one of a service communication proxy (SCP), a building support function (BSF), or an interworking function (IWF).

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the modified first request comprises at least one of an Rx message originating from an Internet Protocol (IP) Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network, a policy control update message, or a policy control delete message.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the memory comprises a datastore that comprises:

an entry comprising the first policy identifier, the second policy identifier, and an identifier of the session,

wherein generating the modified first request comprises:

identifying the entry based on the first policy identifier; and

identifying the second policy identifier based on the entry.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the entry further comprises a subscription permanent identifier (SUPI) and a data network name (DNN) of the session.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the session comprises a voice over new radio (VONR) session.

7. The system of claim 1 , the operations further comprising:

receiving, from the SMF, a third request that requests a change to the policy associated with the session, the third request comprising the first policy identifier;

transmitting, to the first PCF, the third request;

receiving, from the first PCF, a third response that comprises the first policy identifier;

transmitting, to the SMF, the third response;

generating a revised third request by replacing the first policy identifier with the second policy identifier in the third request;

transmitting, to the second PCF, the revised third request; and

receiving, from the second PCF, a fourth response that comprises the second policy identifier.

8. A method, comprising:

receiving, from a session management function (SMF), a first request for a policy corresponding to a session, the first request comprising a first policy identifier corresponding to a first policy control function (PCF);

determining that the first PCF is unavailable;

generating a modified first request by replacing the first policy identifier with a second policy identifier in the first request, the second policy identifier corresponding to a second PCF;

transmitting, to the second PCF, the modified first request;

receiving, from the SMF, a second request that requests a change to the policy associated with the session, the second request comprising the first policy identifier;

transmitting, to the first PCF, the second request;

receiving, from the first PCF, a response that comprises the first policy identifier;

transmitting, to the SMF, the response;

generating a revised second request by replacing the first policy identifier with the second policy identifier in the second request;

transmitting, to the second PCF, the revised second request; and

receiving, from the second PCF, a second response that comprises the second policy identifier.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the method is performed by at least one of a service communication proxy (SCP), a building support function (BSF), or an interworking function (IWF).

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein generating the modified first request comprises:

identifying, in a datastore, an entry comprising the first policy identifier, the second policy identifier, and an identifier of the session; and

identifying the second policy identifier based on the entry.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the entry further comprises a subscription permanent identifier (SUPI) and a data network name (DNN) of the session.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the session comprises a voice over new radio (VONR) session.

13. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

receiving, from the second PCF, a third response based on the modified first request, the third response comprising the second policy identifier;

generating a modified third response by replacing the second policy identifier with the first policy identifier in the response; and

transmitting, to the SMF, the modified third response.

14. The method of claim 8 , the method further comprising:

receiving, from the SMF, a third request that requests the policy associated with the session;

transmitting, to the first PCF, the third request;

receiving, from the first PCF, a third response that comprises the first policy identifier;

forwarding, to the SMF, the third response;

transmitting, to the second PCF, the third request; and

receiving, from the second PCF, a fourth response that comprises the second policy identifier.

15. A system, comprising:

one or more processors; and

a memory storing components executable by the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

receiving, from a session management function (SMF), a first SIP request that requests a policy associated with a voice session;

transmitting, to a first policy control function (PCF), the first SIP request;

receiving, from the first PCF, a first SIP response that comprises a first policy identifier corresponding to the policy of the voice session;

forwarding, to the SMF, the first SIP response;

receiving, from the SMF, a second SIP request that comprises the first policy identifier;

determining that a communication link with the first PCF is interrupted;

generating a modified second SIP request by replacing the first policy identifier with a second policy identifier in the second SIP request; and

transmitting, to a second PCF, the modified second SIP request.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the one or more processors and the memory are comprised in at least one of a service communication proxy (SCP), a building support function (BSF), or an interworking function (IWF).

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the second SIP request comprises at least one of an Rx message originating from an Internet Protocol (IP) Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network, a policy control update message, or a policy control delete message.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 22, 2023
From: DESHPANDE, MALLIKA
To: T-MOBILE USA, INC.
Reel/Frame 065646/0085 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 17026120 · Sep 18, 2020
Related Publication 20240097933A1 · Mar 21, 2024
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