Reporting of aggregated RAN congestion information
The present disclosure is directed at systems, methods and media for relieving RAN congestion in a core network. In some embodiments, RAN congestion information is reported from user equipment to a packet data gateway (PGW) through an eNodeB and a software gateway. The PGW can aggregate the RAN congestion information and periodically notify other network nodes, for example, a PCRF, about the aggregate congestion in a network. By aggregating RAN congestion information, the PGW can substantially reduce the signaling required to report RAN congestion in the core network.
1. A network apparatus in a core network, the network apparatus comprising a Packet Data Network (PDN) gateway (PGW), the network apparatus comprising:
one or more interfaces; and
a processor in communication with the one or more interfaces;
the network apparatus to:
receive a first indication of congestion information related to a first user equipment (UE) during a time period;
receive a second indication of congestion information relating to a second UE during that same time period;
generate a message aggregating the congestion information comprising at least the first and second indications of congestion information; and
send the message comprising the aggregated congestion information to the PCRF node over one of the interfaces.
2. The network apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising the PCRF node, wherein the PCRF node further sends the message to an Application Function (AF) node.
3. The network apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising the PCRF node, wherein the PCRF node further sends the message to a Traffic Detection Function (TDF) node.
4. The network apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the message comprises a Node-Info-Push message.
5. The network apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the network apparatus is a packet data network gateway (PGW) and the first and second indications are received from one or more radio access networks.
6. The network apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the network apparatus collects congestion information for multiple UEs over a time period t.
7. The network apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the apparatus is configured to negotiate whether or not the network apparatus will aggregate the message prior to use.
8. The network apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the aggregated congestion information is piggybacked onto an existing message.
9. A method for providing congestion information in a network system, comprising:
receiving, at a Packet Data Network (PDN) gateway (PGW) in communication with multiple user equipments (UEs) via radio access networks (RANs), a first indication of congestion information relating to a first UE;
receiving, at the PGW, a second indication of congestion information relating to a second UE;
generating, by the PGW, a message indicating aggregated congestion information including at least the first and second indications of congestion information; and
sending, by the PGW, the aggregated congestion information message to a policy charging rules function (PCRF) node.
10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising sending the message from the PCRF node to an Application Function (AF) node.
11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising sending the message from the PCRF node to a Traffic Detection Function (TDF) node.
12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the message comprises a Node-Info-Push message.
13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the network apparatus includes a packet data network gateway (PGW), and receives information generated by RANs.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the network apparatus collects congestion information for multiple UEs over a time period t.
15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising determining whether the network apparatus will aggregate the congestion information or provide separate messages for the first and second congestion information.
16. The method of claim 13 , further comprising piggybacking the aggregated congestion information onto an existing another message.
17. The method of claim 9 , further comprising providing, to the first UE and the second UE by the PDN gateway, connectivity to a plurality of external packet data networks.
18. A method for relieving congestion in a network system, comprising:
receiving at a Policy Rules Charging Function (PCRF) node, from a Packet Data Network (PDN) gateway, a first message comprising congestion information, wherein the message comprises aggregated congestion information including at least a first indication of congestion information and a second indication of congestion information relating to first and a second user equipment (UE);
generating a policy enforcement decision to relieve congestion in the network; and
sending a second message to the PGW, wherein the second message comprises control message for relieving congestion in the network.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the PCRF forwards the message to an Application Function (AF) node.
20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the PCRF forwards the message to a Traffic Detection Function (TDF) node.
21. The method of claim 18 , further comprising determining whether to receive congestion information relating to multiple UEs in aggregate form.