Policy control function fallback

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12244435-B2
Application number	US-202318517440-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 22, 2023
Priority date	Sep 18, 2020
Publication date	Mar 4, 2025
Grant date	Mar 4, 2025

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

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.

Assignees

• T Mobile Usa Inc

Inventors

• Deshpande Mallika

Classifications

• H04W8/08

  Mobility data transfer · CPC title

• H04L12/1407

  Policy-and-charging control [PCC] architecture · CPC title

• H04L41/0663

  Performing the actions predefined by failover planning, e.g. switching to standby network elements · CPC title

• H04W72/53

  based on regulatory allocation policies · CPC title

• H04W8/18

  Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data · CPC title