Congestion mitigation by offloading to non-3GPP networks
First Claim
1. A network node in a telecommunications network, wherein the network node is for use as a Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) and comprising:
- a receiver configured to receive congestion data identifying a congested area (A-H) and one or more user equipment (UE), affected by the congested area, wherein the congestion data comprises Radio Access Network User Plane Congestion Information (RUCI) received from a further node for use a Radio Access Network Congestion Awareness Function (RCAF);
an alternative network determiner configured to determine one or more candidate switchable UEs, amongst the identified UEs, that may be offloaded to an alternative access network;
a network switcher configured to control a transmitter to transmit, towards a further node for use as an Access Network Discovery and Selection Function (ANDSF), an instruction for one or more of the candidate switchable UEs to switch to the alternative access network; and
wherein the receiver is configured to receive, from the further node for use as the ANDSF, information relating to the affected UEs have been switched to the alternative access network and those that have not.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for congestion mitigation in telecommunications networks. In an exemplary apparatus, a network node (314, 500; 302, 400) in a telecommunications network is provided, the node comprising: a receiver (504; 404) configured to receive congestion data identifying a congested area (A-H) and one or more user equipments, UE, (a-j; 312) affected by the congested area; an alternative network determiner (516; 420) configured to determine one or more switchable UEs, amongst the identified UEs, that may be offloaded to an alternative access network (1-3); and a network switcher (518; 422) configured to control a transmitter (502; 402) to transmit an instruction for one or more of the switchable UEs to switch to an alternative access network.
40 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A network node in a telecommunications network, wherein the network node is for use as a Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) and comprising:
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a receiver configured to receive congestion data identifying a congested area (A-H) and one or more user equipment (UE), affected by the congested area, wherein the congestion data comprises Radio Access Network User Plane Congestion Information (RUCI) received from a further node for use a Radio Access Network Congestion Awareness Function (RCAF); an alternative network determiner configured to determine one or more candidate switchable UEs, amongst the identified UEs, that may be offloaded to an alternative access network; a network switcher configured to control a transmitter to transmit, towards a further node for use as an Access Network Discovery and Selection Function (ANDSF), an instruction for one or more of the candidate switchable UEs to switch to the alternative access network; and wherein the receiver is configured to receive, from the further node for use as the ANDSF, information relating to the affected UEs have been switched to the alternative access network and those that have not. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A network node in a telecommunication network, wherein the network node is for use as an Access Network Discovery and Selection Function (ANDSF) and comprises;
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a receiver configured to receive congestion data identifying;
a congested area and one or more user equipment (UE) affected by the congested area, wherein the congestion data comprises Radio Access Network User Plane Congestion Information (RUCT) received from a farther node for use as a Policy and Charging Roles Function (PCRF);an alternative network determiner configured to determine one or more candidate switchable UEs, amongst the identified UEs, that may be offloaded to an alternative access network; a network switcher configured to control a transmitter to transmit an instruction for one or more of the candidate switchable UEs to switch to the alternative access network; and wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit data, toward the further network node for use as a PCRF wherein the data comprises information relating to the affected UEs that have been switched to the alternative access network and those that have not. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for operating a network node in a telecommunications network, wherein the network node is for use as a Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF), the method comprising:
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receiving, at a receiver, congestion data identifying a congested area and one or more user equipment (UE), affected by the congested area, wherein the congestion data comprises Radio Access Network User Plane Congestion Information (RUCI) received from a further node for use a Radio Access Network Congestion Awareness Function (RCAF); determining, at an alternative network determiner, one or more candidate switchable UEs, amongst the identified UEs, that may be offloaded to an alternative access network; controlling, by a network switcher, a transmitter to transmit, towards a further node for use as an Access Network Discovery and Selection Function (ANDSF), an instruction for one or more of the candidate switchable UEs to switch to the alternative access network; receiving, at the receiver, from the further node for use as the ANDSF, information relating to the affected UEs have been switched to the alternative access network and those that have not. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 25, 26)
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20. A method for operating a network node in a telecommunications network, wherein the network node is for use as an Access Network Discovery and Selection Function (ANDSF), the method comprising:
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receiving, at a receiver, congestion data identifying a congested area and one or more user equipment (UE), affected by the congested area, wherein the congestion data comprises Radio Access Network User Plane Congestion Information (RUCI) received from a further node for use a Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF); determining, at an alternative network determiner, one or more candidate switchable UEs, amongst the identified UEs, that may be offloaded to an alternative access network; controlling, by a network switcher, a transmitter to transmit, towards a further node for use as an Access Network Discovery and Selection Function (ANDSF), an instruction for one or more of the candidate switchable UEs to switch to the alternative access network; transmitting, by the transmitter, data to the further network node for use as a PCRF, wherein the data comprises information relating to the affected UEs that have been switched to the alternative access network and those that have not. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 27)
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Specification