END-TO-END RESOURCE PRIORITIZATION FOR A MULTIMEDIA PRIORITY SERVICE ON-DEMAND SERVICE USER

A method for facilitating an on-demand multimedia priority service (MPS) for a data transport services (DTS) session to receive end to end prioritization within 5G Core (5GC) and radio access network (RAN) is provided. The method includes: propagating an MPS On-Demand indication to 5GC network functions and RAN via (a) Policy Control Function sending an MPS On-Demand indication to Session Management Function (SMF) when a authorized user initiates such a service usage, (b) SMF recording the on session demand status and sending the MPS On-Demand indication to an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), and (c) AMF, in response to receiving the MPS On-Demand indication, upgrading the user for multimedia priority services in the 5G core based on policy, and sending to user equipment (UE), an MPS indicator in downlink Non-Access Stratum (NAS) messaging to indicate that the UE may use MPS access identity to receive radio access prioritization.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

1. Field of the Disclosure

The present disclosure relates to mobile communications, and more particularly, to an on-demand invocation of a multimedia priority service (MPS) during an emergency situation.

2. Description of the Related Art

The approaches described in this section are approaches that could be pursued, but not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, the approaches described in this section may not be prior art to the claims in this application and are not admitted prior art by inclusion in this section.

In telecommunications, 5G is a fifth-generation technology standard for broadband cellular networks. A multimedia priority service (MPS) supported by a 5G system (5GS) allows a user priority access to 5GS resources in situations such as during congestion, creating the ability to deliver or complete sessions of a high priority nature. The user may be government-authorized personnel, an emergency management official and/or other authorized user.

In the event of a failure of MPS authorized user equipment (UE) during an emergency situation or a governmental operation/mission, an authorized MPS user may need to use UE without an MPS subscription, i.e., a public UE, to request MPS for data transport services (DTS). Once the user is verified by the MPS service provider, for example, via credential authentication at a well-defined uniform resource locator (URL) of which the user is aware, the MPS service provider's Application Function (AF) triggers 5GS to upgrade the user's data transport flows to MPS priority.

Once an MPS session is established, priority treatment is provided for the media flows or a subset of the media flows, and the user is able to support different communication applications (e.g., data, streaming video, email, messages) over the MPS for the DTS session. However, the user does not receive access/signaling/mobility service prioritization as the UE, radio access network (RAN) and 5G core (5GC) network functions (NFs), such as the Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) and the Session Management Function (SMF), are unaware of the user's on-demand MPS authorization status.

For an MPS on-demand user, the Policy Control Function (PCF) receives an “MPS” indication in messaging from the AF when a user is authorized by an MPS service provider to enforce appropriate quality of service (QoS) for prioritized media flows. However, the 3rdGeneration Partnership Project (3GPP) does not provide any explicit procedure of conveying this MPS indication from the PCF to other 5GC NFs such as the AMF, the SMF and User Plane Function (UPF), and subsequently from the AMF to the UE. As a result, the SMF and UPF are unaware that an MPS Packet Data Unit (PDU) session in use by an on-demand MPS user in the event session level resource prioritization is applicable during congestion, the AMF is unaware of the on-demand MPS user's need for MPS prioritization for access and mobility events, and consequently, the user equipment (UE) is also unaware of an upgraded MPS status.

Lack of end-to-end prioritization for an on-demand MPS user leads to the following problems:(a) In the event of radio signaling connection loss/release for an on-demand MPS user, a non-MPS subscribed device/public-UE used by the user is unaware that it should be requesting priority access.(b) An authorized on-demand MPS user who managed to gain 5G service access to successfully setup an MPS for a data transport session during an active disaster or overload situation is put at a severe disadvantage in the event of the non-MPS UE losing radio connection to the RAN and getting moved to an IDLE state. The non-MPS UE may not be able to successfully bring up the radio connection to the RAN to continue using the authorized MPS session given that the non-MPS UE was never informed that it has been temporarily upgraded to MPS on-demand status, and thereby does not indicate access priority request to the RAN during Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection re-establishment. The RAN therefore does not give the non-MPS UE any priority over others during a network congestion/overload in a disaster situation when other devices are also attempting to gain network connectivity at the same time.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present document discloses a method for facilitating an on-demand multimedia priority service (MPS) for a data transport services (DTS) session to receive end to end prioritization within 5G Core (5GC) and radio access network (RAN). The method includes propagating an MPS On-Demand indication to 5GC network functions and RAN via (a) Policy Control Function sending an MPS On-Demand indication to Session Management Function (SMF) when a authorized user initiates such a service usage, (b) SMF recording the on session demand status and sending the MPS On-Demand indication to an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), and (c) AMF, in response to receiving the MPS On-Demand indication, upgrading the user for multimedia priority services in the 5G core for signaling and mobility, based on policy, and sending to user equipment (UE), an MPS indicator in downlink Non-Access Stratum (NAS) messaging to indicate that the UE may use MPS access identity to receive radio access prioritization.

A component or a feature that is common to more than one drawing is indicated with the same reference number in each of the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

Pursuant to the technique disclosed herein, an authorized MPS user may use an MPS-subscribed device or a non-MPS subscribed device to obtain priority services from a network. When the authorized MPS user initiates a request for services using a UE with an MPS subscription, prioritized radio and signaling support is provided by access and core network elements from initial access to the network with the UE triggering request the request. An authorized MPS user using UE with non-MPS subscription can invoke MPS for DTS and receive prioritized media flows once authorized by an MPS Service Provider.

FIG.1is a block diagram of a system100that provides end-to-end resource prioritization for a multimedia service on-demand service user, i.e., user105. System100includes UE110, a RAN115, a computer120, and a data network, namely network165. UE110is communicatively coupled to RAN115, which is communicatively coupled to computer120, which is communicatively coupled to network165.

UE110is a communication device such as a cell phone, and is being used by user105. In the industry, user105is also known as “a subscriber”.

Computer120includes a processor125and a memory130that is operationally coupled to processor125.

Processor125is an electronic device configured of logic circuitry that responds to and executes instructions.

Memory130is a tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable storage device encoded with a computer program. In this regard, memory130stores data and instructions, i.e., program code, which are readable and executable by processor125for controlling operations of processor125. Memory130may be implemented in a random access memory (RAM), a hard drive, a read only memory (ROM), or a combination thereof.

Memory130includes:an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF)135;a Session Management Function (SMF)140;a Policy Control Function (PCF)145;an Application Function (AF)150; anda User Plane Function (UPF)155.
In the present document, AMF135, SMF140, PCF145, AF150and UPF155are collectively referred to as modules160, and although we describe operations being performed by modules160, the operations are actually being performed by processor125.

While modules160are indicated as being already loaded into memory130, they may be configured on a storage device170for subsequent loading into memory130. Storage device170is a tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable storage device that stores modules160thereon. Examples of storage device170include (a) a compact disk, (b) a magnetic tape, (c) a read only memory, (d) an optical storage medium, (e) a hard drive, (f) a memory unit consisting of multiple parallel hard drives, (g) a universal serial bus (USB) flash drive, (h) a random access memory, and (i) an electronic storage device coupled to computer120.

Although computer120is represented herein as a standalone device, it is not limited to such, but instead can be coupled to other devices (not shown) in a distributed processing system, and modules160and their functionalities, may be distributed among the other devices.

FIG.2is a signal flow diagram for system100to provide end-to-end resource prioritization for a multimedia service on-demand service user during a session. In brief, system100utilizes an MPS-On-Demand indication for 5GC NFs to communicate an MPS-On-Demand status for an MPS service user, e.g., user105, who is authorized to gain on-demand MPS access and prioritization.

In operation205, user105, through UE110, requests on-demand MPS for Data Transport Services (DTS), and accordingly, UE110transmits a corresponding request to RAN115, which, in turn, forwards the request to UPF155and AF150.

In operation210, AF150determines whether UE110is authorized for MPS status upgrade. The AF may consult a roster or a database, which authorizes the user's request for on-demand priority services.

In operation215, when AF150has authorized the MPS status upgrade, AF150sends an upgrade to MPS message to PCF145.

In operation220, PCF145sends an MPS-On-Demand Indication to SMF140to indicate the session's MPS-On-Demand status, in addition to providing the required policy and QoS requirements for the session.

In operation225, SMF140records the MPS-On-Demand Indication for the PDU session, and uses it thereafter to exclude the PDU session from congestion controls, or any other resource allocation contentions, that requires throttling, revoking or otherwise reducing services offered to non-MPS sessions.

In operation230, SMF140passes the MPS-On-Demand Indication to AMF135and UPF155for user105indicating the PDU session is subject to MPS on-demand service upgrade. AMF135and UPF155record the MPS on-demand status of the PDU session, and thereafter exclude the PDU session from congestion controls, or any other resource allocation contentions that require throttling, revoking or otherwise reducing services offered to non-MPS sessions.

In operation235, optionally if operator policy indicates it, AMF135shall trigger release of any non-MPS sessions if active, while upgrading UE110to an MPS-On-Demand Subscriber status during an active disaster situation. For example, operator policy is setup such that it dictates that an MPS-on-demand session may trigger user105to be upgraded to MPS status provided only the MPS for DTS session is allowed to receive the MPS service. This means if user105has any other PDU sessions active at the time of receiving MPS-on-Demand indication, AMF135shall trigger release of those PDU sessions that are not implicitly assigned MPS priority. Additionally, AMF135uses the MPS-On-Demand subscriber status to apply exclusions from Non-Access Stratum (NAS) congestion control, and for prioritization of all mobility, and signaling for the on-demand MPS subscriber, i.e., user105.

In operation240, AMF135sends MPS indicator to UE110in a subsequent downlink NAS messaging via RAN115to indicate UE110may use MPS priority in the current Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN). For example, AMF135sets the MPS indicator in the downlink NAS Registration Accept message during a mobility event. Whereas user105is an MPS-On-Demand subscriber, when AMF135sends “MPS indicator” to UE110in downlink NAS Registration Accept message during the next mobility event, it informs UE110that in the event that the radio connection between UE110and RAN115is lost, and UE110wants to re-connect, UE110may send an MPS Priority radio access request to RAN115, as indicated by operations250,255,260.

In operation245, UE110notes its MPS status in the current PLMN, allowing UE110to use priority access identity through RAN115as noted in operation255.

Operation250represents a loss of radio connection between UE110and RAN115. UE110moves to an idle state. The radio resources between UE110and RAN115, signaling resources between RAN115and AMF135, and user plane resources between RAN115and UPF155are released as a result, thereby affecting user105's prioritized data communication with network165.

Assume that UE110wishes to re-connect to RAN115to continue receiving on demand MPS services.

In operation255, UE110includes MPS Access Identity in the RRC messaging with RAN115. Accordingly, RAN115proceeds with a prioritized connection setup, passing on the MPS indication to AMF135.

In operation260, after the connection is re-setup, user105and UE110engage in priority data communications through network165.

Once the MPS session terminates, AMF135, based on operatory policy, shall revoke the MPS-On-Demand status and shall no longer provide priority services to UE110. Through this mechanism the MPS service provider ensures that UE110is truly granted an on-demand priority status only as long as the MPS authorized services are in use.

Thus, user105, i.e., an authorized MPS for DTS service user that is granted MPS status on-demand shall be upgraded to receive end-to-end priority treatment while the authorized MPS services are in use, and removed once the MPS session terminates, revoking the priority treatment.

Thus, in review, computer120performs a method for facilitating an on-demand MPS for a DTS session in RAN115. In this regard, (a) in operation220, SMF140receives an MPS On-Demand indication, (b) in operation230, SMF140sends the MPS On-Demand indication to AMF135, and (c) in operation240, AMF135, in response to receiving the MPS On-Demand indication, sends, to UE110, an MPS indicator in downlink NAS messaging to indicate that UE110may use MPS.

In operation225, SMF140excludes the session from congestion controls that reduce services offered to non-MPS sessions.

In operation230, SMF140also sends the MPS On-Demand indication to UPF155, thus informing UPF155of the session undergoing MPS on-demand upgrade.

In operation235, AMF135, in response to receiving the MPS On-Demand indication, also triggers a release of a non-MPS session.

In operation255, UE110, in response to a loss of communication with RAN115, includes an MPS Access Identity in RRC messaging with RAN115, and RAN115, in response to receiving the MPS Access Identity, proceeds with a prioritized connection setup for UE110.

The techniques described herein are exemplary, and should not be construed as implying any limitation on the present disclosure. Various alternatives, combinations and modifications could be devised by those skilled in the art. For example, operations associated with the processes described herein can be performed in any order, unless otherwise specified or dictated by the operations themselves. The present disclosure is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variances that fall within the scope of the appended claims.

The terms “comprises” or “comprising” are to be interpreted as specifying the presence of the stated features, integers, operations or components, but not precluding the presence of one or more other features, integers, operations, components, or groups thereof. The terms “a” and “an” are indefinite articles, and as such, do not preclude embodiments having pluralities of articles.