Systems and Methods Using a Centralized Node to Collect RAN User Plane Congestion Information

Abstract

A centralized node collects and stores radio access network (RAN) user plane congestion information (RCI) that is reported from the RAN to a core network. The centralized node provides a congestion information collection function (CICF) and includes one or more interface to communicate with a mobility management entity (MME) and/or a serving general packet radio service (GPRS) support node (SGSN). The MME and/or SGSN allows the centralized node to determine user equipments (UEs) and associated access point name (APNs) impacted by RAN congestion. The centralized node reports the RCI to a policy and charging rules function (PCRF) associated with the APNs for congestion mitigation.

1 . The following listing of claims will replace all prior versions, and listings, of claims in the application. 
     
     
         1 - 22  (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A centralized node comprising:
 a first interface;   a second interface; and   a processor operably connected to the first interface and the second interface and configured to cause the centralized node to:
 receive, via the first interface, congestion information; 
 determine, based at least on the congestion information, a congestion level of a radio access network (RAN) element; 
 receive, via the second interface, a list of identifiers associated with user equipment (UE) devices (UEs) served by the RAN element; 
 receive, via the second interface, a respective list of access point names (APNs) associated with active packet data network (PDN) connections for respective identifiers in the list of identifiers; and 
 report the congestion information to a network function serving the active PDN connections. 
   
     
     
         24 . The centralized node of  claim 23 , wherein the RAN element comprises a base station. 
     
     
         25 . The centralized node of  claim 23 , wherein the RAN element comprises a cell. 
     
     
         26 . The centralized node of  claim 23 , wherein the congestion information indicates a congested interface direction. 
     
     
         27 . The centralized node of  claim 23 , wherein the congestion information includes packet data protocol (PDP) context information. 
     
     
         28 . The centralized node of  claim 23 , wherein the congestion information indicates a change in the congestion level. 
     
     
         29 . The centralized node of  claim 23 , wherein the congestion information includes a bearer identifier. 
     
     
         30 . A method for operating a cellular network, the method comprising:
 at a node of the cellular network:
 receiving, via a first interface, congestion information; 
 determining, based at least on the congestion information, a congestion level of a radio access network (RAN) element of the cellular network; 
 receiving, via a second interface, a list of identifiers associated with user equipment (UE) devices (UEs) served by the RAN element; 
 receiving, via the second interface, a respective list of access point names (APNs) associated with active packet data network (PDN) connections for respective identifiers in the list of identifiers; and 
 reporting the congestion information to a network function serving the active PDN connections. 
   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the RAN element comprises a base station or a cell. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the RAN element comprises a cell. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the congestion information indicates a congested interface direction. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the congestion information includes packet data protocol (PDP) context information. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the congestion information includes a bearer identifier. 
     
     
         36 . An apparatus for operating a centralized node of a cellular network, the apparatus comprising:
 a processor configured to cause the centralized node to:
 receive, via a first interface, congestion information; 
 determine, based at least on the congestion information, a congestion level of a radio access network (RAN) element; 
 receive, via a second interface, a list of identifiers associated with user equipment (UE) devices (UEs) served by the RAN element; 
 receive, via the second interface, a respective list of access point names (APNs) associated with active packet data network (PDN) connections for respective identifiers in the list of identifiers; and 
 report the congestion information to a network function serving the active PDN connections. 
   
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , wherein the RAN element comprises a base station. 
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , wherein the RAN element comprises a cell. 
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , wherein the congestion information indicates a congested interface direction. 
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , wherein the congestion information includes packet data protocol (PDP) context information. 
     
     
         41 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , wherein the congestion information indicates a change in the congestion level. 
     
     
         42 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , wherein the congestion information includes a bearer identifier.