# US 11,122,468 B2 · Method and system for RAN-based traffic flow control > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,122,468 B2 - Document ID: US11122468B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/113,016 - Filed: 2018-08-27 - Published: 2020-02-27 - Granted: 2021-09-14 - Earliest claimed: 2018-08-27 - Assignees: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc. - Applicants: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc. - Inventors: Niranjan B. Avula; Sudhakar Reddy Patil - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11122468B2 ## CPC - H04L 67/30: Profiles - H04W 28/10: Flow control {between communication endpoints} - H04L 67/141: Setup of application sessions (admission control or resource allocation in data switching networks H04L47/70) - H04W 84/042: {Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems} - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract A method, a device, and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium are described in which a traffic flow control service is provided. The traffic flow control service provides that a wireless station of a wireless access network stores radio coverage information relating to communication links established with end devices. During various network procedures that establish or migrate a traffic flow session with an end device, the wireless station receives a profile from a policy control device. The profile includes radio coverage information and traffic flow parameters and values that correlate to the radio coverage information. The wireless station compares the stored radio coverage information with the radio coverage information in the profile, and selects the best match. The wireless station uses the traffic flow parameters and values to enforce a traffic flow relating to the end device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: storing, by a radio access network (RAN) device of a RAN, first coverage information for a communication link established between the RAN device and an end device, wherein the first coverage information includes one or multiple first attributes of the communication link, and wherein the RAN device is a next generation Node B (gNB) or an evolved Node B (eNB); receiving, by the RAN device from the end device after the storing, a request to establish a packet data unit (PDU) session via the communication link; receiving, by the RAN device subsequent to receiving the request, a profile that includes multiple instances of second coverage information, wherein each instance of second coverage information correlates to one or multiple traffic flow control parameters and values; comparing, by the RAN device in response to receiving the profile, the multiple instances of the second coverage information to the first coverage information; selecting, by the RAN device in response to the comparing, one of the multiple instances of the second coverage information that matches the first coverage information; and enforcing, by the RAN device subsequent to an establishment of the PDU session, the one or multiple traffic flow control parameters and values, which correlate to the selected one of the multiple instances of the second coverage information, in relation to a traffic flow of the communication link. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the one or multiple first attributes indicate one or multiple frequency bands, a radio access technology, and whether there is use of carrier aggregation or dual connectivity. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first coverage information includes context information pertaining to the communication link, wherein the context information indicates at least one of a deployment type of the RAN device, whether the communication link is indoors or outdoors, or whether the communication link is third party sponsored or not. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the one or multiple traffic flow control parameters and values that correlate to the selected one of the multiple instances of the second coverage information include at least one of a Maximum Bit Rate (MBR), a Guaranteed Flow Bit Rate (GFBR), a Maximum Flow Bit Rate (MFBR), or a Maximum Packet Loss Rate (MPLR). ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the enforcing further comprises: enforcing, by the RAN device, the one or multiple traffic flow control parameters and values in relation to another communication link for the PDU session, wherein the other communication link is between the RAN device and an upstream network device of a core network, and wherein the upstream network device is one of a serving gateway (SGW) or a user plane function (UPF). ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the profile includes a Quality of Service (QoS) profile that includes one or multiple QoS parameters and values that relate to at least one of an uplink or a downlink for the traffic flow. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the profile is received from a Policy Control Function (PCF) or a Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF). ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein one or more values of the first coverage information differ from corresponding one or more values of the second coverage information. ### Claim 9 A radio access network (RAN) device of a RAN comprising: a communication interface; a memory, wherein the memory stores instructions; and a processor, wherein the processor executes the instructions to: store first coverage information for a communication link established between the RAN device and an end device, wherein the first coverage information includes one or multiple first attributes of the communication link, and wherein the RAN device is a next generation Node B (gNB) or an evolved Node B (eNB); receive, via the communication interface from the end device after the storing, a request to establish a packet data unit (PDU) session via the communication link; receive, via the communication interface, a profile that includes multiple instances of second coverage information, wherein each instance of second coverage information correlates to one or multiple traffic flow control parameters and values; compare, in response to a receipt of the profile, the multiple instances of the second coverage information to the first coverage information; select, in response to the comparison, one of the multiple instances of the second coverage information that matches the first coverage information; and enforce, subsequent to an establishment of the PDU session, the one or multiple traffic flow control parameters and values, which correlate to the selected one of the multiple instances of the second coverage information, in relation to a traffic flow of the communication link. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The RAN device of claim 9, wherein the one or multiple first attributes indicate one or multiple frequency bands, a radio access technology, and whether there is use of carrier aggregation or dual connectivity. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The RAN device of claim 9, wherein the first coverage information includes context information pertaining to the communication link, wherein the context information indicates at least one of a deployment type of the RAN device, whether the communication link is indoors or outdoors, or whether the communication link is third party sponsored or not. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The RAN device of claim 9, wherein the one or multiple traffic flow control parameters and values that correlate to the selected one of the multiple instances of the second coverage information include at least one of a Maximum Bit Rate (MBR), a Guaranteed Flow Bit Rate (GFBR), a Maximum Flow Bit Rate (MFBR), or a Maximum Packet Loss Rate (MPLR). ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The RAN device of claim 9, wherein when enforcing, the processor further executes the instructions to: enforce the one or multiple traffic flow control parameters and values in relation to another communication link for the PDU session, wherein the other communication link is between the RAN device and an upstream network device of a core network, and wherein the upstream network device is one of a serving gateway (SGW) or a user plane function (UPF). ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The RAN device of claim 9, wherein the profile includes a Quality of Service (QoS) profile that includes one or multiple QoS parameters and values that relate to at least one of an uplink or a downlink for the traffic flow. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The RAN device of claim 9, wherein one or more values of the first coverage information are differ from corresponding one or more values of the second coverage information. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The RAN device of claim 9, wherein the profile is received from a Policy Control Function (PCF) or a Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF). ### Claim 17 A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions executable by a processor of a radio access network (RAN) device that is a next generation Node B (gNB) or an evolved Node B (eNB) of a RAN, which when executed cause the RAN device to: store first coverage information for a communication link established between the RAN device and an end device, wherein the first coverage information includes one or multiple first attributes of the communication link; receive from the end device after the storing, a request to establish a packet data unit (PDU) session via the communication link; receive a profile that includes multiple instances of second coverage information, wherein each instance of second coverage information correlates to one or multiple traffic flow control parameters and values; compare, in response to a receipt of the profile, the multiple instances of the second coverage information to the first coverage information; select, in response to the comparison, one of the multiple instances of the second coverage information that matches the first coverage information; and enforce, subsequent to an establishment of the PDU session, the one or multiple traffic flow control parameters and values, which correlate to the selected one of the multiple instances of the second coverage information, in relation to a traffic flow of the communication link. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the one or multiple first attributes indicate one or multiple frequency bands, a radio access technology, and whether there is use of carrier aggregation or dual connectivity. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the first coverage information includes context information pertaining to the communication link, wherein the context information indicates at least one of a deployment type of the RAN device, whether the communication link is indoors or outdoors, or whether the communication link is third party sponsored or not. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the one or multiple traffic flow control parameters and values that correlate to the selected one of the multiple instances of the second coverage information include at least one of a Maximum Bit Rate (MBR), a Guaranteed Flow Bit Rate (GFBR), a Maximum Flow Bit Rate (MFBR), or a Maximum Packet Loss Rate (MPLR).