Telecommunication management; Study on User Data Convergence (UDC) information model handling and provisioning: Example use cases
3GPP TR 22.985 Service requirement for the UDC [5] describes the architecture of the User Data Convergence, a concept that proposes to move the user data from where it has been distributed and siloed in Network Elements, Applications, and other network resources to a single logical consolidated facility here called User Data Repository (UDR) where it can be accessed, stored and managed in a common way.
The introduction of a User Data Convergence of user data for network services and management applications could significantly enhance the ability of 3GPP based networks to offer complex and combined services. User data can be decomposed and reformed by a common data model framework (e.g. tree-like data model, rational data model) provided by UDR. In that case, user data categorized by services can be regrouped and identified by user ID, leaving no data redundancy. Also, convergence in data model will unify the user data access interface and its protocol, which will promote new service application development. Thereby, the capability of user data convergence can be open to creation of data-less applications.
Methods for data protection against access by unauthorized parties are outside the scope of this document.
3GPP TS 32.181 UDC Framework for Model Handling and Management [3] and 3GPP TS 29.335 UDC; User Data Repository Access Protocol over the Ud interface; Stage 3 [4] provide various types of information and data models associated with the architecture of UDC.
These include the Common Baseline Information Model (CBIM) (see 3GPP TS 32.182 [7]), the Specialized Information Model (SpIM), Application Information Models (AIMs), Application Data Models (ADMs), and the Consolidated Data Model (CDM) of the User Data Repository (UDR).
Figure 1 from 3GPP TS 32.181 UDC Framework for Model Handling and Management [3] shows the operational environment of the UDC.
Figure 1.1: Evolution of the CDM in a UDR
In addition to the models previously mentioned, Figure 1.1 introduces the aspect of the Provisioning Gateway, which is essential for the operation of the UDR. The Provisioning Gateway provides a single logical point for access to provisioning of user data for all services in the UDR. The Provisioning Gateway is shown supporting an interaction with the operator's BSS; by implication this interaction is associated with the provisioning of user subscription and service data in the UDR via the Provisioning Gateway.
This study analyzes the progression of information models displayed in the above figure using some specific application examples, in particular the applications of HSS-IMS and MMTel. It provides guidelines and preliminary requirements for the BSS provisioning capabilities and information model handling when new applications and related services are implemented in the operator's UDR by doing the following:
- Develop several example initial SpIMs for discussion purposes.
- Examine what BSS interactions with the Provisioning Gateway would be required to support provisioning of user service and subscription data in the UDR for these SpIMs.
- Study the relationship to the information model of 3GPP TS 32.172 Subscription Management (SuM) Network Resource Model (NRM) IRP Information Service [9].
- Develop understanding of CBIM-derived entities of Application Information Models (AIM) for HSS-IMS and MMTel from application data elements available in 3GPP TS 29.364 IMS Application Server service data descriptions for AS interoperability [11], 3GPP TS 23.008 Organization of subscriber data [12], and other relevant specifications.
- Discuss the integration and consolidation of these AIM entities with the example initial SpIMs above.
- Evaluate the potential changes to the BSS provisioning interactions for the implementation of HSS-IMS and MMTel applications in the UDR and implications concerning the information model of 3GPP TS 32.172 Subscription Management (SuM) Network Resource Model (NRM) IRP Information Service [9].
This study does not derive findings concerning the Ud reference point, the subject of 3GPP TR 23.845 Study on UDC Evolution [10].