Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100040047 | Loss of Signalling Bearer Transport - Being aware of a loss of signalling bearer transport through an IP Connectivity Access Network is an important issue. Therefore, the present invention relies on amending the Policing and Charging Control model with means to provide the IMS infrastructure with subscriptions to and notifications about signalling session events detected on the signalling IP flow transported through the bearer layer. To this end, a P-CSCF, or AF included therein, is amended to allow the establishment of a signalling session for subscription to notification of bearer level events for a signalling IP flow. Apart from that, new processing rules are required at the AF and PCRF for handling the signalling session, the notification of events and the termination of the signalling session. | 02-18-2010 |
20100131647 | Enhanced Media Control - The present invention is aimed to provide an enhanced mechanism for conflict resolution between authorized services in respect of selective authorization criteria, such as service incompatibilities, subscribed bandwidth QoS assigned per subscriber and pre-emption priority value assigned per service. To this end, the present invention provides for a new method that allows the authorization of a subsequent service as a result of applying a selective authorization criterion for the subscriber at a policy control rules server to determine those previously authorized services to be put on hold, notifying about said previously authorized services to be on hold towards application devices handling such services, and inactivating at a policy enforcement device those control rules applicable to the media associated with said previously authorized services. In addition, the method as well as the policy control rules server, the application devices and the policy enforcement device may be also arranged for re-activating said previously authorized services still on hold when the reason for being on hold has ceased. | 05-27-2010 |
20100154029 | Method, Apparatuses and Computer Program for Dynamically Configuring a Proxy Call Session Control Function of the IP Multimedia Subsystem From a Policy Control Rules Server - The present invention faces the problem of network scenarios where there is no user differentiation, and where sessions established through an IP Multimedia Subsystem always proceed in the same way regardless user categories and regardless whether a user has accessed through a fixed or a mobile network. To this end, the present invention provides for a new method for dynamically configuring a Proxy Call Session Control Function of the IP Multimedia Subsystem from a Policy Control Rules server responsible for installing control rules to authorize media flows at an entity in the bearer layer. This entity in the bearer layer may be a Policy and Charging Enforcement Point of a PCC architecture, whereas the Policy Control Rules server may be a Policy and Charging Control Rules of the PCC architecture. | 06-17-2010 |
20100217855 | METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR NOTIFYING AN APPLICATION FUNCTION OF RESOURCE RESTRICTIONS RELATING TO A COMMUNICATION SESSION - The invention relates to a method of notifying an Application Function (AF) in a communications network of resource restrictions relating to a communication session. The network includes a Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) for authorising and controlling flows of data in the session. In the method the AF sends an authorisation request to the PCRF for establishing the communication session. The authorisation request includes an indication that the AF is to be notified of resource restrictions for the data flows in the session. The PCRF notifies the AF of the resource restrictions. | 08-26-2010 |
20110004754 | Method And Apparatuses For Authentication And Reauthentication Of A User With First And Second Authentication Procedures - A method of authenticating a user to a network, the user being in possession of first and second authentication credentials associated respectively with first and second authentication procedures. The method comprises sending a challenge from the network to the user according to said second authentication procedure, receiving the challenge at the user and computing a response using said first credential or keying material obtained during an earlier running of said first authentication procedure, and said second credential, sending the response from the user to the network, and receiving the response within the network and using the response to authenticate the user according to said second authentication procedure. | 01-06-2011 |
20110004758 | Application Specific Master Key Selection in Evolved Networks - An authentication method comprises providing a set of N plural number of master keys both to a user terminal ( | 01-06-2011 |
20110065435 | BEARER CONTROL MODE (NW-ONLY OR USER-ONLY) HANDLING IN INTERSYSTEM HANDOVER - A method, a gateway node, a policy control node and a infrastructure network for handling a handover of a User Equipment communicating wirelessly with the infrastructure network. A first gateway node receives handover information indicative of a handover of the user equipment between two radio access networks the first gateway node determining a bearer control mode on the basis of the handover information the first gateway node transmitting control information determined on the basis of the bearer control mode to a policy control node the first gateway node controlling the bearer binding on the basis of the bearer control mode. | 03-17-2011 |
20110138066 | HANDLING OF AGGREGATE MAXIMUM BIT RATE BY POLICY AND CHARGE CONTROL - A policy and charge control (PCC) architecture and method for handling access point name-aggregate maximum bit rate (APN-AMBR) subscription data that is associated with a subscriber regardless of whether the subscriber's User Equipment (UE) is located in an AMBR-capable access area such as an E-UTRAN or in an AMBR non-capable access area such as a 3G SGSN. The PCC architecture includes: (a) a policy server such as a PCRF that installs the APN-AMBR subscription data during an IP session establishment for the subscriber in the IP level convergence point and (b) an IP level convergence point that enforces the APN-AMBR subscription data for a lifetime of an IP session associated with the IP session establishment. | 06-09-2011 |
20110296032 | Resources Allocation Flexibility - A method for an application function (AF) device in a wireless cellular network including the steps of determining with a processing unit whether an application service requires confirmation that a transmission path for corresponding application service media is available to progress set up of an application service session. There is the step of sending a message generated by the processing unit through a network interfacing unit to a policy and charging rule function (PCRP) server to indicate whether the application service requires confirmation that the transmission path for the corresponding application service media is available. An application function (AF) device in a wireless cellular network including a processing unit which determines whether an application service requires confirmation that a transmission path for corresponding application service media is available to progress set up of an application service session. The AF device includes a network interfacing unit that sends a message generated by the processing unit to a policy and charging rule function (PCRF) server indicating whether the application service requires confirmation that the transmission path for the corresponding application service media is available. A method for a policy and charging rule function (PCRF) server in a wireless cellular network. A policy and charging rule function (PCRF) server in a wireless cellular network. | 12-01-2011 |
20110296489 | SELECTION OF SUCCESSIVE AUTHENTICATION METHODS - A method of authenticating a user who is a subscriber of a home network, authenticated in a first network, for accessing a service in a second network. This method includes: authenticating the user in the first network with a first authentication method selected in an authentication server; reserving resources for the service towards a rules enforcement device; requesting control rules for the resources towards a control rules server; submitting towards the control rules server information about the first authentication method; determining at the control rules server whether a further authentication of the user with a further authentication method is required; and instructing from the control rules server towards the authentication server to force the further authentication of the user with the further authentication method. | 12-01-2011 |
20120021741 | Detection And Report Of Limited Policy And Charging Control Capabilities - A method of a Home Policy and Charging Rule Function (H-PCRF) in a telecommunications network having a Home Public Mobile Public Network (HPLMN) and a Visited Public Mobile Public Network (VPLMN) includes the steps of receiving signaling messages at a network interface. There is the step of detecting dynamically from a received message with a processing unit a Policy and Charging Control (PCC) scenario with regard to PCC capabilities of a VLPMN. There is the step of sending a message from the network interface to a Home Application Function (H-AF) notifying the H-AF of the detected PCC scenario so the H-AF can decide whether to progress a service negotiation with regard to a user roaming on said VPLMN or not. A Home Policy and Charging Rule Function (H-PCRF) in a telecommunications network having a Home Public Mobile Public Network (HPLMN) and a Visited Public Mobile Public Network (VPLMN). A method of a Home Policy Application Function (H-AF) in a telecommunications network having a Home Public Mobile Public Network (HPLMN) and a Visited Public Mobile Public Network (VPLMN). A Home Policy Application Function (H-AF) in a telecommunications network having a Home Public Mobile Public Network (HPLMN) and a Visited Public Mobile Public Network (VPLMN). | 01-26-2012 |
20120059944 | ESTABLISHING A COMMUNICATION SESSION - According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of facilitating a communication session between a user terminal and an Application Function over an IP Connectivity Access Network. The method comprises, at a Policy and Charging Rules Function, receiving information relating to the session from the Application Function (B3), determining one or more Policy and Charging Control rules for the session including deriving a Quality of Service authorised for the session, and sending the Policy and Charging Control rules, including the authorised Quality of Service, to a Policy and Charging Enforcement Function (B5). At the Policy and Charging Enforcement Function, installing the one or more Policy and Charging Control rules including the aurhtorised Quality of Service for the session, and, if it is determined that the authorised Quality of Service cannot be achieved due to a limitation on a Quality of Service available in the Access Network, then reporting this to the Policy and Charging Rules Function and including the available Quality of Service (B8). At the Policy and Charging Rules Function, receiving the report from the Policy and Charging Enforcement Function, including the available Quality of Service, and using the available Quality of Service to determine whether and/or how to maintain the session. | 03-08-2012 |
20120072585 | PCC Control at PCRF Failure - A method for policy control in an infrastructure network comprising a Gateway (GW) an Access Function (AF), and at least one Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) is provided. In some embodiments, the method includes: (a) the GW establishing a Gx or Gxx session in order to set the current PDN connection under PCC control, (b) the GW further providing information about the current PDN connection to a first PCRF, (c) the first PCRF performing authorization and policy decision based on the PDN connection information and sends it together with restoration instructions to the GW, (d) the GW when detecting that the first PCRF is not available, applying the restoration instructions, said instructions requiring the GW to try to regain PCC control and/or requiring the GW to gracefully delete the services associated with the PCC control. | 03-22-2012 |
20120182868 | Multiple Bearer Support Upon Congestion Situations - The embodiments herein relates to a method for enabling multiple bearer support upon congestion situations in a communication network. The PCC architecture is enabled to determine whether separate bearers need to be established for service(s) that demand MBR>GBR when no ECN support is provided. This is provided in nodes and methods receiving, using a receiving unit ( | 07-19-2012 |
20120202457 | Charging Correlation For Dedicated Bearers - A Policy and Charging Rules Function, a PCRF ( | 08-09-2012 |
20120216249 | Enhanced Media Control - An enhanced mechanism for conflict resolution between authorized services in respect of selective authorization criteria, such as service incompatibilities, subscribed bandwidth QoS assigned per subscriber and pre-emption priority value assigned per service. The present invention allows the authorization of a subsequent service as a result of applying a selective authorization criterion for the subscriber at a policy control rules server to determine those previously authorized services to be put on hold, notifying about said previously authorized services to be on hold towards application devices handling such services, and inactivating at a policy enforcement device those control rules applicable to the media associated with said previously authorized services. In addition, the method as well as the policy control rules server, the application devices and the policy enforcement device may be also arranged for re-activating said previously authorized services still on hold when the reason for being on hold has ceased. | 08-23-2012 |
20120243547 | TOKEN-BASED CORRELATION OF CONTROL SESSIONS FOR POLICY AND CHARGING CONTROL OF A DATA SESSION THROUGH A NAT - A method of handling packets sent across a packet switched network comprising a policy server acting as a policy and charging rules function. The method comprises providing a first set of policy rules at said policy server, and installing these from the policy server into an access gateway over a first service control session. These policy rules cause packets belonging to a given IP session to be diverted by the access gateway to a network address translator. At the network address translator, an IP source address of said packets is translated into a translated IP source address identifying a deep packet inspection node. The network address translator forwards the packets to the deep packet inspection node configured to perform deep packet inspection of IP packets. | 09-27-2012 |
20130010804 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AN IMS RESTORATION PROCEDURE - The present invention faces the issue of carrying out an IP Multimedia Subsystem Restoration procedure with help of Policing and Charging Control “PCC” architecture with new functions recently standardized and which conventional PCC nodes do not support. Thus, the present invention provides for making use of an enhanced Deep Packet Inspection device included in a Policing and Charging Enforcement Function “PCEF” server for inspecting signalling traffic and for detecting an identifier of a Proxy Call Session Control Function “P-CSCF” server during IMS registration by a user's equipment; so that the PCEF can monitor the P-CSCF availability without impacting other conventional PCC nodes. | 01-10-2013 |
20130054800 | EFFICIENT DATA DELIVERY METHOD AND APPARATUS - A method of delivering data to user terminals connected to an Internet Protocol Connectivity Access Network, IP-CAN, wherein the IP-CAN implements a Policy and Charging Control, PCC, architecture. The method comprises caching data within an IP-CAN cache server upon a decision made by a Policy and Charging Rules Function, PCRF, of the PCC architecture. The cached data is then identified to a Policy and Charging Enforcement Function, PCEF, of the PCC architecture. At the PCEF, data requests made by user terminals are monitored and a determination made as to whether or not a request relates to cached data. If a request does relate to cached data, then that cached data is delivered from the IP-CAN cache server to the requesting user terminal. | 02-28-2013 |
20130089013 | BNG TO PCRF MEDIATION ENTITY FOR BBF AND 3GPP ACCESS INTERWORKING - A Mediation Entity (ME) provides a single policy server common to the BroadBand Forum (BBF) fixed domain and the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) mobile domain. A Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) in the mobile domain provides policy control for both fixed and mobile domains. The ME in the 3GPP domain enables such PCRF approach. The ME may be introduced as a 3GPP mobile domain-based network function or element between a fixed domain-based Border Network Gateway (BNG) and the PCRF. With regard to the BBF fixed domain, the ME acts before the BNG as a Broadband Policy Control Function (BPCF), and with regard to the 3GPP mobile domain, the ME acts before the PCRF as a gateway implementing a Bearer Binding and Event Reporting Function (BBERF) or as a Policy and Charging Enforcement Function (PCEF). | 04-11-2013 |
20130339783 | Recovery of a System for Policy Control and Charging, Said System Having a Redundancy of Policy and Charging Rules Function - A first Policy and Charging Rules Function “PCRF” server for recovery of a Policy and Charging Control “PCC” system. The PCC system also has a second PCRF server previously in charge of controlling an Internet Protocol Connectivity Access Network “IP-CAN” session previously established with a UE, and a PCRF-client. The first PCRF server includes a network interface unit of the first PCRF server arranged for receiving a modification request of the IP-CAN session from the PCRF-client after failure of the second PCRF server which was in active mode. The first PCRF server has a PCRF identifier which is shared with the second PCRF server that has failed. The first PCRF server now in active mode. The modification request requesting new rules for the IP-CAN session, including modification data and excluding access data and supported features for the IP-CAN session. The first PCRF server includes a processing unit of the first PCRF server arranged for determining that the IP-CAN session is unknown, and arranged for submitting a request from the network interface unit of the first PCRF server to the PCRF-client to provide all information that the PCRF-client has regarding the IP-CAN session. The information includes all data required to be sent for the IP-CAN session establishment and synchronization data. A Policy and Charging Rules Function “PCRF”-client for recovery of a Policy and Charging Control “PCC” system. Methods for recovery of a Policy and Charging Control “PCC” system with a first Policy and Charging Rules Function “PCRF” server in standby mode, a second PCRF server in active mode, and a PCRF-client, wherein an IP-CAN session is already established with a UE and controlled by the second PCRF server. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for recovery of a Policy and Charging Control “PCC” system. | 12-19-2013 |
20140105223 | PRE-AUTHORIZATION OF BEARER SET-UP - A request is received to install control rules before having received a corresponding QoS Authorization, especially where the QoS Authorization requires a prior reservation of resources. The request for a bearer resource is pre-authorized before having received a QoS authorization for said request, by receiving a request for a bearer resource; determining that a QoS authorization has not been received yet; pre-authorizing said request for the bearer resource by installing initial control rules; and updating the previously installed initial control rules with final control rules upon receipt of the QoS authorization. This pre-authorization and the submission of initial control rules are carried out from a PCRF server towards a PCEF device, before having received the QoS authorization. In particular, the pre-authorization may be triggered from a P-CSCF at the originating or destination side, or at both. | 04-17-2014 |
20140153391 | Method for Policy Control and Method for Bearer Control as Well as Corresponding Servers, Systems and Computer Programs - The present invention relates to a method for policy control carried out by a node including a policy and charging rules function and a method for bearer control carried out by a node including a bearer binding function as well as to a server configured for implementing a policy and charging rules function and a server configured for implementing a bearer binding function, to a system including these servers and functions, and to computer programs comprising instructions configured, when executed on a server, to cause the server to carry out policy control or bearer control. The method for policy control carried out by a node comprises the steps of creating a policy provision including an inactivity period indicator indicating a period allowing a service data flow to be inactive; and providing the policy provision including the inactivity period indicator to be installed in a bearer control element to determine at least one of a bearer establishment, modification and deactivation according to the policy provision including the inactivity period indicator. | 06-05-2014 |
20140161072 | Methods And Apparatuses For Notifying An Application Function Of Resource Restrictions Relating To A Communication Session - The invention relates to a method of notifying an Application Function (AF) in a communications network of resource restrictions relating to a communication session. The network includes a Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) for authorising and controlling flows of data in the session. In the method the AF sends an authorisation request to the PCRF for establishing the communication session. The authorisation request includes an indication that the AF is to be notified of resource restrictions for the data flows in the session. The PCRF notifies the AF of the resource restrictions. | 06-12-2014 |
20140185490 | HANDLING COMMUNICATION SESSIONS IN A COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK - A method and apparatus for handling a communication session in a communications network. An Application Function node receives a request to register a user terminal in the communication network. The Application Function identifies an Access Point used by the terminal to register with the network, and send a request message to a Policy and Charging Register Function (PCRF). The request message includes an Access Point Name identifying an Access Point used by the user terminal. The AF receives a response message from the PCRF, including an indicator indicating whether the Access Point is an Emergency-Access Point. The AF subsequently receives a message from the user terminal that identifies a non-emergency terminating node. If the indicator indicates that the Access Point is not an Emergency-Access Point, the AF allows the communication session. If the indicator indicates that the Access Point is an Emergency-Access Point, then the AF rejects the communication session. | 07-03-2014 |
20140293824 | Policy Controller Based Network Statistics Generation - In order to support generation of network statistics, a policy controller ( | 10-02-2014 |
20140317300 | Methods and Network Nodes for Controlling Resources of a Service Session as Well as Corresponding System and Computer Program - The present invention relates to a methods and network nodes for controlling resources of a service session in a communication network as well as to a corresponding system and computer program to improve the handling of resources in the network, and particularly to optimize signaling in the network. The method for controlling resources for a service session by a policy and charging system in a communication network comprises the steps of obtaining, at a first network node, a request including service session data indicating the type of service; determining, based on the service session data obtained at said first network node, a resource type to be assigned to said service; and sending to a second network node an indication of said resource type assigned to said service, according to which resource type it is determined when a service session associated with said service is terminated. | 10-23-2014 |
20150019703 | Methods and Apparatuses for Determining a User Identity Token for Identifying User of a Communication Network - User identity token for identifying a user of a communication network A first node ( | 01-15-2015 |