Abstract: The present invention faces the issue of authorizing transactional services by a Policy and Charging Control system. To this end, the present invention provides for an apparatus carrying out a method of authorizing transactional services and comprising: an authorization requester for submitting a transactional service authorization request with a user identifier and a transactional service identifier, and an authorizer for receiving the transactional service authorization request. This authorizer comprises: a PCRF server for authorizing the transactional service based on subscription and service data, an OCS for authorizing the transactional service based on credit authorization, and a decider for deciding service authorization for the transactional service based on the authorizations respectively made by the PCRF server and OCS.

Abstract: A method for deploying a policy from a 3GPP core network to a non-3GPP access network. The policy relates to a connection established from a mobile terminal to the 3GPP core network via the non-3GPP access network. A local IP address acquired by the mobile terminal during establishment of the connection is received at the 3GPP core network. At the 3GPP core network, establishment of a policy control session is initiated from the 3GPP core network to the non-3GPP access network. The received local IP address is used to determine the non-3GPP access network used for the connection with reference to shared IP addressing information. At the 3GPP core network, the policy is provided to the non-3GPP access network using the policy control session established as a result of the policy control session initiation step. The policy is for deployment in the non-3GPP access network in relation to the established connection.

Abstract: A network is described herein which can control, through subscriber profile data and/or policy preconfigured control data, whether deep packet inspection for data flow/s for an Internet Protocol-Connectivity Access Network (IP-CAN) session established by an end user should take place, or not, according to a defined “User Privacy Policy”, and, in the former case, to which traffic detection function (TDF) node the data flow(s) should be directed.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: The present invention faces the issue of racing conditions occurring during the establishment of an IP-CAN session in PCC architecture and a TDF session between a PCRF and a TDF of the PCC architecture. To overcome this issue, the present invention provides for cooperating apparatuses carrying out a method of establishing a Traffic Detection Function “TDF” session in a Policy and Charging Control “PCC” architecture with a Policy and Charging control Rules Function “PCRF”, a Policy and Charging Enforcement Function “PCEF” and a TDF, the method comprising the steps of: signalling an IP-CAN session establishment from a PCEF towards a PCRF; selecting at the PCRF a TDF for detecting and reporting traffic through the IP-CAN session; initiating from the PCRF establishment of a TDF session with the TDF; submitting from the PCRF towards the TDF the ADC rules to be installed for the IP-CAN session; and submitting from the PCRF towards the PCEF the PCC rules to be installed for the IP-CAN session.

Abstract: 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 (301), an indication of session establishment for a bearer from a bearer binding function unit (113, 115), obtaining profile information with Quality of Service, QoS, information about maximum bit rate, MBR, and guaranteed bit rate, GBR, related to the bearer; determining that the MBR is larger than the GBR, making a policy decision, and transmitting, using the transmitting unit (305), an acknowledgement of session establishment to the bearer binding function unit with an indicator that a separate bearer is to be established.

Abstract: 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).

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A communication system includes a user equipment (UE) 10 and a gateway 26. The UE (10) sends data packets on one or more bearers (52, 54) to the gateway 26. One or more packet filters (62, 64) are installed in the UE (10) for associating the data packets with the bearers (52, 54). A decision is performed if installation of a new packet filter (62, 64) in the UE (10) is required to map the data packets of indicated data traffic to a particular bearer (52, 54). The result of the decision may then be indicated from a policy controller (30) to a gateway (26) and/or from the gateway (26) to the UE (10). Depending on the result of the decision, the gateway may initiate signaling of the new packet filter (62, 64) to the UE (10) and/or the UE (10) may install the new packet filter (62, 64).

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: The present invention relates in general to a method and apparatus concerning access policy and charging control. In particular it relates to enhanced service information for access policy and charging control. A media stream management of a service session between a first and a second electronic communication device comprise obtaining identity address data related to the first electronic communication device step, obtaining policy information associated with the second electronic communication device step, and performing a media stream management control step involving the identity address data related to the first electronic communication device and the policy information related to the second electronic communication device such that media streams between the first electronic communication device and the second electronic communication device can be controlled.

Abstract: The invention comprises methods and arrangements for Policy Decision Point discovery in a roaming or handover scenario in an IP network (IN) comprising a plurality of network elements. The invention introduces a Re-direct Policy Decision (RPDF) Function which can deliver addresses to PDPs associated to a certain Mobile Terminal. The RPDF comprises a memory for storing addresses (APDPA, SPDPA1) of Policy Decision Points and Mobile Terminals. The RPDF makes it possible for a network element, e.g. an application function, a policy enforcement point or another policy decision point, to find a Policy Decision Point associated to the Mobile Terminal.

Abstract: In scenarios where service requirements are negotiated through a signalling layer whereas the services are carried out through a bearer layer, control rules are created at a control server logically interposed between the signalling and bearer layers. These control rules are based on service requirements received from an entity in the signalling layer, and are installed in an entity in the bearer layer for a bearer established therein. However, not all the service requirements negotiated through the signalling layer can be supported at the bearer layer by any user's equipment. The invention provides for a method and devices whereby the control server can create control rules based on the service requirements received from the signalling layer and also based on capabilities of the user's equipment currently used by the user, and whereby the control rules are installed for a currently established bearer or for a new subsequent bearer further established, depending on these control rules.