Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media for automatic, repetitive enforcement of a policy rule according to a schedule are disclosed. According to one aspect, a method for automatic, recurrent enforcement of a policy rule includes providing, to a node for enforcing policy rules in a telecommunications network, an automatically recurrent policy rule, the policy rule defining an enforcement activation condition and including an enforcement recurrence attribute; and using, at the node, the enforcement activation condition and the enforcement recurrence attribute to recurrently activate the enforcement of the policy rule according to the enforcement recurrence attribute.

Abstract: A method of providing QoS to a session from a client to a first network includes providing data packets from the client to be conveyed in a session from the client to a first network, inserting each of the data packets into an encapsulating packet, and transmitting the encapsulating packets through the second network to the first network, forming a tunnel through the second network. The method includes receiving the encapsulating packets at a terminating device in the first network. The terminating device removes the encapsulating headers to recover the data packets. The method includes determining an association between the packet headers of the data packets and the encapsulating headers, identifying data packets requiring QoS, and using the association to identify encapsulating packets corresponding data packets requiring Quality of Service. The method includes applying QoS to the encapsulating packets, corresponding to the session of data packets requiring the QoS, being conveyed through the tunnel.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer readable media for policy enforcement correlation are disclosed. According to one aspect, a method for policy enforcement correlation includes, at a policy and charging rules function (PCRF) node: receiving, from a first network node, first policy and charging related information associated with a first user of a telecommunication network; receiving, from a second network node, second policy and charging related information; correlating the first and second policy and charging related information; and, in response to correlating the first and second policy and charging information, issuing a policy and charging control (PCC)-related instruction. In one embodiment, the PCC-related instruction may be sent to the first network node, the second network node, a third network node, or some combination of the above.

Abstract: According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a method for initiating a session. The method includes steps occurring at a policy charging and rules function (PCRF) node. The method also includes determining, independent of contact from a service node, that the service node requires policy information. The method further includes in response to determining that the service node requires policy information, communicating a session independent trigger message to the service node, wherein the trigger message comprises information instructing the service node to initiate a session with the PCRF node to obtain the policy information from the PCRF node.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media for performing PCRF-based IP CAN session information pass-through are disclosed. According to one method, a policy charging and rules function (PCRF) receives Internet protocol connectivity access network (IP CAN) session information from an access network-aware gateway. The PCRF forwards at least a portion of the IP CAN session information to a deep packet inspection (DPI) node.

Abstract: According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a method for communicating service data flow (SDF) event information. The method includes steps occurring at a policy charging and rules function (PCRF) node. The method also includes communicating, via an Rx interface, a request to a deep packet inspection (DPI) node to be notified when an SDF event occurs. The method further includes receiving notification from the DPI node that the SDF event has occurred.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media for detecting a service data flow using a Gx rule are disclosed. According to one method, a policy and charging rules function (PCRF) node sends to a policy and charging enforcement function (PCEF) node, a Gx rule for triggering the PCEF node to generate a notification message upon initiation of a service data flow. The PCEF node receives and installs the Gx rule and uses the Gx rule to detect and report initiation of a service data flow.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media for providing group policy configuration in a communications network using a fake user are disclosed. The method is performed at a policy charging and rules function (PCRF) node. According to one method, first policy profile information associated with a first subscriber identifier is obtained from a policy profile database, where the first subscriber identifier is associated with a first subscriber. Second policy profile information associated with a second subscriber identifier is obtained from the policy profile database, where the second subscriber identifier is associated with a group of subscribers that also includes the first subscriber. At least a portion of the second policy profile information is applied to the first subscriber.

Abstract: According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a method for determining condition-triggered policies. The method occurs at a Diameter node. The method includes receiving a notification of a network condition. The method further includes determining, based on the network condition, policy information for a plurality of associated subscribers.

Abstract: A method of providing QoS to a session from a client to a first network includes providing data packets from the client to be conveyed in a session from the client to a first network, inserting each of the data packets into an encapsulating packet, and transmitting the encapsulating packets through the second network to the first network, forming a tunnel through the second network. The method includes receiving the encapsulating packets at a terminating device in the first network. The terminating device removes the encapsulating headers to recover the data packets. The method includes determining an association between the packet headers of the data packets and the encapsulating headers, identifying data packets requiring QoS, and using the association to identify encapsulating packets corresponding data packets requiring Quality of Service. The method includes applying QoS to the encapsulating packets, corresponding to the session of data packets requiring the QoS, being conveyed through the tunnel.

Abstract: A method implemented by a policy server operating on a network to which is connected a device that performs a data packet inspection function, the method involving: sending a first message over the network from the policy server to the device, the first message instructing the device to detect an occurrence of a particular network traffic or service taking place over a connection on the network and to send a notification to the policy server upon detecting the occurrence of that particular network traffic or service; at the policy server receiving a notification from the device that the device has detected the occurrence of that particular network traffic or service; and in response to receiving the notification, sending a second message over the network from the policy server to a network component, the second message containing information associated with the notification.

Abstract: A method for managing a session over a network that involves multiple end points obtaining services via an application server, the method involving: after the end points have registered with the application server for the session, establishing initial policies for network traffic flows for each end point participating in the session; after establishing the initial policies, determining information about the network traffic flows for at least some of the multiple end points participating in the session; from the information determined about the network traffic flows, identifying which of the multiple end points is functioning as a host server for the session; and after identifying which of the multiple end points is functioning as the host server, establishing new policies for network traffic flows for the multiple end points, wherein under the new policies fewer network resources are reserved for each of the multiple end points other than and as compared to the end point functioning as the host server.

Abstract: A method of assigning network resources between network endpoints includes providing a session initiation request to an application manager. The application manager is logically and physically decoupled from an application server associated with the network endpoints. This request initiates communication between the network endpoints through the set of network resources. The communication employs an application residing on an application server. The method also includes providing a PCMM message from the application manager to a policy server as a result of the session initiation request. The PCMM message includes at least some information, for example QoS information, embedded in the session initiation request. The method further includes selecting, via the policy server, a set of network resources for creating a path connecting the network endpoints. The policy server selects the set of network assets based on the PCMM message, for example to set QoS for the communication between the two endpoints.

Abstract: A system for distributing digital content includes two or more digital content sources. Each source has a separate session manager that is distinct from other session managers associated with other digital content sources. The system further includes at least one set of network resources that receive digital content from the two or more digital content sources, modulate the digital content onto a carrier signal suitable for transmission over an access network, and transmit the carrier signal over the access network. The system also includes a receiving device for terminating the carrier signal. The receiving device generates a digital content stream corresponding to the digital content from the two or more digital content sources. The system further includes a policy server for allocating bandwidth of the network resources to the digital content sources, and for monitoring a utilization state of the network resources.

Abstract: A method for managing a session over a network that involves multiple end points obtaining services via an application server, the method involving: after the end points have registered with the application server for the session, establishing initial policies for network traffic flows for each end point participating in the session; after establishing the initial policies, determining information about the network traffic flows for at least some of the multiple end points participating in the session; from the information determined about the network traffic flows, identifying which of the multiple end points is functioning as a host server for the session; and after identifying which of the multiple end points is functioning as the host server, establishing new policies for network traffic flows for the multiple end points, wherein under the new policies fewer network resources are reserved for each of the multiple end points other than and as compared to the end point functioning as the host server.

Abstract: A method for delivering content over a network, the method involving: receiving a request to establish a session at a future time T1 over the network, the requested session for transferring content between a content server and a subscriber's equipment; reserving network capacity necessary to support the requested future session; acknowledging to the requestor that network resources have been reserved for said requestor for time T1; and when current time reaches time T1, causing the requested session to be set up for transferring content between the content server and the subscriber's equipment.

Abstract: A method of assigning network resources between network endpoints includes providing a session initiation request to an application manager. The application manager is logically and physically decoupled from an application server associated with the network endpoints. This request initiates communication between the network endpoints through the set of network resources. The communication employs an application residing on an application server. The method also includes providing a PCMM message from the application manager to a policy server as a result of the session initiation request. The PCMM message includes at least some information, for example QoS information, embedded in the session initiation request. The method further includes selecting, via the policy server, a set of network resources for creating a path connecting the network endpoints. The policy server selects the set of network assets based on the PCMM message, for example to set QoS for the communication between the two endpoints.

Abstract: A method implemented by a gateway device which handles sessions over a network to which the gateway device is connected and which also enforces conditions of service provided to those network sessions, the method involving: receiving from a policy server a policy rules package, wherein the policy rules package specifies a set of rules that are to be applied to certain sessions handled by the gateway device and a set of criteria for identifying among a plurality of subscribers a group of all subscribers to which the rules are to be applied by the gateway device; based on set of criteria in the policy rules package identifying all subscribers with currently active sessions to whom the policy rules are to be applied; and applying the set of rules to the sessions of the identified subscribers.

Abstract: A method of managing a plurality of subscribers using a communication network involving: obtaining network usage data for a plurality of service flows associated with the plurality of subscribers using the network; from the network usage data, determining which of the plurality of subscribers has been using an excess amount of bandwidth; determining that at least some part of the network is currently in a congested state; and in response to determining that at least some part of the network is currently in the congested state, sending a policy decision to a gateway device that controls bandwidth resources currently being provided to the identified subscriber, said policy decision instructing the gateway device to reduce network bandwidth that is currently being provided to support existing service flows for the identified subscriber.

Abstract: A method of disseminating topology information related to a subscriber in a system having one or more networks, each network having access devices and policy functions, includes identifying a current location of the subscriber by a serving policy function. The method further includes forwarding information relating to the current location from the serving policy function to an anchor policy function associated with the subscriber. The process of identifying the location of the subscriber and forwarding the information to the anchor policy server is repeated each time the subscriber changes its physical location. The system uses the current location information to route policy information from the anchor policy function to the policy function that is serving the subscriber. The system may use a push model, a pull model, or a combination thereof, to disseminate the topology information.