Abstract: According to the invention in a first aspect, there is provided a communication device (114, 200) configured to form part of a telecommunications network and to carry out an access network discovery and selection function, ANDSF. The communication device comprises a receiver (204) configured to receive a request for access network policy information relating to a user equipment, UE, (100, 300) and current UE location data. The communication device comprises a policy information unit (214) configured to determine primary information comprising access network policy information for the UE based at least in part on the current UE location data. The policy information unit is further configured to determine secondary information specifying one or more further UE locations at which the UE should make a further request for access network policy information. The communication device comprises a transmitter (202) configured to transmit the primary and secondary information towards the UE.

Abstract: In a method for providing, for a terminal device, a service or service component requiring a first packet-forwarding treatment, a network node hosting a policy decision function determines that a dedicated bearer for carrying the traffic associated with the service or service component requiring the first packet-forwarding treatment cannot be used. This occurs when the service is initiated or, in the alternative, for an ongoing service. The service or service component is then initiated or, in the alternative, maintained, using a fallback bearer allowing the traffic associated with the service or service component to be carried with a second packet-forwarding treatment differing from the first one. The invention also relates to a method carried out, in such a context, by a network node hosting an application function, and to computer programs, computer program products and storage mediums for carrying out such methods.

Abstract: At present some situations occur where a policy control at individual user level is not enough. For example, where a plurality of users surpasses a load limit in a certain location area, which could imply a risk of network congestion, policy control decisions in conventional architectures have to be made by submitting corresponding orders for each user affected by the decision, thus resulting in a higher signalling and processing load. To overcome these drawbacks, the present specification provides for new network entities and method to monitor and control a plurality of users, as dynamically determined according to different selection criteria, in order to compile users-related aggregated reports, to establish dynamic group of users whom specific policy control rules can be applied, and to map orders and information between group and user level.

Abstract: A method for operating an IP Multimedia Subsystem Application Server to facilitate a communication session between a first user and a second user at a required Quality of Service (QoS) is provided. The method calls for receiving a notification that a Policy and Charging Rules function (PCRF) associated with the first user has not authorized the required QoS. The notification includes an indication of additional QoS required by the first user in order to achieve the required QoS. Authorization for the additional QoS for the first user is then requested from a PCRF associated with the second user. The method then calls for receiving a notification that the PCRF associated with the second user has authorized the additional QoS, and notifying the PCRF associated with the first user that the additional QoS has been authorized for the first user.

Abstract: More than one TDF session for a user in a PCC architecture are coordinated. There are provided PCRF server, PCEF devices and TDF devices, and method of coordinating a PCEF session and the more than one TDF session. The method includes: establishing or modifying at a PCRF server a PCEF session for an IP-CAN session; selecting at the PCRF server more than one TDF device; determining at the PCRF server an order in which each selected TDF device is to be involved, and access information required by each selected TDF device; initiating a TDF session, providing applicable ADC rules and routing information indicating a next TDF device to be involved, from the PCRF server towards each selected TDF device; and submitting from the PCRF server to the PCEF device PCC rules for the IP-CAN session along with routing information indicating a first TDF device to be involved.

Abstract: In a method for providing a service requiring data connectivity between at least two user terminals (100, 500), a first PCRF (400) determines (s20) that there is no available data quota associated with a first user terminal (500) for the data connectivity required for the service to be provided. The first PCRF (400) notifies (s30) an AF (300) about the determination, which in turns notifies (s40) an application service provider (200). The application service provider (200) requests (s50) a second user terminal (100) to sponsor the data connectivity of the first user terminal (500) so as to permit the data connectivity required for the service to be provided. The invention also relates to network nodes for participating in providing such services, and to user terminals and computer programs.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method to route a diameter message of a data packet session in a mobile communications network. A diameter routing unit receives a diameter message and checks whether an indicator is set, the indicator indicating that the message relates to a data packet session for which a policy and charging control unit has already been selected. When the indicator is set the policy and charging control unit is identified and the message is transmitted to the identified policy and charging control unit.

Abstract: A policy and charging control method includes creating by a policy and charging rules function (PCRF), first policy and charging control (PCC) rules at establishment of a user plane session associated with the UE. The first PCC rules are installed at a policy and charging enforcement function (PCEF) and the service is initiated in accordance with these rules. During the lifetime of the user plane session, a quality-of-service (QoS) change request is transmitted by the UE upon activation of a user interface command. The PCRF creates second PCC rules based on the request, and installs them at the PCEF by replacing the first PCC rules by the second PCC rules. The service is continued in accordance with the second PCC rules. PCRF and PCEF servers as well as computer programs are also defined.

Abstract: The embodiments herein relate to a method in a Policy and Charging Rules Function, PCRF, node (320), for handling User Equipment-Aggregated Maximum Bit Rate, UE-AMBR, for a wireless device (305) in a communications network (300). The PCRF node (320) comprises a direct interface (317) with a Mobility Management Entity/Serving General packet radio service Support Node, MME/SGSN (308). The PCRF node (320) receives a subscribed UE-AMBR from the MME/SGSN (308) using the direct interface (317). The subscribed UE-AMBR is associated with a wireless device subscription. When triggered, the PCRF node (320) calculates a UE-AMBR based on the subscribed UE-AMBR and based policies associated with the wireless device (305). The PCRF node (320) transmits the calculated UE-AMBR to the MME/SGSN (308) using the direct interface (317).

Abstract: There is provided mobile gateway selection performed by a PCRF node in communication with an MME node or an S4-SGSN. The mobile gateway selection is based on a direct MME/S4-SGSN-PCRF interface. A request message for a Packet Data Network Gateway Internet Protocol address to be used for establishing a session for a first user equipment is transmitted from the MME/S4-SGSN to a Policy and Charging Rules Function node through a direct MME/S4-SGSN-PCRF interface. The Policy and Charging Rules Function node determines a PDN GW IP address to be used for establishing the session based on policies for the first user equipment and transmits the PDN GW IP address through the direct MME/S4-SGSN-PCRF interface to the MME/S4-SGSN.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: In a method carried out in a telecommunication network, a policy decision function provides an instruction to a policy enforcement function and/or a traffic detection function. Within the instruction, some service instances of a service are identified by the order according to which the service instances are started. The instruction also indicates: (i) a service instance level reporting rule according to which the policy enforcement function and/or traffic detection function should report, or should not report, information to the policy decision function after occurrence of an event relating to any one of the identified service instances; and/or (ii) a service instance level enforcement rule that the policy enforcement function and/or traffic detection function should enforce on a received packet relating to any one of the identified service instances. The invention also relates to network nodes and computer programs.

Abstract: In a method carried out by a first and second policy and charging rules functions (PCRF) (201, 202), the first PCRF receives (s10), from a policy and charging enforcement function (PCEF) (100), an IP-CAN session establishment indication, determines (s20) first policy decision information, causes (s30) a database (300) accessible by both PCRFs to store, in association with a session identifier, session information comprising the session data and the first policy decision information; and provides (s40), to the PCEF, the first policy decision information. Later, the second PCRF receives (s50), from the PCEF, a session modification indication, obtains (s60) therefrom the session identifier, retrieves (s70), from the database, the session information, determines (s80) second policy decision information; causes (s90) the database to store session information comprising the modified session data and second policy decision information; and provides (s100), to the PCEF, the second policy decision information.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a method of ensuring that all AF sessions for an IP-CAN session reach the same PCRF when more than one PCRF is deployed in an operator network. The method involves configuring a PCRF such that, upon receipt of a request relating to the establishment or modification of the IP-CAN session, the PCRF determines one or more Application Detection and Control (ADC) rules for identifying application messages associated with the IP-CAN session and that require that an address of the PCRF must be included in the identified AF session messages. The PCRF is further configured to provision the one or more ADC rules at an ADC node.

Abstract: It is provided a policy and charging control method carried out in a communication network. The communication network comprises a first network entity (100), PCFR, including a policy and charging rules function and a second network entity (200), PCEF, including a policy and charging enforcement function for enforcing policy and charging rules in at least two groups of cells, each group of cells including at least one cell. The method comprises configuring (S110), on the second network entity, for a first one group of the at least two groups of cells, an event subscription dependent on a location of the user equipment, the event subscription being specific to the first group of cells.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: In order to support generation of network statistics, a policy controller (30) of a mobile network may be provided with a network statistics generator (32) and with an interface (Ni) to a network intelligence function (60). The network statistics generator (32) may use these interfaces of the policy controller (30) for obtaining information needed to generate the network statistics. In addition, the network statistics generator (32) may also use information which is locally available at the policy controller (30). In other words, the policy controller (30) or one or more other nodes may act as sources of information for generating the network statistics. The network statistics generator (32) may select types of information to be used for compiling a certain network statistic and also suitably select nodes to be used as sources of information for obtaining these types of information. This may for example be accomplished on the basis of a request received from the network intelligence function (60).

Abstract: A method for operating an IP Multimedia Subsystem Application Server to facilitate a communication session between a first user and a second user at a required Quality of Service (QoS) is provided. The method calls for receiving a notification that a Policy and Charging Rules function (PCRF) associated with the first user has not authorised the required QoS. The notification includes an indication of additional QoS required by the first user in order to achieve the required QoS. Authorization for the additional QoS for the first user is then requested from a PCRF associated with the second user. The method then calls for receiving a notification that the PCRF associated with the second user has authorised the additional QoS, and notifying the PCRF associated with the first user that the additional QoS has been authorised for the first user.

Abstract: It is provided a method for handling policy and charging information, PCI, relating to a user, wherein the method is carried out in a communications network comprising a first and a second site at least (S1, S2). Each of these sites comprises at least a policy and charging rules, PCR, network entity. The method comprises sending (SI1O) from a first network entity of a first site (110; AF-1; PCEF-1) to a PCR network entity of said first site (PCRF-1) a request to obtain PCI dependent on a user profile; generating—if it is determined that said user profile is not accessible at the first site (PCRF-1)—a redirection message comprising an identity of the PCR network entity of the first site (PCRF-1); forwarding said redirection message to a PCR network entity of said second site (PCRF-2).

Abstract: For authorizing redirection services in a policy and charging control architecture, a policy and charging control rules function (PCRF) server determines control rules and redirection information per service in an internet protocol connectivity access network session, and a policy charging and enforcement function (PCEF) device receives control rules and redirection information per service basis, determines redirection per service request, and triggers the redirection. Upon a first request for a service, the PCEF device returns a redirection message with a redirection identifier; and upon completion of the service redirection, the first request for the service reaching the PCEF, the PCEF verifies the service is authorized and submits a service allowance toward the service server in charge of the service. Methods are also disclosed.