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: According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of 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.

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: A server configured to provide a policy decision point for a packet-based communication network. The server comprises a user account manager for maintaining and/or determining, for each of a plurality of users, an available total usage quota and a set of registered, linked connection identifiers. A request handler is provided for receiving from a policy enforcement point, a request for allocation of a quota in respect of a packet session associated with a specified connection identifier. A quota determiner responds to receipt of a quota request by determining a quota for said packet session taking into account the total usage quota for the associated user and any currently ongoing sessions associated with other connection identifiers belonging to the same set as said specified connection identifier. A responder is provided for sending the determined quota to said policy enforcement point.

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: Method and apparatus for controlling a provisioning process. A first provisioning entity (115) issues a provisioning order (401). A provisioning controller (10) checks whether the received provisioning order is complete. If the order is not complete, a second provisioning entity (116,115) is selected to provide further provisioning data (PD1,PD2,PD3,PD4,PD5,PD6) so as to complete the incomplete received provisioning order and to send the corresponding provisioning order/s to the corresponding provisioned entity/ies (121, 122, 123). The provisioning controller may check a service provisioning template (PT-X), which can comprise identifiers of provisioning entities that can supply certain provisioning data, identifiers of the data that can be obtained from each and sequence information determining the order in which said data may be collected and provided for provisioning a given service. A status register may be used to keep track the processing status of a received provisioning order.

Abstract: A server configured to provide a policy decision point for a packet-based communication network. The server comprises a user account manager for maintaining and/or determining, for each of a plurality of users, an available total usage quota and a set of registered, linked connection identifiers. A request handler is provided for receiving from a policy enforcement point, a request for allocation of a quota in respect of a packet session associated with a specified connection identifier. A quota determiner responds to receipt of a quota request by determining a quota for said packet session taking into account the total usage quota for the associated user and any currently ongoing sessions associated with other connection identifiers belonging to the same set as said specified connection identifier. A responder is provided for sending the determined quota to said policy enforcement point.

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: According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of 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.

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 and an apparatus are described herein for mediating management orders between a plurality of origin managers and a plurality of managed devices in a telecommunications system. The apparatus comprises: a Communication Receiver Component arranged for receiving management orders, a Communication Sender Component arranged to send an allowed management order to a managed device, and a Management Verifier Component, arranged to determine whether a received management order is an allowed management order.

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: Method and apparatus for controlling a provisioning process. A first provisioning entity (115) issues a provisioning order (401). A provisioning controller (10) checks whether the received provisioning order is complete. If the order is not complete, a second provisioning entity (116,115) is selected to provide further provisioning data (PD1,PD2,PD3,PD4,PD5,PD6) so as to complete the incomplete received provisioning order and to send the corresponding provisioning order/s to the corresponding provisioned entity/ies (121, 122, 123). The provisioning controller may check a service provisioning template (PT-X), which can comprise identifiers of provisioning entities that can supply certain provisioning data, identifiers of the data that can be obtained from each and sequence information determining the order in which said data may be collected and provided for provisioning a given service. A status register may be used to keep track the processing status of a received provisioning order.

Abstract: The present invention addresses the management of user groups, user contact lists, and user access lists in a telecom-communication system whereby a user access to a group and list management server for creating, deleting or modifying a group, contact list and access list in terms of group policies and members. User groups, user contact lists, and user access lists are operated without any validation other than being syntactically correct, and without taking into consideration the users access capabilities, the users privacy, and even the user existence. In particular, the telecommunication system may comprise a number of networks operated by different network operators where the users hold subscriptions. The present invention offers a new interface between a group management server and a subscriber server of a network operator where the users hold their subscriptions, so that user policies in the subscriber server govern operations on groups, contact lists and access lists.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for mediating in management orders between a plurality of origin managers and a plurality of managed devices in a telecommunications system. The apparatus comprises: a Communication Receiver Component (201) arranged for receiving management orders, a Communication Sender Component (203) arranged to send an allowed management order to a managed device, and a Management Verifier Component (202), arranged to determine whether a received management order is an allowed management order. The Management Verifier Component checks whether a received management order fits with the access attributes comprised in one, or more, management access templates. A management access template is selected according to its relationship with an identifier of the origin manager sending the order, and/or with an identifier of a managed data object affected by said order, and/or with an identifier of a managed device affected by said management order.