Abstract: An example method is provided in one example embodiment and may include generating a content token, wherein the content token is generated for a particular content type of a particular application service based on a trust relationship established between the particular application service and a mobile service provider; and embedding the content token in one or more packets of a plurality of packets sent to a user equipment (UE) for one or more Internet Protocol (IP) flows associated with the particular content type, wherein the content token is embedded in an unencrypted portion of each packet that is separate from an encrypted data payload portion of each packet.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example embodiment and may include receiving load information for a plurality of cells of a Radio Access Network (RAN); determining, for each of a plurality of user equipment (UE) in each cell, identification information for each UE and an Access Point Name (APN) to which each UE is connected; identifying, from a plurality of policy servers, each policy server that serves each APN to which each UE in each cell of the plurality of cells is connected; and sending, to each of a particular policy server, congestion information comprising: an identity for each cell having UE that are connected to each APN served by the particular policy server; the corresponding congestion level for each of the cells; and a per-cell UE list identifying each of a plurality of UE connected to each of APNs served by the particular policy server.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example embodiment and may include maintaining, by a Diameter Routing Agent (DRA), an availability status for a plurality of network elements; receiving a request associated with a user equipment (UE) session, wherein a first network element of the plurality of network elements is serving the UE session; determining that the first network element serving the UE session is unavailable; and re-establishing the UE session at a second network element of the plurality of network elements that is available, wherein the re-establishing is performed without terminating the UE session.

Abstract: One embodiment is a method including extending a policy server to provide per subscriber policies to a cable modem (CM) and a cable modem termination system (CMTS), receiving, at the policy server, a request for a policy profile from a cable modem termination system (CMTS), accessing a subscriber database to determine the policy profile, and communicating the policy profile to the CMTS. In an example, the policy server is a packet cable multimedia policy server of a cable network.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example embodiment and may include receiving load information for a plurality of cells of a Radio Access Network (RAN); determining, for each of a plurality of user equipment (UE) in each cell, identification information for each UE and an Access Point Name (APN) to which each UE is connected; identifying, from a plurality of policy servers, each policy server that serves each APN to which each UE in each cell of the plurality of cells is connected; and sending, to each of a particular policy server, congestion information comprising: an identity for each cell having UE that are connected to each APN served by the particular policy server; the corresponding congestion level for each of the cells; and a per-cell UE list identifying each of a plurality of UE connected to each of APNs served by the particular policy server.

Abstract: An example method is provided in one example embodiment and may include provisioning a user equipment (UE) with a list comprising one or more locations at which the UE is to report its location; reporting a location of the UE when the location is identified in the list; provisioning the UE with one or more access network selection policy based on the reported location of the UE; and applying at least one access network selection policy at the UE based on the location of the UE. The list comprising the one or more locations can be sent to the UE from an Access Network Discovery and Selection Function (ANDSF) server after the UE reports its location to the ANDSF server. The one or more access network selection policies can be permanent type and/or temporal type policies.

Abstract: An example method is provided in one example embodiment and may include receiving a request from a user equipment (UE) to access a wireless access network, wherein the UE is currently accessing one or more other wireless networks; determining by a Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) whether a subscriber associated with the UE is authorized to access the wireless access network based, at least in part, on a profile for the subscriber; and communicating one of a wireless access rejection and a wireless access acceptance to the UE based on the determination. In some instances, the determining can include recovering the profile for the subscriber associated with the UE from a Subscriber Profile Repository (SPR) using an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) for the subscriber.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example embodiment and may include receiving a first Internet protocol (IP) flow for an IP session for a subscriber; selecting a first service function group from a plurality of service function groups to perform one or more services for the IP session for the subscriber, wherein each of the plurality of service function groups comprises a plurality of service function chain types and wherein each service function chain type comprises an ordered combination of one or more service functions; assigning the IP session for the subscriber to the first service function group; and forwarding the first IP flow for the IP session of the subscriber across a first service function chain type for the first service function group based, at least in part, on a service policy for the subscriber.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example embodiment and may include receiving a first Internet protocol (IP) flow for an IP session for a subscriber; selecting a first service function group from a plurality of service function groups to perform one or more services for the IP session for the subscriber, wherein each of the plurality of service function groups comprises a plurality of service function chain types and wherein each service function chain type comprises an ordered combination of one or more service functions; assigning the IP session for the subscriber to the first service function group; and forwarding the first IP flow for the IP session of the subscriber across a first service function chain type for the first service function group based, at least in part, on a service policy for the subscriber.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example embodiment and may include establishing a first binding for a first session for a UE, wherein the first binding includes, at least in part, PCEF connectivity information for a PCEF associated with a PGW hosting the first session for the UE, wherein the first binding is established by a first DRA in a first IP domain; receiving a request by second DRA in a second IP domain associated with establishing a second session for the UE; determining a PCRF serving the first session for the UE; and binding the second session for the UE with the first session for the UE. A method is provided in another example embodiment and may include exchanging PCEF connectivity information over a Dr interface between a plurality DRAs and maintaining PCEF connectivity information for one or more peer DRAs to which each DRA is connected.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example embodiment and may include establishing a first binding for a first session for a UE, wherein the first binding includes, at least in part, PCEF connectivity information for a PCEF associated with a PGW hosting the first session for the UE, wherein the first binding is established by a first DRA in a first IP domain; receiving a request by second DRA in a second IP domain associated with establishing a second session for the UE; determining a PCRF serving the first session for the UE; and binding the second session for the UE with the first session for the UE. A method is provided in another example embodiment and may include exchanging PCEF connectivity information over a Dr interface between a plurality DRAs and maintaining PCEF connectivity information for one or more peer DRAs to which each DRA is connected.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example embodiment and may include receiving a first Internet protocol (IP) flow for an IP session for a subscriber; selecting a first service function group from a plurality of service function groups to perform one or more services for the IP session for the subscriber, wherein each of the plurality of service function groups comprises a plurality of service function chain types and wherein each service function chain type comprises an ordered combination of one or more service functions; assigning the IP session for the subscriber to the first service function group; and forwarding the first IP flow for the IP session of the subscriber across a first service function chain type for the first service function group based, at least in part, on a service policy for the subscriber.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example embodiment and may include receiving a first Internet protocol (IP) flow for an IP session for a subscriber; selecting a first service function group from a plurality of service function groups to perform one or more services for the IP session for the subscriber, wherein each of the plurality of service function groups comprises a plurality of service function chain types and wherein each service function chain type comprises an ordered combination of one or more service functions; assigning the IP session for the subscriber to the first service function group; and forwarding the first IP flow for the IP session of the subscriber across a first service function chain type for the first service function group based, at least in part, on a service policy for the subscriber.

Abstract: An example method is provided in one example embodiment and may include receiving a packet for a subscriber at a gateway, wherein the gateway includes a local policy anchor for interfacing with one or more policy servers and one or more classifiers for interfacing with one or more service chains, each service chain including one or more services accessible by the gateway; determining a service chain to receive the subscriber's packet; appending the subscriber's packet with a header, wherein the header includes, at least in part, identification information for the subscriber and an Internet Protocol (IP) address for the local policy anchor; and injecting the packet including the header into the service chain determined for the subscriber.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example embodiment and may include establishing a first binding for a first session for a UE, wherein the first binding includes, at least in part, PCEF connectivity information for a PCEF associated with a PGW hosting the first session for the UE, wherein the first binding is established by a first DRA in a first IP domain; receiving a request by second DRA in a second IP domain associated with establishing a second session for the UE; determining a PCRF serving the first session for the UE; and binding the second session for the UE with the first session for the UE. A method is provided in another example embodiment and may include exchanging PCEF connectivity information over a Dr interface between a plurality DRAs and maintaining PCEF connectivity information for one or more peer DRAs to which each DRA is connected.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example embodiment and may include establishing a first binding for a first session for a UE, wherein the first binding includes, at least in part, PCEF connectivity information for a PCEF associated with a PGW hosting the first session for the UE, wherein the first binding is established by a first DRA in a first IP domain; receiving a request by second DRA in a second IP domain associated with establishing a second session for the UE; determining a PCRF serving the first session for the UE; and binding the second session for the UE with the first session for the UE. A method is provided in another example embodiment and may include exchanging PCEF connectivity information over a Dr interface between a plurality DRAs and maintaining PCEF connectivity information for one or more peer DRAs to which each DRA is connected.

Abstract: An example method is provided in one example embodiment and may include receiving a packet for a subscriber at a gateway, wherein the gateway includes a local policy anchor for interfacing with one or more policy servers and one or more classifiers for interfacing with one or more service chains, each service chain including one or more services accessible by the gateway; determining a service chain to receive the subscriber's packet; appending the subscriber's packet with a header, wherein the header includes, at least in part, identification information for the subscriber and an Internet Protocol (IP) address for the local policy anchor; and injecting the packet including the header into the service chain determined for the subscriber.

Abstract: An example method is provided in one example embodiment and may include receiving a request from a user equipment (UE) to access a wireless access network, wherein the UE is currently accessing one or more other wireless networks; determining by a Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) whether a subscriber associated with the UE is authorized to access the wireless access network based, at least in part, on a profile for the subscriber; and communicating one of a wireless access rejection and a wireless access acceptance to the UE based on the determination. In some instances, the determining can include recovering the profile for the subscriber associated with the UE from a Subscriber Profile Repository (SPR) using an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) for the subscriber.

Abstract: An example method is provided in one example embodiment and may include receiving a packet for a subscriber at a gateway, wherein the gateway includes a local policy anchor for interfacing with one or more policy servers and one or more classifiers for interfacing with one or more service chains, each service chain including one or more services accessible by the gateway; determining a service chain to receive the subscriber's packet; appending the subscriber's packet with a header, wherein the header includes, at least in part, identification information for the subscriber and an Internet Protocol (IP) address for the local policy anchor; and injecting the packet including the header into the service chain determined for the subscriber.

Abstract: An example method is provided in one example embodiment and may include receiving a packet for a subscriber at a gateway, wherein the gateway includes a local policy anchor for interfacing with one or more policy servers and one or more classifiers for interfacing with one or more service chains, each service chain including one or more services accessible by the gateway; determining a service chain to receive the subscriber's packet; appending the subscriber's packet with a header, wherein the header includes, at least in part, identification information for the subscriber and an Internet Protocol (IP) address for the local policy anchor; and injecting the packet including the header into the service chain determined for the subscriber.