Abstract: A method in a first network node handles data sessions in a communications network. The method includes receiving information indicating a second data session entering the communications network. The method further includes creating a second rule associated with the second data session. The second rule causes the first data session to be associated with the second data session. The method further includes determining that the second rule share a guaranteed bit rate (GBR) with a first rule associated with the first data session based on the second data session entering the communications network. The method further includes transmitting first information that the second rule and an indicator indicating the first rule and the second rule should share the GBR.

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

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 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 to re-establishment of dedicated bearers and more particularly, the invention relates to the re-establishment of dedicated bearers when connection is lost temporarily. This is provided in a device, method and system, in a packet based telecommunications network, for receiving on the communication interface an indication that a dedicated bearer for a user equipment, UE, has been deactivated, starting at least one timer, checking if uplink traffic is present for a communication bearer and if uplink traffic is detected on the communication bearer for a deactivated dedicated bearer re-establishing the dedicated bearer and stopping the timer.

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: A system, policy nodes, and methods are described herein for establishing a policy session (e.g., IP-CAN session) for a user equipment between a first policy node (e.g., BPCF) which is associated with a fixed broadband access network (e.g., non-3GPP access network) and a second policy node (e.g., PCRF) which is associated with an evolved packet core network (e.g., 3GPP access network).

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

Abstract: In scenarios where the quality of service is negotiated through a signalling layer whereas the services are actually carried through a bearer layer, application functions at the signalling layer are not always aware of how quality of service is individually accomplished at the bearer layer on a service basis. The invention provides a method and devices whereby events are detected on a service data flow basis at a detection device in the bearer layer and notified towards an application device in the signalling layer via a control device between the signalling and the bearer layer. The list of events to be notified is obtainable at the control device from the application device and is included in Quality of Service related rules, along with service data flow filters. This Quality of Service related rules are provided to the detection device for inspecting individual service data flows in order to detect and notify the indicated events.

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 Mediation Entity (ME) provides a single policy server common to the BroadBand Forum (BBF) fixed domain and the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) mobile domain. A Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) in the mobile domain provides policy control for both fixed and mobile domains. The ME in the 3GPP domain enables such PCRF approach. The ME may be introduced as a 3GPP mobile domain-based network function or element between a fixed domain-based Border Network Gateway (BNG) and the PCRF. With regard to the BBF fixed domain, the ME acts before the BNG as a Broadband Policy Control Function (BPCF), and with regard to the 3GPP mobile domain, the ME acts before the PCRF as a gateway implementing a Bearer Binding and Event Reporting Function (BBERF) or as a Policy and Charging Enforcement Function (PCEF).

Abstract: A method of delivering data to user terminals connected to an Internet Protocol Connectivity Access Network, IP-CAN, wherein the IP-CAN implements a Policy and Charging Control, PCC, architecture. The method comprises caching data within an IP-CAN cache server upon a decision made by a Policy and Charging Rules Function, PCRF, of the PCC architecture. The cached data is then identified to a Policy and Charging Enforcement Function, PCEF, of the PCC architecture. At the PCEF, data requests made by user terminals are monitored and a determination made as to whether or not a request relates to cached data. If a request does relate to cached data, then that cached data is delivered from the IP-CAN cache server to the requesting user terminal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to re-establishment of dedicated bearers and more particularly, the invention relates to the re-establishment of dedicated bearers when connection is lost temporarily. This is provided in a device, method and system, in a packet based telecommunications network, for receiving on the communication interface an indication that a dedicated bearer for a user equipment, UE, has been deactivated, starting at least one timer, checking if uplink traffic is present for a communication bearer and if uplink traffic is detected on the communication bearer for a deactivated dedicated bearer re-establishing the dedicated bearer and stopping the timer.

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: 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).