Virtualized policy and charging system
First Claim
1. A network system for providing connection to one or more Internet data services for one or more wireless end-user devices communicatively coupled to the network system over a wireless access network, the network system comprising:
- a policy enforcement function configured to block or forward Internet data traffic for each of the wireless end-user devices according to a respectively applicable data access policy for each such wireless end-user device, the respectively applicable data access policy for a first one of the wireless end-user devices initially comprising a first data access policy that allows Internet data traffic forwarding for the first one of the end-user devices for the limited purpose of communication between a service processor executing on the first one of the end-user devices and a service controller reachable through the policy enforcement function; and
a first policy element configured to,upon receiving a first indication from the service controllerthat the first one of the wireless end-user devices has at least one active Internet data service plan allowing access to an Internet data service, andthat the service processor can be trusted to enforce and account for Internet data service supplied to that device according to the at least one active Internet data service plan,instruct the policy enforcement function to apply a second data access policy to Internet data traffic for the first one of the wireless end-user devices, the second data access policy allowing forwarding of Internet data traffic between the first one of the wireless end-user devices and unspecified Internet destinations.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A network system for providing one or more services to one or more end-user devices communicatively coupled to the network system over a wireless access network, the network system comprising: a policy enforcement function, a first policy element, a second policy element, and a network element, wherein the network element is communicatively coupled to the policy enforcement function, the first policy element, and the second policy element, and wherein the network element is configured to communicate first policy information between the policy enforcement function and the first policy element, and communicate second policy information between the first policy enforcement function and the second policy element.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A network system for providing connection to one or more Internet data services for one or more wireless end-user devices communicatively coupled to the network system over a wireless access network, the network system comprising:
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a policy enforcement function configured to block or forward Internet data traffic for each of the wireless end-user devices according to a respectively applicable data access policy for each such wireless end-user device, the respectively applicable data access policy for a first one of the wireless end-user devices initially comprising a first data access policy that allows Internet data traffic forwarding for the first one of the end-user devices for the limited purpose of communication between a service processor executing on the first one of the end-user devices and a service controller reachable through the policy enforcement function; and a first policy element configured to, upon receiving a first indication from the service controller that the first one of the wireless end-user devices has at least one active Internet data service plan allowing access to an Internet data service, and that the service processor can be trusted to enforce and account for Internet data service supplied to that device according to the at least one active Internet data service plan, instruct the policy enforcement function to apply a second data access policy to Internet data traffic for the first one of the wireless end-user devices, the second data access policy allowing forwarding of Internet data traffic between the first one of the wireless end-user devices and unspecified Internet destinations. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification