System, apparatus, and corresponding method for managing resource in shared network

• US 10,117,259 B2
• Filed: 10/28/2016
• Issued: 10/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Wang, Shuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Phillips, Hassan
• Assistant Examiner(s): JONES, PRENELL P
• Application Number:
  US15/338,075
• Publication Number:
  US 20170048877A1
• Time in Patent Office: 732 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1407 Policy-and-charging control [PCC] architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1432 Metric aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/66 Policy and charging system
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8016 based on quality of service [QoS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0263 involving mapping traffic to individual bearers or channels, e.g. traffic flow template [TFT]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/12 using signalling between network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/24 Negotiating SLA [Service Level Agreement]; Negotiating QoS [Quality of Service]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/04 Wireless resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/543 based on requested quality, e.g. QoS

Abstract

A method for managing a resource in a shared network includes: receiving an adjustment request from a PCEF entity, the adjustment request indicates a participant mobile network operator to which user equipment belongs, and requests to adjust a guaranteed bit rate quota and/or a maximum bit rate quota of the participant mobile network operator in the PCEF entity; obtaining, according to the adjustment request, a subscription guaranteed bit rate resource allocated by a primary operator to the participant mobile network operator and a used guaranteed bit rate resource of the participant mobile network operator; and sending an adjustment response to the PCEF entity according to the subscription guaranteed bit rate resource and the used guaranteed bit rate resource, the adjustment response indicates whether the PCEF entity is allowed to adjust the guaranteed bit rate quota and/or the maximum bit rate quota.

Claims

1. A method for managing a resource in a shared network, the method comprising:

receiving an adjustment request from a policy and charging enforcement function (PCEF) entity, wherein the adjustment request indicates a participant mobile network operator to which user equipment belongs, and requests to adjust a guaranteed bit rate quota and/or a maximum bit rate quota of the participant mobile network operator in the PCEF entity, the maximum bit rate quota is a sum of maximum bit rate resources that are in the PCEF entity and that can be used by all guaranteed bit rate bearers of the participant mobile network operator, and the guaranteed bit rate quota is a sum of guaranteed bit rate resources that are in the PCEF entity and that can be used by all the guaranteed bit rate bearers of the participant mobile network operator;

obtaining, according to the adjustment request, a subscription guaranteed bit rate resource allocated by a primary operator to the participant mobile network operator and a used guaranteed bit rate resource of the participant mobile network operator, wherein the used guaranteed bit rate resource is a sum of guaranteed bit rate resources currently used by all the guaranteed bit rate bearers of the participant mobile network operator, and the subscription guaranteed bit rate resource is a sum of guaranteed bit rate resources that can be used by all the guaranteed bit rate bearers of the participant mobile network operator at any moment; and

sending an adjustment response to the PCEF entity according to the subscription guaranteed bit rate resource and the used guaranteed bit rate resource, wherein the adjustment response indicates whether the PCEF entity is allowed to adjust the guaranteed bit rate quota and/or the maximum bit rate quota.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein sending the adjustment response comprises:

when the used guaranteed bit rate resource is less than the subscription guaranteed bit rate resource, sending, to the PCEF entity, an adjustment response indicating that the PCEF entity is allowed to adjust the guaranteed bit rate quota and/or the maximum bit rate quota;

or

when the used guaranteed bit rate resource is equal to the subscription guaranteed bit rate resource, sending, to the PCEF entity, an adjustment response indicating that the PCEF entity is not allowed to adjust the guaranteed bit rate quota and/or the maximum bit rate quota.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein before receiving the adjustment request, the method further comprises:

receiving a session termination indication from the PCEF entity, wherein the session termination indication carries a user identifier of the user equipment and guaranteed bit rate bearer information;

determining, according to the user identifier of the user equipment, the participant mobile network operator to which the user equipment belongs; and

updating, according to the guaranteed bit rate bearer information, the used guaranteed bit rate resource of the participant mobile network operator to which the user equipment belongs.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein before receiving the adjustment request, the method further comprises:

receiving a first session modification indication from the PCEF entity;

setting a new policy and charging control (PCC) rule according to the first session modification indication;

returning, to the PCEF entity, a first session modification response carrying the new PCC rule, so that the PCEF entity modifies a current guaranteed bit rate bearer according to the new PCC rule;

receiving a first session modification result notification from the PCEF entity, wherein the first session modification result notification carries a user identifier of the user equipment and guaranteed bit rate bearer information;

determining, according to the user identifier of the user equipment, the participant mobile network operator to which the user equipment belongs; and

updating, according to the guaranteed bit rate bearer information, the used guaranteed bit rate resource of the participant mobile network operator to which the user equipment belongs.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein before receiving the adjustment request, the method further comprises:

setting a new policy and charging control (PCC) rule according to a current network status;

sending, to the PCEF entity, a second session modification indication carrying the new PCC rule, so that the PCEF entity modifies a current guaranteed bit rate bearer according to the new PCC rule;

receiving a second session modification result notification from the PCEF entity, wherein the second session modification result notification carries a user identifier of the user equipment and guaranteed bit rate bearer information;

determining, according to the user identifier of the user equipment, the participant mobile network operator to which the user equipment belongs; and

updating, according to the guaranteed bit rate bearer information, the used guaranteed bit rate resource of the participant mobile network operator to which the user equipment belongs.

6. A method for managing a resource in a shared network, the method comprising:

sending, by a policy and charging enforcement function (PCEF) entity, an adjustment request to a policy and charging rule function (PCRF) entity, wherein the adjustment request indicates a participant mobile network operator to which user equipment belongs, and requests to adjust a guaranteed bit rate quota and/or a maximum bit rate quota of the participant mobile network operator in the PCEF entity, the maximum bit rate quota is a sum of quantities of maximum bit rate resources that are in the PCEF entity and that can be used by all guaranteed bit rate bearers of the participant mobile network operator, and the guaranteed bit rate quota is a sum of guaranteed bit rate resources that are in the PCEF entity and that can be used by all the guaranteed bit rate bearers of the participant mobile network operator;

receiving, by the PCEF entity, an adjustment response that is from the PCRF entity according to the adjustment request, wherein the adjustment response indicates whether the PCEF entity is allowed to adjust the guaranteed bit rate quota and/or the maximum bit rate quota; and

adjusting, by the PCEF entity, the guaranteed bit rate quota and/or the maximum bit rate quota according to the adjustment response.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein before sending the adjustment request, the method further comprises:

determining, by the PCEF entity, that a sum of maximum bit rates currently used by all guaranteed bit rate bearers of the PCEF entity has not exceeded a first preset threshold, and a sum of maximum bit rates currently used by all the guaranteed bit rate bearers of the participant mobile network operator in the PCEF entity has reached the maximum bit rate quota.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein adjusting the guaranteed bit rate quota and/or the maximum bit rate quota comprises:

when the adjustment response indicates that adjustment by the PCEF entity is allowed, increasing, by the PCEF entity, the guaranteed bit rate quota and/or the maximum bit rate quota;

or

when the adjustment response indicates that adjustment by the PCEF entity is not allowed, adjusting, by the PCEF entity to a guaranteed bit rate, an actual used bit rate of a guaranteed bit rate bearer whose current actual used bit rate is greater than the guaranteed bit rate;

or

when the adjustment response indicates that adjustment by the PCEF entity is not allowed, and a current actual used bit rate of each guaranteed bit rate bearer in the PCEF entity has not exceeded a guaranteed bit rate corresponding to the guaranteed bit rate bearer, but a sum of the current actual used bit rates of all the guaranteed bit rate bearers has exceeded a second preset threshold, when a new guaranteed bit rate bearer needs to be established, preempting a bit rate bearer resource for the new guaranteed bit rate bearer according to an allocation and retention priority (ARP) parameter.

9. The method according to claim 7, further comprising:

when the PCEF entity determines that the sum of the maximum bit rates currently used by all the guaranteed bit rate bearers of the PCEF entity has exceeded the first preset threshold, adjusting, by the PCEF entity to the guaranteed bit rate quota, a sum of maximum bit rates of all the guaranteed bit rate bearers of the participant mobile network operator to which the user equipment belongs, adjusting, to a guaranteed bit rate, an actual used bit rate of a guaranteed bit rate bearer whose current actual used bit rate is greater than the guaranteed bit rate, and when a current actual used bit rate of each guaranteed bit rate bearer has not exceeded a guaranteed bit rate corresponding to the guaranteed bit rate bearer, but a sum of the current actual used bit rates of all the guaranteed bit rate bearers has exceeded a second preset threshold, when a new guaranteed bit rate bearer needs to be established, preempting a bit rate bearer resource for the new guaranteed bit rate bearer according to an allocation and retention priority (ARP) parameter.

10. The method according to claim 6, wherein before sending the adjustment request, the method further comprises:

receiving, by the PCEF entity, a session termination request from the user equipment; and

sending, by the PCEF entity, a session termination indication to the PCRF entity according to the session termination request, wherein the session termination indication carries a user identifier of the user equipment and guaranteed bit rate bearer information.

11. The method according to claim 6, wherein before sending the adjustment request, the method further comprises:

sending, by the PCEF entity, a first session modification indication to the PCRF entity;

receiving, by the PCEF entity, a first session modification response that is returned by the PCRF entity and that comprises a new policy and charging control (PCC) rule, wherein the new PCC rule is set by the PCRF entity according to the first session modification indication;

modifying, by the PCEF entity, a current guaranteed bit rate bearer according to the new PCC rule; and

sending, by the PCEF entity, a first session modification result notification to the PCRF entity, wherein the first session modification result notification carries a user identifier of the user equipment and guaranteed bit rate bearer information.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein modifying the current bearer comprises:

if the first session modification response indicates that a guaranteed bit rate bearer can be established, executing, by the PCEF entity, a guaranteed bit rate bearer establishment procedure according to the new PCC rule;

or

if the first session modification response indicates that a guaranteed bit rate bearer can be deleted, executing, by the PCEF entity, a guaranteed bit rate bearer deletion procedure according to the new PCC rule;

or

if the first session modification response indicates that a guaranteed bit rate bearer can be updated, when it is determined that a bearer service quality parameter does not need to be updated, executing, by the PCEF entity, a guaranteed bit rate bearer update procedure according to the new PCC rule;

or

if the first session modification response indicates that a guaranteed bit rate bearer can be established when it is deter mined that the allocation and retention priority (ARP) parameter comprised in the new PCC rule enables the user equipment to preempt an existing bearer resource and a maximum bit rate of a required bearer resource is less than a maximum bit rate of the preempted bearer resource, when it is determined that the ARP parameter comprised in the new PCC rule enables the user equipment to preempt an existing bearer resource and a maximum bit rate of a required bearer resource is less than a maximum bit rate of the preempted bearer resource, executing a guaranteed bit rate bearer establishment procedure, or otherwise, rejecting guaranteed bit rate bearer establishment;

or

if the first session modification response indicates that a guaranteed bit rate bearer can be updated when it is determined that a bearer service quality parameter does not need to be updated and a maximum bit rate is not to be increased, when it is determined that a bearer service quality parameter does not need to be updated and a maximum bit rate is not to be increased, executing a bearer update procedure according to the new PCC rule.

13. The method according to claim 6, wherein before sending the adjustment request, the method further comprises:

receiving, by the PCEF entity, a second session modification indication that is from the PCRF entity and that carries a new policy and charging control PCC rule, wherein the new PCC rule is set by the PCRF entity according to a current network status;

modifying, by the PCEF entity, a current bearer according to the new PCC rule; and

sending, by the PCEF entity, a second session modification result notification to the PCRF entity, wherein the second session modification result notification carries a user identifier of the user equipment and guaranteed bit rate bearer information.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein modifying the current bearer comprises:

if the second session modification indication indicates that a guaranteed bit rate bearer can be established, executing, by the PCEF entity, a guaranteed bit rate bearer establishment procedure according to the new PCC rule;

or

if the second session modification indication indicates that a guaranteed bit rate bearer can be deleted, executing, by the PCEF entity, a guaranteed bit rate bearer deletion procedure according to the new PCC rule;

or

if the second session modification indication indicates that a guaranteed bit rate bearer can be updated, when it is determined that a bearer service quality parameter does not need to be updated, executing, by the PCEF entity, a guaranteed bit rate bearer update procedure according to the new PCC rule;

or

if the second session modification indication indicates that a guaranteed bit rate bearer can be established when it is determined that the allocation and retention priority (ARP) parameter comprised in the new PCC rule enables the user equipment to preempt an existing bearer resource and a maximum bit rate of a required bearer resource is less than a maximum bit rate of the preempted bearer resource, when it is determined that the ARP parameter comprised in the new PCC rule enables the user equipment to preempt an existing bearer resource and a maximum bit rate of a required bearer resource is less than a maximum bit rate of the preempted bearer resource, executing a guaranteed bit rate bearer establishment procedure, or otherwise, rejecting guaranteed bit rate bearer establishment;

or

if the second session modification indication indicates that a guaranteed bit rate bearer can be updated when it is determined that a bearer service quality parameter does not need to be updated and a maximum bit rate is not to be increased, when it is determined that a bearer service quality parameter does not need to be updated and a maximum bit rate is not to be increased, executing a guaranteed bit rate bearer update procedure according to the new PCC rule.

15. A policy and charging rule function entity, comprising:

a processor;

a transceiver interface; and

a memory configured to store data;

wherein

the transceiver interface is configured to;

receive an adjustment request from a policy and charging enforcement function (PCEF) entity, and provide the adjustment request to the processor, wherein the adjustment request indicates a participant mobile network operator to which user equipment belongs, and requests to adjust a guaranteed bit rate quota and/or a maximum bit rate quota of the participant mobile network operator in the PCEF entity, the maximum bit rate quota is a sum of maximum bit rate resources that are in the PCEF entity and that can be used by all guaranteed bit rate bearers of the participant mobile network operator, and the guaranteed bit rate quota is a sum of guaranteed bit rate resources that are in the PCEF entity and that can be used by all the guaranteed bit rate bearers of the participant mobile network operator; and

send, under the control of the processor, an adjustment response to the PCEF entity according to subscription guaranteed bit rate resource and used guaranteed bit rate resource, wherein the adjustment response indicates whether the PCEF entity is allowed to adjust the guaranteed bit rate quota and/or the maximum bit rate quota; and

the processor is configured to;

obtain the subscription guaranteed bit rate resource allocated by a primary operator to the participant mobile network operator and the used guaranteed bit rate resource of the participant mobile network operator, wherein the used guaranteed bit rate resource is a sum of guaranteed bit rate resources currently used by all the guaranteed bit rate bearers of the participant mobile network operator, and the subscription guaranteed bit rate resource is a sum of guaranteed bit rate resources that can be used by all the guaranteed bit rate bearers of the participant mobile network operator at any moment; and

generate the adjustment response according to the subscription guaranteed bit rate resource and the used guaranteed bit rate resource, and control the transceiver interface to send the adjustment response to the PCEF entity.

16. The policy and charging rule function entity according to claim 15, wherein

the processor is configured to:

when the used guaranteed bit rate resource is less than the subscription guaranteed bit rate resource, generate an adjustment response indicating that the PCEF entity is allowed to adjust the guaranteed bit rate quota and/or the maximum bit rate quota;

or

when the used guaranteed bit rate resource is equal to the subscription guaranteed bit rate resource, generate an adjustment response indicating that the PCEF entity is not allowed to adjust the guaranteed bit rate quota and/or the maximum bit rate quota.

17. A policy and charging enforcement function (PCEF) entity, comprising:

a processor;

a transceiver interface; and

a memory configured to store data;

wherein

the processor is configured to;

control the transceiver interface to send an adjustment request to a policy and charging rule function (PCRF) entity, wherein the adjustment request indicates a participant mobile network operator to which user equipment belongs, and requests to adjust a guaranteed bit rate quota and/or a maximum bit rate quota of the participant mobile network operator in the PCEF entity, the maximum bit rate quota is a sum of quantities of maximum bit rate resources that are in the PCEF entity and that can be used by all guaranteed bit rate bearers of the participant mobile network operator, and the guaranteed bit rate quota is a sum of guaranteed bit rate resources that are in the PCEF entity and that can be used by all the guaranteed bit rate bearers of the participant mobile network operator; and

adjust the guaranteed bit rate quota and/or the maximum bit rate quota according to an adjustment response received by the transceiver interface; and

the transceiver interface is configured to;

receive the adjustment response that is from the PCRF entity according to the adjustment request, wherein the adjustment response indicates whether the PCEF entity is allowed to adjust the guaranteed bit rate quota and/or the maximum bit rate quota; and

provide the adjustment response to the processor.

18. The policy and charging enforcement function entity according to claim 17, wherein

the processor is further configured to:

before controlling the transceiver interface to send the adjustment request to the PCRF entity, determine that a sum of maximum bit rates currently used by all guaranteed bit rate bearers of the PCEF entity has not exceeded a first preset threshold, and a sum of maximum bit rates currently used by all the guaranteed bit rate bearers of the participant mobile network operator in the PCEF entity has reached the maximum bit rate quota.

19. The policy and charging enforcement function entity according to claim 17, wherein the processor is configured to:

when the adjustment response indicates that adjustment by the PCEF entity is allowed, increase the guaranteed bit rate quota and/or the maximum bit rate quota;

or

when the adjustment response indicates that adjustment by the PCEF entity is not allowed, adjust, to a guaranteed bit rate, an actual used bit rate of a guaranteed bit rate bearer whose current actual used bit rate is greater than the guaranteed bit rate;

or

when the adjustment response indicates that adjustment by the PCEF entity is not allowed, and a current actual used bit rate of each guaranteed bit rate bearer in the PCEF entity has not exceeded a guaranteed bit rate corresponding to the guaranteed bit rate bearer, but a sum of the current actual used bit rates of all the guaranteed bit rate bearers has exceeded a second preset threshold, and when a new guaranteed bit rate bearer needs to be established, preempt a bit rate bearer resource for the new guaranteed bit rate bearer according to an allocation and retention priority (ARP) parameter.

20. The policy and charging enforcement function entity according to claim 17, wherein the processor is further configured to:

when it is determined that the sum of the maximum bit rates currently used by all the guaranteed bit rate bearers of the PCEF entity has exceeded the first preset threshold;

adjust, to the guaranteed bit rate quota, a sum of maximum bit rates of all the guaranteed bit rate bearers of the participant mobile network operator to which the user equipment belongs,

adjust, to a guaranteed bit rate, an actual used bit rate of a guaranteed bit rate bearer whose current actual used bit rate is greater than the guaranteed bit rate, and

when a current actual used bit rate of each guaranteed bit rate bearer has not exceeded a guaranteed bit rate corresponding to the guaranteed bit rate bearer, but a sum of the current actual used bit rates of all the guaranteed bit rate bearers has exceeded a second preset threshold, and when a new guaranteed bit rate bearer needs to be established, preempt a bit rate bearer resource for the new guaranteed bit rate bearer according to an allocation and retention priority (ARP) parameter.