Bandwidth limitation of non-GBR bearers

• US 10,306,510 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2013
• Issued: 05/28/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Bolle, Aldo, Avila Gonzalez, Victor Manuel, Emanuelsson, Sven-Ove
• Primary Examiner(s): Orgad, Edan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Maglo, Emmanuel K
• Application Number:
  US15/100,937
• Publication Number:
  US 20160302101A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,002 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1407 Policy-and-charging control [PCC] architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/20 Traffic policing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/22 Traffic shaping
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2475 for supporting traffic characterised by the type of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0257 the individual bearer or channel having a maximum bit rate or a bit rate guarantee
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0268 using specific QoS parameters for wireless networks, e.g. QoS class identifier [QCI] or guaranteed bit rate [GBR] negotiating SLA or negotiating QoS H04W28/24

Abstract

There is provided bandwidth limitation of a connectivity service for a user equipment with respect to an access point name (APN) served by a packet data gateway (PGW) in a communications network. The PGW receives a request to separate bandwidth limitation with respect to the APN for a connectivity service and a specific service delivered over the connectivity service. The PGW enforces a first bandwidth limitation on the connectivity service. The PGW enforces a second bandwidth limitation on the specific service.

Claims

1. A method for bandwidth limitation of a connectivity service for a user equipment with respect to an access point name, APN, served by a packet data gateway, PGW, in a communications network, the method being performed by the PGW, comprising the steps of:

receiving a request to separate bandwidth limitation with respect to the APN for the connectivity service and a specific service delivered over the connectivity service, wherein said connectivity service is associated with a default bearer and said specific service is associated with a dedicated bearer different from said default bearer;

enforcing a first bandwidth limitation on said connectivity service;

enforcing a second bandwidth limitation on said specific service; and

enforcing an access point name aggregated maximum bit rate, APN-AMBR, parameter on said connectivity service and said specific service such that said dedicated bearer is excluded from the enforcement of said APN-AMBR parameter.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second bandwidth limitation is higher than the first bandwidth limitation.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said connectivity service is a mobile broadband connectivity service.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said connectivity service is a mobile broadband subscription service of the user equipment.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said specific service comprises specific service content.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said specific service is delivered as a dedicated non-guaranteed bit rate, non-GBR, connectivity service.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said specific service is provided by a mobile broadband connectivity service provider of the user equipment or by a third party service provider.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said request is received on a Gx interface.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said request is received from a Policy and Charging Rules Function, PCRF, entity in the communications network.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein said request is received from a Charging System in the communications network.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein said request comprises a default maximum bit rate parameter determining said first bandwidth limitation;

the method further comprising;

enforcing said first bandwidth limitation on said default bearer associated with said connectivity service; and

enforcing said second bandwidth limitation on said dedicated bearer associated with said specific service.

12. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

calibrating an access point name aggregated maximum bit rate, APN-AMBR, parameter to a bit rate level that comprises said first bandwidth limitation and said second bandwidth limitation; and

enforcing said APN AMBR on said connectivity service and said specific service.

13. The method according to claim 1, the method further comprising:

adding said dedicated bearer for only transporting said specific service.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein said request comprises policy and charging control, PCC, rules, the method further comprising:

associating each PCC rule with a respective bearer.

15. A method for bandwidth limitation of a connectivity service for a user equipment with respect to an access point name, APN, served by a packet data gateway, PGW, in a communications network, the method being performed by a policy and charging rules function, PCRF, entity, comprising the step of:

transmitting a request to said PGW to separate bandwidth limitation with respect to the APN for the connectivity service and a specific service delivered over the connectivity service, wherein said connectivity service is associated with a default bearer and said specific service is associated with a dedicated bearer different from said default bearer;

wherein said PGW is configured to enforce a first bandwidth limitation on said connectivity service, enforce a second bandwidth limitation on said specific service, and enforce an access point name aggregated maximum bit rate, APN-AMBR, parameter on said connectivity service and said specific service such that said dedicated bearer is excluded from the enforcement of said APN-AMBR parameter.

16. A packet data network gateway, PGW, for bandwidth limitation of a connectivity service for a user equipment with respect to an access point name, APN, served by the PGW, in a communications network, comprising:

memory; and

processing circuitry coupled to the memory, the processing circuitry configured to;

receive a request to separate bandwidth limitation with respect to the APN for the connectivity service and a specific service delivered over the connectivity service, wherein said connectivity service is associated with a default bearer and said specific service is associated with a dedicated bearer different from said default bearer;

enforce a first bandwidth limitation on said connectivity service;

enforce a second bandwidth limitation on said specific service; and

enforce an access point name aggregated maximum bit rate, APN-AMBR, parameter on said connectivity service and said specific service such that said dedicated bearer is excluded from the enforcement of said APN-AMBR parameter.

17. The PGW according to claim 16, wherein the second bandwidth limitation is higher than the first bandwidth limitation.

18. The PGW according to claim 16, wherein said connectivity service is a mobile broadband connectivity service.

19. The PGW according to claim 16, wherein said connectivity service is a mobile broadband subscription service of the user equipment.

20. The PGW according to claim 16, wherein said specific service comprises specific service content.

21. The PGW according to claim 16, wherein said specific service is delivered as a dedicated non-guaranteed bit rate, non-GBR, connectivity service.

22. The PGW according to claim 16, wherein said specific service is provided by a mobile broadband connectivity service provider of the user equipment or by a third party service provider.

23. The PGW according to claim 16, wherein said request is received on a Gx interface.

24. The PGW according to claim 16, wherein said request is received from a Policy and Charging Rules Function, PCRF, entity in the communications network.

25. The PGW according to claim 16, wherein said request is received from a Charging System in the communications network.

26. The PGW according to claim 16, wherein said request comprises a default maximum bit rate parameter determining said first bandwidth limitation;

wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to;

enforce said first bandwidth limitation on said default bearer associated with said connectivity service; and

enforce said second bandwidth limitation on said dedicated bearer associated with said specific service.

27. The PGW according to claim 16, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

calibrate an access point name aggregated maximum bit rate, APN-AMBR, parameter to a bit rate level that comprises said first bandwidth limitation and said second bandwidth limitation; and

enforce said APN AMBR on said connectivity service and said specific service.

28. The PGW according to claim 16, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

add said dedicated bearer for only transporting said specific service.

29. The PGW according to claim 16, wherein said request comprises policy and charging control, PCC, rules, and wherein the processing unit is arranged to:

associate each PCC rule with a respective bearer.

30. A policy and charging rules function, PCRF, entity for bandwidth limitation of a connectivity service with respect to an access point name, APN, served by a packet data gateway, PGW, in a communications network, comprising:

memory;

processing circuitry coupled to the memory, the processing circuitry configured to;

transmit a request to said PGW to separate bandwidth limitation with respect to the APN for the connectivity service and a specific service delivered over the connectivity service,

wherein said connectivity service is associated with a default bearer and said specific service is associated with a dedicated bearer different from said default bearer;

wherein said PGW is configured to enforce a first bandwidth limitation on said connectivity service, enforce a second bandwidth limitation on said specific service, and enforce an access point name aggregated maximum bit rate, APN-AMBR, parameter on said connectivity service and said specific service such that said dedicated bearer is excluded from the enforcement of said APN-AMBR parameter.

31. A computer program stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium for bandwidth limitation of a connectivity service for a user equipment with respect to an access point name, APN, served by a packet data gateway, PGW, in a communications network, the computer program comprising computer program code which, when run on processing circuitry of the PGW, entity, causes the PGW to:

receive a request to separate bandwidth limitation with respect to the APN for the connectivity service and a specific service delivered over the connectivity service, wherein said connectivity service is associated with a default bearer and said specific service is associated with a dedicated bearer different from said default bearer;

enforce a first bandwidth limitation on said connectivity service;

enforce a second bandwidth limitation on said specific service; and

enforce an access point name aggregated maximum bit rate, APN-AMBR, parameter on said connectivity service and said specific service such that said dedicated bearer is excluded from the enforcement of said APN-AMBR parameter.

32. A computer program stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium for bandwidth limitation of a connectivity service for a user equipment with respect to an access point name, APN, served by a packet data gateway, PGW, in a communications network, the computer program comprising computer program code which, when run on processing circuitry of a policy and charging rules function, PCRF, entity, causes the PCRF entity to:

transmit a request to a packet data network gateway, PGW, to separate bandwidth limitation with respect to the APN for the connectivity service and a specific service delivered over the connectivity service, wherein said connectivity service is associated with a default bearer and said specific service is associated with a dedicated bearer different from said default bearer;

wherein said PGW is configured to enforce a first bandwidth limitation on said connectivity service, enforce a second bandwidth limitation on said specific service, and enforce an access point name aggregated maximum bit rate, APN-AMBR, parameter on said connectivity service and said specific service such that said dedicated bearer is excluded from the enforcement of said APN-AMBR parameter.