Multimedia next generation network architecture for IP services delivery based on network and user policy

• US 20080013533A1
• Filed: 07/14/2006
• Published: 01/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cellco Partnership, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cellco Partnership, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Stone, William H., Flynn, Gerard J., Bogineni, Kalyani, Salas, Edward A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,984,130 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/389
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/082 the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0893 Assignment of logical groups to network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0894 Policy-based network configuration management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0896 Bandwidth or capacity management, i.e. automatically increasing or decreasing capacities flow or congestion control using dynamic resource allocation, e.g. in-call renegotiation, H04L47/76
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5029 Service quality level-based billing, e.g. dependent on measured service level customer is charged more or less
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5077 wherein the managed service relates to simple transport services, i.e. providing only network infrastructure
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/0431 Key distribution or pre-distribution; Key agreement
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/00 Network traffic management; Network resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/10 adapted for application session management, e.g. SIP [Session Initiation Protocol] connection management H04W76/00; arrangements for session management H04L67/14

Abstract

The exemplary Multimedia Next Generation Network architecture disclosed herein covers the entire next generation system, e.g. for wireless communication services, including application, signaling and bearer functionalities. The architecture addresses unification of subscriber databases for both SIP services and non-SIP services in a Services Data Management Center (SDMC). A Security Center (SC) provides a central repository for all security related databases and functions. An Application Control Point (ACP) provides a single point of services control for all active SIP services for all subscribers via state information and services interaction management. Policy decisions are made at the packet layer, for example in an Advanced Bearer Control Point (ABCP) clustered with other functions to form a Bearer Services Control Point (BSCP). Policy enforcement is implemented at various nodes at the network or packet layer (L3) and above, e.g. including the BSCP and ACP.

Claims

1. A packet switching network for providing communication for a first service which utilizes a first application layer (above L3) service control protocol and communication for a second service which utilizes a second application layer (above L3) service control protocol, for subscribers'"'"' access terminals (ATs), the network comprising:

a link layer (L2) network element for providing two-way transport for packet communication with one or more of the subscribers'"'"' ATs;

an Advanced Bearer Control Point (ABCP) for tracking network layer (L3) delivery of communication for the one or more of subscribers'"'"' ATs involved in communications through the link layer network element, for tracking availability of resources for providing communication through the network, and for determining allocations of the resources to the one or more ATs for the communications for the first and second services through the network in accordance with a network policy;

a plurality of policy enforcement functions distributed across the network for controlling the subscribers'"'"' packet communications at network layer three (L3) or above, so as to implement the determined resource allocations for the communications for the first and second services for the one or more of the ATs.

2. The network of claim 1, further comprising:

an access gateway for routing subscribers'"'"' communication packets for the first and second services to and from the link layer network element,

wherein the access gateway implements one of the policy enforcement functions by controlling the routing of subscribers'"'"' communication packets so as to implement resource allocations determined by the ABCP, for the communications for the one or more of the ATs through the link layer network element.

3. The network of claim 2, wherein the access gateway is configured to implement additional functions relating to charging for bearer services through the network and filtering packet communications for services through the network.

4. The network of claim 1, wherein:

the link layer network element comprises an Base Transceiver Station (BTS) having packet switching capabilities, for providing the two-way transport for packet communication over an air link interface with the one or more of the ATs; and

the BTS is configured to implement one of the policy enforcement functions by controlling routing of subscribers'"'"' communication packets so as to implement resource allocations determined by the ABCP, for the communications with the one or more of the ATs through the BTS.

5. The network of claim 4, wherein the BTS is configured to implement additional functions relating to charging for bearer services through the network and filtering packet communications for services through the network.

6. The network of claim 1, further comprising:

a router for routing subscribers'"'"' communication packets for the first and second services between the access gateway and a core packet network;

wherein one of the policy enforcement functions is implemented in association with the router for controlling routing of subscribers'"'"' communication packets from the core packet network so as to implement resource allocations determined by the ABCP, for the communications with the one or more of the ATs.

7. The network of claim 6, wherein the ABCP and the router are clustered to form a Bearer Services Control Point (BSCP).

8. The network of claim 7, wherein:

the router is configured to act as a home agent in supporting AT mobility; and

the BSCP is configured to implement additional functions relating to charging for bearer services through the network and filtering packet communications for services through the network.

9. The network of claim 1, wherein:

the first service which utilizes the first application layer (above L3) service control protocol comprises one or more services based on session initiation protocol (SIP); and

the second service which utilizes the second application layer (above L3) service control protocol comprises one or more non-SIP services.

10. The network of claim 7, wherein the ABCP is configured so that the determining of allocations of the resources to the one or more ATs for the first and second services is additionally based on service profile information of respective subscribers.

11. The network of claim 10, further comprising:

an Application Control Point (ACP) coupled for packet switched communication of signaling information with the ABCP, for providing application layer (above L3) control of subscribers'"'"' packet communications for the first service through the network;

wherein the ACP is configured to implement one of the policy enforcement functions as part of the application layer control, to implement resource allocations determined by the ABCP for communications of the one or more of the ATs with respect to the first service.

12. The network of claim 11, wherein the ACP comprises:

a Services Capability Interaction Manager (SCIM), for providing the control of subscribers'"'"' packet communications for first service through the network; and

a database accessible by the SCIM for transient storage of service profile data for the subscribers, for use by the SCIM in its control of the packet communications for the first service provided through the network for the subscribers'"'"' ATs.

13. The network of claim 12, wherein the ACP further comprises:

a Proxy Call Session Control Function (P-CSCF);

a Serving Call Session Control Function (S-CSCF); and

an Interrogating Call Session Control Function (S-CSCF).

14. The network of claim 13, wherein the ACP further comprises a Breakout Gateway Control Function (BGCF).

15. The network of claim 13, wherein the ACP further comprises a telephony server.

16. The network of claim 11, further comprising a Services Data Management Center (SDMC) coupled for packet switched communication of signaling information with the ABCP, the BSCP and the ACP, for providing:

control information in accordance with service profile information of respective subscribers to the ABCP in the BSCP; and

control information in accordance with service profile information of respective subscribers to the ACP.

17. The network of claim 16, wherein the SDMC comprises:

an Authorization and Accounting (AA) server;

a subscriber policy server; and

a subscriber database storing service profiles for the respective subscribers.

18. The network of claim 1, further comprising:

a Security Center (SC) coupled for packet switched communication of signaling information with the ABCP,

wherein the SC is configured for providing and managing key distribution to the ATs and for authentication of the users through the network.

19. The network of claim 18, wherein:

the SC comprises a Key Distribution Center (KDC); and

a security server coupled for signaling communication with the ACP and the BSCP.

20. A system for providing layer three (L3) control of subscribers'"'"' packet communications through a packet switching network for users'"'"' access terminals (ATs), for a first service which utilizes a first application layer (above L3) service control protocol and for a second service which utilizes a second application layer (above L3) service control protocol, the system comprising:

(a) an Advanced Bearer Control Point (ABCP) for tracking network layer (L3) delivery of communication for the ATs through the network, for tracking availability of resources for providing communication through the network, and for determining allocations of the resources to the ATs for the communications for the first and second services through the network in accordance with a network policy;

(b) a router for routing packets between the ATs and a core packet network for the first and second services; and

(b) a policy enforcement function for controlling the routing, so as to implement at least some of the determined resource allocations for communications through the network for the one or more ATs for the first and second services.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein:

the ABCP, the router and the policy enforcement function are elements of a Bearer Services Control Point (BSCP); and

the BSCP is configured to implement additional functions relating to charging for bearer services through the network and filtering packet communications for services through the network.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein:

the router is an element of an access gateway for providing routing of packets to and from a link layer network element serving the one or more of the ATs; and

the policy enforcement function is implemented in the access gateway.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein the router comprises:

a Proxy-Mobility Manager (P-MM) for routing of subscribers'"'"' communication packets to and from one or more Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs) serving the ATs, and for acting as a foreign agent in support of mobility of the ATs; and

a Serving-Mobility Manager (S-MM) for routing subscribers'"'"' communication packets between the P-MM and the core packet network, and for acting as a home agent in support of mobility of the ATs.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the P-MM is implemented in association with an Internet Protocol (IP) capable implementation of a BTS.

25. The system of claim 20, wherein:

the first service which utilizes the first application layer (above L3) service control protocol comprises one or more services based on session initiation protocol (SIP); and

the second service which utilizes the second application layer (above L3) service control protocol comprises one or more non-SIP services.

26. An Application Control Point (ACP) for providing application layer (above L3) control of subscribers'"'"' packet communications for a plurality of services through a network that utilize a common application layer (above L3) service control protocol, the ACP comprising:

(i) a Services Capability Interaction Manager (SCIM), for providing the control of subscribers'"'"' packet communications for the plurality of services through the network; and

(ii) a database accessible by the SCIM for transient storage of service profile data for the subscribers, for use by the SCIM in its control of packet communications for the plurality services provided through the network for the subscribers'"'"' access terminals (ATs), wherein;

the SCIM uses subscriber profile data from the database to provide the application layer control of subscribers'"'"' packet communications for the plurality of services through the network, and

the ACP is configured for providing a single point of services control for all active services utilizing the common application layer (above L3) service control protocol for all subscribers'"'"' ATs, responsive to a network policy decision from a policy decision function implemented at the network layer (L3) of the network.