Service Utilization Control Manager

• US 20090172782A1
• Filed: 12/31/2007
• Published: 07/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United States Cellular Corporation (Telephone & Data Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: United States Cellular Corporation (Telephone & Data Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sofronas, Andrew, Saxena, Narothum, Irizarry, Michael, Taglienti, Claudio, Abichandani, Jaideep
• Granted Patent: US 8,505,073 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1016 IP multimedia subsystem [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/37 Managing security policies for mobile devices or for controlling mobile applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/16 Central resource management; Negotiation of resources or communication parameters, e.g. negotiating bandwidth or QoS [Quality of Service]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/14 Backbone network devices

Abstract

Aspects of the invention allow mobile network users as well as mobile network providers to define policies that are managed across several applications and services. Thus, several application servers and network elements are coordinated to implement a service policy. More specifically, aspects of the invention define service level policies for any service be within an IMS based or non-IMS based wireless network implemented by SIP or non-SIP network elements.

A service policy is a set of rules that is applied when a subscriber uses a specific service (Web Browsing, Location, Presence, MMS, SMS, PoC, etc). The policy may be applicable on a per-need, per-subscriber basis. A service policy enhances or restricts use of the service functionality by the subscriber. A service level policy should also allow definition of service utilization rules that constrain how the service may be used by the subscriber. For example, a parent may restrict the use of her child'"'"'s cell phone for all voice and messaging type communication to only one hour per day between the time of 12 noon to 1 pm and 4 pm to 6 pm. Thus, aspects of the inventions allow mobile service subscribers to receive a level of customization for services rendered by a mobile network service provider. Further, mobile network service providers may provide not only custom service to subscribers but also simplifies the provisioning by allowing a single-point of configuration for subscriber based service control policies.

Service level policies have wider scope than bearer level policies such as quality of service in the form of on-demand bandwidth, committed rates of throughput, committed reduction in delay/jitter/latency.

Claims

1. A method of managing a plurality of mobile network services on a subscriber basis across several networks, the method comprising:

receiving a service request from a subscriber across an application interface requesting authorization to provide a service to a subscriber from a service authorization and utilization control function;

authorizing a service request by a service authorization and utilization control function based on a service policy; and

denying a service request by a service authorization and utilization control function based on a service policy.

2. A method according to claim 1, the method further comprising:

receiving configuration of a service policy for a subscriber group within a mobile network by one or more subscribers within a subscriber group;

storing available service credits within a subscriber service utilization account based on the service policy.

3. A method according to claim 1, the method further comprising:

mapping messages received by a service authorization and utilization control function across an application interface from a network element to a real time utilization interface;

transmitting mapped messages across a real time utilization interface from a service authorization and utilization control function to a subscriber service utilization account;

receiving messages across a real time utilization interface from a subscriber service utilization account to a service authorization and utilization control function.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the messages are based on an application interface incorporating Attribute Value Pair commands.

5. A method according to claim 3, wherein the messages across a real time utilization interface are based on an application incorporating Attribute Value Pair commands.

6. A method according to claim 1, the method further comprising applying service bonuses to qualified subscribers.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein a network is selected from a group consisting of an IMS network, non-IMS network, legacy networks, access networks, and the Internet.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein a mobile network service is selected from a group consisting of streaming video, MMS, SMS, parental control services, mobile advertisements, Web browsing, Location, Presence, PoC, VOIP, PTT, advertising services, advertising control services, subscriber privacy services, and family charging services.

9. A system of managing a plurality of mobile network services on a subscriber basis across several networks, the system comprising:

a service authorization and utilization control function that authorizes or denies a requested mobile network service from a network element;

a plurality of subscriber service utilization accounts that store available credit for subscribers;

a plurality of network elements that request authorization from a service authorization and utilization control function to provide a mobile network service to a subscriber;

an application interface that carries messages between one or more network elements and a service authorization and utilization control function;

an application interface that carries messages between a service authorization and utilization control function and a subscriber service utilization account;

a plurality of networks that provide mobile network services from one or more network elements to a plurality of subscriber mobile devices; and

a plurality of subscriber mobile devices that configures a service policy incorporated into the service authorization and utilization control function and requests services from one or more network elements.

10. A system according to claim 9, the system further comprising:

a serving call/session control function that performs session control as a Session Initiation Protocol server;

a proxy call/session control function that provides authentication functions and acts as a Session Initiation Protocol proxy server;

a Home Subscriber Server that is a database for data necessary for authentication and authorizing mobile network services; and

a Policy Function that allocates network resources to provide a mobile network service.

11. A system according to claim 9, the system further comprising an Access Gateway that receives and transmits service packets from a core network to a subscriber mobile device.

12. A system according to claim 9, wherein a network is selected from a group consisting of an IMS network, non-IMS network, legacy networks, access networks, and the Internet.

13. A system according to claim 9, wherein a mobile network service is selected from a group consisting of streaming video, MMS, SMS, parental control services, mobile advertisements, Web browsing, Location, Presence, PoC, VOIP, PTT, advertising services, advertising control services, subscriber privacy services, and family charging services.

14. A system according to claim 9, wherein a subscriber mobile device is selected from a group consisting of a mobile phone, Personal Digital Assistant, and a portable computer.

15. An apparatus for managing a plurality of mobile network services on a subscriber basis across several networks, the apparatus comprising:

a service authorization and utilization control function;

a plurality of service policy rules;

a subscriber service utilization account;

a real time utilization interface; and

an interface that carries messages between a network element and a service authorization and utilization control function.

16. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the plurality of service policy rules is selected from the group consisting of communication rules, security, rules, privacy rules, and charging rules.

17. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein communication rules is selected from the group consisting of destination, time, usage, and content.

18. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the application interface that carries messages between the service authorization and utilization control function and the network elements is based on Attribute Value Pair commands.

19. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the real time utilization interface transmits messages between the service authorization utilization and control function and the subscriber service utilization account is based on Attribute Value Pair commands.

20. An apparatus according to claim 15 wherein a mobile network service is selected from a group consisting of streaming video, MMS, SMS, parental control services, mobile advertisements, Web browsing, Location, Presence, PoC, VOIP, PTT, advertising services, advertising control services, subscriber privacy services, and family charging services.