DEVICES AND METHOD FOR GUARANTEEING QUALITY OF SERVICE PER SERVICE DATA FLOW THROUGH THE BEARER LAYER

• US 20090196225A1
• Filed: 06/02/2006
• Published: 08/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Santiso, Guadalupe Sanchez, Pastor Balbas, Jose Javier, Lopez Nieto, Ana Maria, Avila Gonzalez, Victor Manuel, Pancorbo, Maria Belen
• Granted Patent: US 7,940,659 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/10 Flow control; Congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2425 for supporting services specification, e.g. SLA
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2491 Mapping quality of service [QoS] requirements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1016 IP multimedia subsystem [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/04 Arrangements for maintaining operational condition

Abstract

In scenarios where the quality of service is negotiated through a signalling layer whereas the services are actually carried through a bearer layer, application functions at the signalling layer are not always aware of how quality of service is individually accomplished at the bearer layer on a service basis. The invention provides a method and devices whereby events are detected on a service data flow basis at a detection device in the bearer layer and notified towards an application device in the signalling layer via a control device between the signalling and the bearer layer. The list of events to be notified is obtainable at the control device from the application device and is included in Quality of Service related rules, along with service data flow filters. This Quality of Service related rules are provided to the detection device for inspecting individual service data flows in order to detect and notify the indicated events.

Claims

1. A QoS-control function device for guaranteeing into a bearer layer requirements on quality of service negotiated through a signalling layer, the bearer layer being a media transport layer capable of bearing several service data flows, each service data flow including at least one IP flow, the signalling layer being used for negotiating how media transported through the bearer layer should be treated, the QoS-control function device comprising:

first input means for receiving a session identifier along with a description of media negotiated for a service data flow from an application function device located in the signalling layer;

second input means for receiving a notification from a detection function device when an event related to a particular service data flow is detected;

first processing means for correlating the description of the negotiated media with service data flows in the bearer layer, and for determining the application function device to be notified about the detected event; and

first output means for notifying the application function device in the signalling layer about the detected event related to the particular service data flow.

2. The QoS-control function device of claim 1, further comprising:

retrieval means for retrieving from storage Quality of Service (QoS) related rules that include service data flow filters and lists of events to be notified per service data flow; and

second output means for submitting the Quality of Service related rules, including service data flow filters and lists of events to be notified per service data flow, towards the detection function device for inspecting media transported through the bearer layer.

3. The QoS-control function device of claim 2, wherein the retrieval means includes query means to obtain the Quality of Service related rules from an external repository.

4. The QoS-control function device of claim 1, wherein the first input means are enabled to also receive from the application function device a list of events to be notified per service data flow.

5. The QoS-control function device of claim 1, further comprising:

second processing means for generating Quality of Service related rules, including service data flow filters and lists of events to be notified per service data flow; and

second output means for submitting the Quality of Service related rules, including service data flow filters and lists of events to be notified per service data flow, towards the detection function device for inspecting media transported through the bearer layer.

6. The QoS-control function device of claim 1, further comprising means for collecting in an event report events notified per service data flow from the detection function device.

7. The QoS-control function device of claim 6, further comprising means for submitting the event report to the application function in the signalling layer.

8. A detection function device for inspecting media transported through a bearer layer in order to detect events occurred per service data flow basis, the bearer layer being capable of bearing several service data flows, each service data flow including at least one IP flow, the detection function device comprising:

input/output means for transmitting the media;

storage means for installing Quality of Service (QoS) related rules, the rules including service data flow filters and lists of events to be notified per service data flow;

filtering means for inspecting IP flows through the media by using the service data flow filters stored for the Quality of Service related rules;

detection means for detecting when an event to be notified per service data flow occurs for the inspected IP flows; and

second output means for notifying to a QoS-control function device the detection of an event in the list of events to be notified for a service data flow.

9. The detection function device of claim 8, further comprising configuration means for receiving the Quality of Service related rules, including service data flow filters and lists of events to be notified per service data flow, from a provisioning system.

10. The detection function device of claim 8, further comprising first input means for receiving the Quality of Service related rules, including service data flow filters and lists of events to be notified per service data flow, from a QoS-control function device in charge of guaranteeing into a bearer layer these requirements on quality of service negotiated through a signalling layer.

11. An application function device for submitting requirements on quality of service negotiated through a signalling layer and to be guaranteed for media transport through a bearer layer, the bearer layer being a media transport layer capable of bearing several service data flows, each service data flow including at least one IP flow, the application function device comprising:

first output means for submitting a session identifier along with a description of media negotiated for a service data flow towards a QoS-control function device interposed between the signalling layer and the bearer layer;

first input means for receiving a notification from the QoS-control function device about the detected event related to the particular service data flow.

12. The application function device of claim 11, further comprising negotiation means for negotiating with a user equipment the requirements on quality of service to be guaranteed for media transport through the bearer layer.

13. The application function device of claim 11, wherein the first output means are enabled to also submit a list of events to be notified per service data flow.

14. The application function device of claim 11, further comprising second input means for receiving an event report from the QoS-control function device with events notified per service data flow.

15. The application function device of claim 14, further comprising means for checking the event report during negotiation with the user equipment of the quality of service to be guaranteed for a subsequent media transport through a bearer layer.

16. A method for guaranteeing into a bearer layer requirements on quality of service negotiated through a signalling layer, the bearer layer being a media transport layer capable of bearing several service data flows, each service data flow including at least one IP flow, the signalling layer being used for signalling how media transported through the bearer layer should be treated, the method comprising the steps of:

a user equipment negotiating with the signalling layer those requirements on quality of service to be guaranteed for media transport through the bearer layer,

setting a session identifier along with a description of negotiated media to identify the session between signalling and bearer layers;

transmitting the media through the bearer layer;

installing Quality of Service related rules, the rules including service data flow filters and lists of events to be notified per service data flow;

inspecting IP flows through the media at the bearer layer by using the service data flow filters;

detecting at the bearer layer when an event to be notified per service data flow occurs for the inspected IP flows; and

notifying towards the signalling layer about the detected event related to the particular service data flow.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of installing Quality of Service (QoS) related rules includes a step of retrieving the QoS rules from a storage accessibly located between the signalling layer and the bearer layer.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of setting a session identifier along with a description of negotiated media comprises a step of receiving service parameters from an application function device in the signalling layer, the service parameters including requirements on quality of service negotiated for a given service data flow, and a list of events to be notified per service data flow.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising the steps of:

generating Quality of Service related rules, including service data flow filters and lists of events to be notified per service data flow, at a QoS-control function device; and

submitting the Quality of Service related rules, including service data flow filters and lists of events, to a detection function device for inspecting media transported through the bearer layer.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of notifying about the detected event includes the steps of:

notifying a QoS-control function device the detection at a detection function device of an event in the list of events to be notified for a service data flow;

determining the application function device to be notified about the detected event; and

notifying the application function device in the signalling layer about the detected event related to the particular service data flow.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising a step of collecting in an event report submitted from the QoS control function device to the application function device those events notified per service data flow from the detection function device.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising a step of dynamically updating at the application function device the service parameters as a result of the event report.

23. The method of claim 16, further comprising a step of dynamically updating at the application function device the service parameters as a result of those events notified per service data flow.

24. A Proxy Call Session Control Function server operating in accordance with an IP Multimedia Subsystem and including;

an application function device for submitting requirements on quality of service negotiated through a signalling layer and to be guaranteed for media transport through a bearer layer, the bearer layer being a media transport layer capable of bearing several service data flows, each service data flow including at least one IP flow, the application function device comprising;

first output means for submitting a session identifier along with a description of media negotiated for a service data flow towards a QoS-control function device interposed between the signalling layer and the bearer layer;

first input means for receiving a notification from the QoS-control function device about the detected event related to the particular service data.

25. A Gateway GPRS Support Node operating in accordance with a GPRS access network and including:

a detection function device for inspecting media transported through a bearer layer in order to detect events occurred per service data flow basis, the bearer layer being capable of bearing several service data flows, each service data flow including at least one IP flow, the detection function device comprising;

input/output means for transmitting the media;

storage means for installing Quality of Service (QoS) related rules, the rules including service data flow filters and lists of events to be notified per service data flow;

filtering means for inspecting IP flows through the media by using the service data flow filters stored for the Quality of Service related rules;

detection means for detecting when an eventto be notified per service data flow occurs for the inspected IP flows; and

second output means for notifying to a QoS-control function device the detection of an event in the list of events to be notified for a service data flow.

26. A Packet Data Gateway operating in accordance with a WLAN access network and including:

a detection function device for inspecting media transported through a bearer layer in order to detect events occurred per service data flow basis, the bearer layer being capable of bearing several service data flows, each service data flow including at least one IP flow, the detection function device comprising;

input/output means for transmitting the media;

storage means for installing Quality of Service (QoS) related rules, the rules including service data flow filters and lists of events to be notified per service data flow;

filtering means for inspecting IP flows through the media by using the service data flow filters stored for the Quality of Service related rules;

detection means for detecting when an eventto be notified per service data flow occurs for the inspected IP flows; and

second output means for notifying to a QoS-control function device the detection of an event in the list of events to be notified for a service data flow.

27. Policing and Charging Enforcement Function in accordance with a PCC architecture and including:

a detection function device for inspecting media transported through a bearer layer in order to detect events occurred per service data flow basis, the bearer layer being capable of bearing several service data flows, each service data flow including at least one IP flow, the detection function device comprising;

input/output means for transmitting the media;

storage means for installing Quality of Service (QoS) related rules, the rules including service data flow filters and lists of events to be notified per service data flow;

filtering means for inspecting IP flows through the media by using the service data flow filters stored for the Quality of Service related rules;

detection means for detecting when an eventto be notified per service data flow occurs for the inspected IP flows; and

second output means for notifying to a QoS-control function device the detection of an event in the list of events to be notified for a service data flow.

28. A Policing and Charging Rules Function in accordance with a PCC architecture and including:

a Quality of Service (QoS) control function device for guaranteeing into a bearer layer requirements on quality of service negotiated through a signalling layer, the bearer layer being a media transport layer capable of bearing several service data flows, each service data flow including at least one IP flow, the signalling layer being used for negotiating how media transported through the bearer layer should be treated, the QoS-control function device comprising;

first input means for receiving a session identifier along with a description of media negotiated for a service data flow from an application function device located in the signalling layer;

second input means for receiving a notification from a detection function device when an event related to a particular service data flow is detected;

first processing means for correlating the description of the negotiated media with service data flows in the bearer layer, and for determining the application function device to be notified about the detected event; and

first output means for notifying the application function device in the signalling layer about the detected event related to the particular service data flow.