Multiplexing media components of different sessions reference to related applications

• US 20090213794A1
• Filed: 03/05/2009
• Published: 08/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Stura, Marko, Lahtinen, Lauri, Honkasalo, Zhi-Chun, Bertenyi, Balazs, Narhi, Anne, Poikselka, Miikka, Huotari, Seppo, Vimpari, Markku, Rotsten, Kirsi, Rasanen, Juha, Hongisto, Jukka, Koskinen, Juha Pekka, Rodrigo, Inmaculada Carrion, Sugar, Robert, Erzsebet, Erdei
• Granted Patent: US 8,462,798 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1016 IP multimedia subsystem [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4061 Push-to services, e.g. push-to-talk or push-to-video
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2093 Push to talk
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0025 Provisions for signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/06 Optimizing the usage of the radio link, e.g. header compression, information sizing , discarding information system modifying transmission characteristic according to link quality by modifying frame length H04L1/0007; dynamic adaptation of the packet size for flow control or congestion control H04L47/365
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/12 Wireless traffic scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/12 Setup of transport tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/15 Setup of multiple wireless link connections

Abstract

An apparatus and a method are provided for multiplexing different sessions using the same authorized contexts for media. The method includes distinguishing different control plane sessions by a user equipment, and identifying media flows of a same application among the different control plane sessions by the user equipment by setting a service identifier. The method further includes sending the service identifier by the user equipment to a call state control function including a policy decision function, and authorizing quality of service for a user plane context by the policy decision function. Furthermore, the method includes enabling, by the policy decision function based on the service identifier, the different control plane sessions with media flows of the same application to share the same user plane context with the authorized quality of service to multiplex the different control plane sessions with media flows of the same application.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

distinguishing different control plane sessions by a user equipment;

identifying media flows of a same application among the different control plane sessions by the user equipment by setting a service identifier;

sending the service identifier by the user equipment to a call state control function comprising a policy decision function;

authorizing quality of service for a user plane context by the policy decision function; and

enabling, by the policy decision function based on the service identifier, the different control plane sessions with media flows of the same application to share the same user plane context with the authorized quality of service to multiplex the different control plane sessions with media flows of the same application.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the authorized quality of service corresponds to the quality of service requested by a session requesting the highest quality of service.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the quality of service is related to a guaranteed bit rate.

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

updating a packet classifier filter of the user plane context by the policy decision function.

5. An apparatus, comprising:

a distinguishing processor configured to distinguish different control plane sessions;

an identification processor configured to identify media flows of a same application among the different control plane sessions by setting a service identifier; and

an address processor configured to address the service identifier to a policy decision function.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the identification processor is further configured to identify which session can be multiplexed by using the service identifier, and wherein the service identifier is configured to specify that media flows of different control plane session comprising a same service identifier can be multiplexed on a user plane context with an authorized quality of service, while media flows of control plane sessions comprising different service identifiers cannot be multiplexed on the user plane context with the authorized quality of service.

7. A method, comprising:

distinguishing different control plane sessions by a user equipment;

identifying media flows of a same application among the different control plane sessions by the user equipment by setting a service identifier; and

addressing the service identifier to a policy decision function.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

identifying which session can be multiplexed by using the service identifier; and

specifying that media flows of different control plane session comprising a same service identifier can be multiplexed on a user plane context with an authorized quality of service, while media flows of control plane sessions comprising different service identifiers cannot be multiplexed on the user plane context with the authorized quality of service.

9. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor configured to authorize quality of service for a user plane context; and

a multiplexer configured to enable, based on a service identifier, different control plane sessions with media flows of a same application to share the same user plane context with the authorized quality of service to multiplex the different control plane sessions with media flows of the same application.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the authorized quality of service corresponds to the quality of service requested by a session requesting the highest quality of service.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the quality of service is related to a guaranteed bit rate.

12. The apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising:

an updating processor configured to update a packet classifier filter of the user plane context.

13. A method, comprising:

authorizing quality of service for a user plane context by a policy decision function; and

enabling with a multiplexer, by the policy decision function based on a service identifier, different control plane sessions with media flows of a same application to share the same user plane context with the authorized quality of service to multiplex the different control plane sessions with media flows of the same application.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the authorized quality of service corresponds to the quality of service requested by a session requesting the highest quality of service.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the quality of service is related to a guaranteed bit rate.

16. The method according to claim 13, further comprising:

updating a packet classifier filter of the user plane context.

17. An apparatus, comprising:

means for distinguishing different control plane sessions;

means for identifying media flows of a same application among the different control plane sessions by setting a service identifier; and

means for addressing the service identifier to a policy decision function.

18. An apparatus, comprising:

means for authorizing quality of service for a user plane context; and

means for enabling, based on a service identifier, different control plane sessions with media flows of a same application to share the same user plane context with the authorized quality of service to multiplex the different control plane sessions with media flows of the same application.

19. A computer program embodied on a computer readable storage medium, the computer program being configured to control a processor to perform a process, the process comprising:

distinguishing different control plane sessions by a user equipment;

identifying media flows of a same application among the different control plane sessions by the user equipment by setting a service identifier;

sending the service identifier by the user equipment to a call state control function comprising a policy decision function;

authorizing quality of service for a user plane context by the policy decision function; and

enabling, by the policy decision function based on the service identifier, the different control plane sessions with media flows of the same application to share the same user plane context with the authorized quality of service to multiplex the different control plane sessions with media flows of the same application.

20. A computer program embodied on a computer readable storage medium, the computer program being configured to control a processor to perform a process, the process comprising:

distinguishing different control plane sessions by a user equipment;

identifying media flows of a same application among the different control plane sessions by the user equipment by setting a service identifier; and

addressing the service identifier to a policy decision function.

21. A computer program embodied on a computer readable storage medium, the computer program being configured to control a processor to perform a process, the process comprising:

authorizing quality of service for a user plane context by a policy decision function; and

enabling with a multiplexer, by the policy decision function based on a service identifier, different control plane sessions with media flows of a same application to share the same user plane context with the authorized quality of service to multiplex the different control plane sessions with media flows of the same application.