Quality of Service to Over the Top Applications Used With VPN

• US 20150085664A1
• Filed: 10/17/2013
• Published: 03/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Original Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Inventors: Sachdev, Vineet, McFarland, Keith, Griffin, John L.
• Granted Patent: US 9,301,191 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/236
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4633 Interconnection of networks using encapsulation techniques, e.g. tunneling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4641 Virtual LANs, VLANs, e.g. virtual private networks [VPN] LAN interconnection over a bridge based backbone H04L12/462; encapsulation techniques H04L12/4633; routing of packets H04L45/00; packet switches H04L49/00; virtual private networks for security H04L63/0272
• 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 41/5019 Ensuring fulfilment of SLA
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5051 Service on demand, e.g. definition and deployment of services in real time
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2475 for supporting traffic characterised by the type of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/66 Policy and charging system
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0215 based on user or device properties, e.g. MTC-capable devices services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC] H04W4/70; wireless resource selection or allocation plan definition based on terminal or device properties H04W72/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0226 based on location or mobility handoff or reselection H04W36/00; mobile application services making use of the location of users or terminals H04W4/02
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/24 Negotiating SLA [Service Level Agreement]; Negotiating QoS [Quality of Service]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/12 Setup of transport tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data

Abstract

Conventional quality of service (QoS) treatment is extended to over-the-top (OTT) applications transmitting data over a commercial wireless network via a virtual private network (VPN) tunnel. An over-the-top (OTT) application server and a VPN client/server routing data to/from that OTT application server via a VPN tunnel, are integrated with a quality of service (QoS) server to enable the OTT application server and/or VPN client/server to request and get desired QoS treatment for application data routed by the OTT application server over the VPN tunnel. The QoS server forwards QoS rules received in a QoS request message to a policy and charging rules function (PCRF) on the OTT application/VPN client devices'"'"' home mobile network operator (MNO). If the client device is roaming, the PCRF on the home MNO forwards QoS rules to a PCRF on a serving MNO. QoS treatment is then carried out by the PCRF in a conventional manner.

Claims

1. A method for extending quality of service (QoS) treatment to an over-the-top (OTT) application transmitting data over a commercial wireless network via a virtual private network (VPN) tunnel, comprising:

receiving an application quality of service (QoS) request message from an over-the-top (OTT) application server;

performing validation on said quality of service (QoS) request message;

querying a local mobile network operator (MNO) information database for a home mobile network operator (MNO) assigned to an over-the-top (OTT) application client device;

determining that said over-the-top (OTT) application is permitted to influence quality of service (QoS) settings on said home mobile network operator (MNO);

sending a message with appropriate quality of service (QoS) information to a policy and charging rules function (PCRF) on said home mobile network operator (MNO); and

returning an application quality of service (QoS) response message to said over-the-top (OTT) application server with an appropriate status identifier.

2. The method for extending quality of service (QoS) treatment to an over-the-top (OTT) application transmitting data over a commercial wireless network via a virtual private network (VPN) tunnel according to claim 1, wherein:

said message sent to said policy and charging rules (PCRF) function assigns quality of service (QoS) rules defined in said application quality of service (QoS) request message to all application data routed over said virtual private network (VPN) tunnel when said virtual private network (VPN) tunnel is a single-tenant virtual private network (VPN) tunnel.

3. The method for extending quality of service (QoS) treatment to an over-the-top (OTT) application transmitting data over a commercial wireless network via a virtual private network (VPN) tunnel according to claim 2, wherein:

said message sent to said policy and charging rules (PCRF) function assigns quality of service (QoS) rules defined in said application quality of service (QoS) request message to application data routed for said requesting over-the-top (OTT) application when said over-the-top (OTT) application is routing data over a multi-tenant virtual private network (VPN) tunnel.

4. The method for extending quality of service (QoS) treatment to an over-the-top (OTT) application transmitting data over a commercial wireless network via a virtual private network (VPN) tunnel according to claim 1, wherein:

said policy and charging rules function (PCRF) provides conventional quality of service (QoS) treatment to said over-the-top (OTT) application transmitting data over said virtual private network (VPN) tunnel.

5. The method for extending quality of service (QoS) treatment to an over-the-top (OTT) application transmitting data over a commercial wireless network via a virtual private network (VPN) tunnel according to claim 4, wherein:

an external number portability database (NPDB) is queried for home mobile network operator (MNO) information when home mobile network operator (MNO) information cannot be found in said local mobile network operator (MNO) information database.

6. The method for extending quality of service (QoS) treatment to an over-the-top (OTT) application transmitting data over a commercial wireless network via a virtual private network (VPN) tunnel according to claim 1, wherein:

said quality of service information is sent to said policy and charging rules function (PCRF) via a diameter protocol interface.

7. The method for extending quality of service (QoS) treatment to an over-the-top (OTT) application transmitting data over a commercial wireless network via a virtual private network (VPN) tunnel according to claim 1, wherein:

said policy and charging rules function (PCRF) on said home mobile network operator (MNO) forwards received quality of service (QoS) rules to a policy and charging rules function (PCRF) serving said over-the-top (OTT) application client device when said (OTT) application client device is roaming.

8. The method for extending quality of service (QoS) treatment to an over-the-top (OTT) application transmitting data over a commercial wireless network via a virtual private network (VPN) tunnel according to claim 1, wherein:

said quality of service (QoS) request message indicates a particular quality of service (QoS) profile to invoke.

9. The method for extending quality of service (QoS) treatment to an over-the-top (OTT) application transmitting data over a commercial wireless network via a virtual private network (VPN) tunnel according to claim 1, wherein:

said over-the-top (OTT) application server sends an application quality of service (QoS) termination message to said quality of service (QoS) server when said over-the-top (OTT) application server detects a termination of service or signaling on said over-the-top (OTT) application client.

10. The method for extending quality of service (QoS) treatment to an over-the-top (OTT) application transmitting data over a commercial wireless network via a virtual private network (VPN) tunnel according to claim 9, wherein:

said application quality of service (QoS) termination message indicates to said quality of service (QoS) server that reserved quality of service (QoS) values may be terminated on said home mobile network operator (MNO) assigned to said over-the-top (OTT) application client device.

11. A method for extending quality of service (QoS) treatment to an over-the-top (OTT) application transmitting data over a commercial wireless network via a single-tenant virtual private network (VPN) tunnel, comprising:

receiving a VPN quality of service (QoS) registration or both registration and request messages;

performing validation on said VPN quality of service (QoS) registration and request messages;

querying a local mobile network operator (MNO) information database for a home mobile network operator (MNO) assigned to a requesting VPN client device;

determining that an over-the-top (OTT) application routing data over a single-tenant virtual private network (VPN) tunnel is permitted to influence quality of service (QoS) settings on said home mobile network operator (MNO);

sending a message with appropriate quality of service (QoS) information to a policy and charging rules function (PCRF) on said home mobile network operator (MNO); and

returning a VPN quality of service (QoS) response message to a VPN client/server with an appropriate status identifier.

12. The method for extending quality of service (QoS) treatment to an over-the-top (OTT) application transmitting data over a commercial wireless network via a single-tenant virtual private network (VPN) tunnel according to claim 11, wherein:

said quality of service (QoS) server applies quality of service (QoS) rules received in said VPN quality of service (QoS) request message to all application data routed over said single-tenant virtual private network (VPN) tunnel.

13. The method for extending quality of service (QoS) treatment to an over-the-top (OTT) application transmitting data over a commercial wireless network via a single-tenant virtual private network (VPN) tunnel according to claim 11, wherein:

an external number portability database (NPDB) is queried for home mobile network operator (MNO) information when home mobile network operator (MNO) information cannot be found in said local mobile network operator (MNO) information database.

14. The method for extending quality of service (QoS) treatment to an over-the-top (OTT) application transmitting data over a commercial wireless network via a single-tenant virtual private network (VPN) tunnel according to claim 11, wherein:

said quality of service information is sent to said policy and charging rules function (PCRF) via a diameter protocol interface.

15. The method for extending quality of service (QoS) treatment to an over-the-top (OTT) application transmitting data over a commercial wireless network via a single-tenant virtual private network (VPN) tunnel according to claim 11, wherein:

said policy and charging rules function (PCRF) on said home mobile network operator (MNO) forwards received quality of service (QoS) rules to a policy and charging rules function (PCRF) serving said VPN client device when said VPN client device is roaming.

16. The method for extending quality of service (QoS) treatment to an over-the-top (OTT) application transmitting data over a commercial wireless network via a single-tenant virtual private network (VPN) tunnel according to claim 11, wherein:

said VPN quality of service (QoS) request message indicates a particular quality of service (QoS) profile to invoke.

17. A method for extending quality of service (QoS) treatment to an over-the-top (OTT) application transmitting data over a commercial wireless network via a multi-tenant virtual private network (VPN) tunnel, comprising:

receiving a VPN quality of service (QoS) registration or both registration and request messages;

performing validation on said quality of service (QoS) registration and request messages; and

recording and tracking virtual private network (VPN) tunneling information received in said quality of service (QoS) request message.

18. The method for extending quality of service (QoS) treatment to an over-the-top (OTT) application transmitting data over a commercial wireless network via a multi-tenant virtual private network (VPN) tunnel according to claim 17, wherein:

quality of service (Qos) rules embedded in an application quality of service (QoS) request message override quality of service (QoS) rules embedded in said VPN quality of service (QoS) request message when quality of service (Qos) rules differ.

19. A quality of service (QoS) server for extending quality of service (QoS) treatment to an over-the-top (OTT) application transmitting data over a commercial wireless network via a virtual private network (VPN) tunnel, comprising:

an over-the-top (OTT) application interface for interfacing with an over-the-top (OTT) application server;

a mobile network operator (MNO) policy and charging rules function (PCRF) interface for interfacing with a policy and charging rules function (PCRF) on a home mobile network operator (MNO) assigned to an over-the-top (OTT) application client device;

a number portability database (NPDB) interface for interfacing with an external number portability database (NPDB);

a virtual private network (VPN) client/server interface for interfacing with a virtual private network client/server at either end of a virtual private network (VPN) tunnel routing data to/from said over-the-top (OTT) application server;

a local virtual private network (VPN) tunneling information database to store information for supported virtual private networks (VPN);

a local application information database to store a profile for a supported over-the-top (OTT) application; and

a local mobile network operator (MNO) information database to store home mobile network operator (MNO) information for supported over-the-top (OTT) application clients.

20. The quality of service (QoS) server for extending quality of service (QoS) treatment to an over-the-top (OTT) application transmitting data over a commercial wireless network via a virtual private network tunnel according to claim 19, wherein:

said mobile network operator (MNO) policy and charging rules function (PCRF) interface is a diameter protocol interface.

21. The quality of service (QoS) server for extending quality of service (QoS) treatment to an over-the-top (OTT) application transmitting data over a commercial wireless network via a virtual private network tunnel according to claim 19, wherein:

said virtual private network (VPN) client/server interface is a secure transport layer security (TLS)/secure sockets layer (SSL) communications channel.

22. The quality of service (QoS) server for extending quality of service (QoS) treatment to an over-the-top (OTT) application transmitting data over a commercial wireless network via a virtual private network tunnel according to claim 19, wherein:

said over-the-top (OTT) application interface is a secure transport layer security (TLS)/secure sockets layer (SSL) communications channel.

23. The quality of service (QoS) server for extending quality of service (QoS) treatment to an over-the-top (OTT) application on a commercial wireless network according to claim 19, wherein:

said quality of service (QoS) server translates received diameter protocol messages to other communication mediums and vice versa.

24. The quality of service (QoS) server for extending quality of service (QoS) treatment to an over-the-top (OTT) application transmitting data over a commercial wireless network via a virtual private network tunnel according to claim 19, wherein:

said over-the-top (OTT) application server requests and gets desired quality of service (QoS) treatment from said quality of service (QoS) server for application data routed over said virtual private network (VPN) tunnel.

25. The quality of service (QoS) server for extending quality of service (QoS) treatment to an over-the-top (OTT) application transmitting data over a commercial wireless network via a virtual private network tunnel according to claim 19, wherein:

said virtual private network client/server requests and gets desired quality of service (QoS) treatment from said quality of service (QoS) server for application data routed over said virtual private network (VPN) tunnel.

26. The quality of service (QoS) server for extending quality of service (QoS) treatment to an over-the-top (OTT) application transmitting data over a commercial wireless network via a virtual private network tunnel according to claim 19, wherein:

said commercial wireless network is a long term evolution (LTE) network.

27. The quality of service (QoS) server for extending quality of service (QoS) treatment to an over-the-top (OTT) application transmitting data over a commercial wireless network via a virtual private network tunnel according to claim 19, wherein:

said commercial wireless network is a universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) network.

28. The quality of service (QoS) server for extending quality of service (QoS) treatment to an over-the-top (OTT) application transmitting data over a commercial wireless network via a virtual private network tunnel according to claim 19, wherein:

said commercial wireless network is a Wi-Fi network.

29. The quality of service (QoS) server for extending quality of service (QoS) treatment to an over-the-top (OTT) application transmitting data over a commercial wireless network via a virtual private network tunnel according to claim 19, wherein:

said virtual private network (VPN) tunnel is an IPSec virtual private network (VPN) tunnel.

30. The quality of service (QoS) server for extending quality of service (QoS) treatment to an over-the-top (OTT) application transmitting data over a commercial wireless network via a virtual private network tunnel according to claim 19, wherein:

said virtual private network (VPN) tunnel is a layer 2 tunneling protocol (L2TP) virtual private network (VPN) tunnel.

31. The quality of service (QoS) server for extending quality of service (QoS) treatment to an over-the-top (OTT) application transmitting data over a commercial wireless network via a virtual private network tunnel according to claim 19, wherein:

said virtual private network (VPN) tunnel is point-to-point tunneling protocol (PPTP) virtual private network (VPN) tunnel.

32. The quality of service (QoS) server for extending quality of service (QoS) treatment to an over-the-top (OTT) application transmitting data over a commercial wireless network via a virtual private network tunnel according to claim 19, wherein:

said virtual private network (VPN) tunnel is a transport layer security (TLS) virtual private network (VPN) tunnel.

33. The quality of service (QoS) server for extending quality of service (QoS) treatment to an over-the-top (OTT) application transmitting data over a commercial wireless network via a virtual private network tunnel according to claim 19, wherein:

said virtual private network (VPN) tunnel is a multi-tenant virtual private network (VPN) tunnel.

34. The quality of service (QoS) server for extending quality of service (QoS) treatment to an over-the-top (OTT) application transmitting data over a commercial wireless network via a virtual private network tunnel according to claim 19, wherein:

said virtual private network (VPN) tunnel is a single-tenant virtual private network (VPN) tunnel.

35. The quality of service (QoS) server for extending quality of service (QoS) treatment to an over-the-top (OTT) application transmitting data over a commercial wireless network via a virtual private network tunnel according to claim 19, wherein:

a single-tenant virtual private network (VPN) tunnel must provision identification details and one or more quality of service (QoS) application profiles on said quality of service (QoS) server before said single-tenant virtual private network (VPN) tunnel may request quality of service (QoS) treatment therefrom.

36. The quality of service (QoS) server for extending quality of service (QoS) treatment to an over-the-top (OTT) application transmitting data over a commercial wireless network via a virtual private network tunnel according to claim 19, wherein:

a multi-tenant virtual private network (VPN) tunnel must provision identification details and adequate tunneling information on said quality of service (QoS) server before said multi-tenant virtual private network (VPN) tunnel may request quality of service (QoS) treatment therefrom.

37. The quality of service (QoS) server for extending quality of service (QoS) treatment to an over-the-top (OTT) application transmitting data over a commercial wireless network via a virtual private network tunnel according to claim 36, wherein:

said adequate tunneling information enables said quality of service (QoS) server to determine actual IP header information associated with data routed over said multi-tenant virtual private network (VPN) tunnel.

38. The quality of service (QoS) server for extending quality of service (QoS) treatment to an over-the-top (OTT) application transmitting data over a commercial wireless network via a virtual private network tunnel according to claim 19, wherein:

said quality of service (QoS) application profile indicates a desired level of quality of service (QoS).

39. The quality of service (QoS) server for extending quality of service (QoS) treatment to an over-the-top (OTT) application transmitting data over a commercial wireless network via a virtual private network tunnel according to claim 19, wherein:

said over-the-top (OTT) application server sends an application quality of service (QoS) request message to said quality of service (QoS) server to request quality of service (QoS) treatment therefrom.

40. The quality of service (QoS) server for extending quality of service (QoS) treatment to an over-the-top (OTT) application transmitting data over a commercial wireless network via a virtual private network tunnel according to claim 39, wherein:

said application quality of service (QoS) request message must indicate desired quality of service (QoS) rules.

41. The quality of service (QoS) server for extending quality of service (QoS) treatment to an over-the-top (OTT) application transmitting data over a commercial wireless network via a virtual private network tunnel according to claim 19, wherein:

said virtual private network client/server sends a VPN quality of service (QoS) request message to said quality of service (QoS) server to request quality of service (QoS) treatment therefrom.

42. The quality of service (QoS) server for extending quality of service (QoS) treatment to an over-the-top (OTT) application transmitting data over a commercial wireless network via a virtual private network tunnel according to claim 40, wherein:

said quality of service (QoS) server forwards desired quality of service (QoS) rules embedded in said quality of service (QoS) request message to a policy and charging rules function (PCRF) on a home mobile network operator (MNO) assigned to said requesting client device.

43. The quality of service (QoS) server for extending quality of service (QoS) treatment to an over-the-top (OTT) application transmitting data over a commercial wireless network via a virtual private network tunnel according to claim 19, wherein:

said quality of service (QoS) server queries said local mobile network operator (MNO) database to determine a home mobile network operator (MNO) for said requesting client device.

44. The quality of service (QoS) server for extending quality of service (QoS) treatment to an over-the-top (OTT) application transmitting data over a commercial wireless network via a virtual private network tunnel according to claim 19, wherein:

said quality of service (QoS) server queries said external number portability database (NPDB) to determine a home mobile network operator (MNO) for said requesting client device when home mobile network operator (MNO) information is not found in said local mobile network operator (MNO) database.

45. The quality of service (QoS) server for extending quality of service (QoS) treatment to an over-the-top (OTT) application transmitting data over a commercial wireless network via a virtual private network tunnel according to claim 19, wherein:

said home policy and charging rules function (PCRF) provides conventional quality of service (QoS) treatment to said over-the-top (OTT) application transmitting data over said virtual private network (VPN) tunnel.

46. The quality of service (QoS) server for extending quality of service (QoS) treatment to an over-the-top (OTT) application transmitting data over a commercial wireless network via a virtual private network tunnel according to claim 45, wherein:

said policy and charging rules function (PCRF) on said home mobile network operator (MNO) forwards desired quality of service (QoS) rules to a policy and charging rules function (PCRF) on a visiting mobile network operator (MNO) when said requesting client device is roaming.

47. The quality of service (QoS) server for extending quality of service (QoS) treatment to an over-the-top (OTT) application transmitting data over a commercial wireless network via a virtual private network tunnel according to claim 19, wherein:

said over-the-top (OTT) application server sends an application quality of service (QoS) termination message to said quality of service (QoS) server when said over-the-top (OTT) application server detects a termination of service on said over-the-top (OTT) application client.

48. The quality of service (QoS) server for extending quality of service (QoS) treatment to an over-the-top (OTT) application transmitting data over a commercial wireless network via a virtual private network tunnel according to claim 47, wherein:

said application quality of service (QoS) termination message indicates that reserved quality of service (QoS) values may be terminated on said home mobile network operator (MNO).

49. The quality of service (QoS) server for extending quality of service (QoS) treatment to an over-the-top (OTT) application transmitting data over a commercial wireless network via a virtual private network tunnel according to claim 19, wherein:

said virtual private network (VPN) client/server sends a virtual private network (VPN) quality of service (QoS) termination message to said quality of service (QoS) server when a virtual private network (VPN) tunnel is terminated.