SELECTION OF A POLICY AND CHARGING CONTROL UNIT BY A DIAMETER ROUTING UNIT

• US 20160127137A1
• Filed: 07/03/2013
• Published: 05/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: FERNANDEZ ALONSO, Susana, CASTRO CASTRO, Fabian
• Granted Patent: US 9,935,778 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1407 Policy-and-charging control [PCC] architecture
• 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: H04M 15/66 Policy and charging system

Abstract

The invention relates to a method to route a diameter message of a data packet session in a mobile communications network. A diameter routing unit receives a diameter message and checks whether an indicator is set, the indicator indicating that the message relates to a data packet session for which a policy and charging control unit has already been selected. When the indicator is set the policy and charging control unit is identified and the message is transmitted to the identified policy and charging control unit.

Claims

1. A method, by a diameter routing unit, to route a diameter message of a data packet session using a diameter protocol in a mobile communications network in which at least two policy and charging control units are provided for policy and charging control of data packet sessions, the method comprising:

receiving a diameter message for a data packet session via one of a Gx interface or and a Gxx interface;

checking, whether in the received diameter message an indicator is set, the indicator indicating that the received message received from any one of the two interfaces is relating to a data packet session for which another diameter message has already been received via the other of the two interfaces and for which the policy and charging control unit has already been selected;

if the indicator is set;

accessing a database containing information which policy and charging control unit is handling which data packet session and containing information about the at least two policy and charging control units that are available for selection by the diameter routing unit;

identifying the policy and charging control unit that is controlling the data packet session to which the received diameter message belongs; and

directing the received diameter message to the identified policy and charging control unit; and

if the indicator is not set;

selecting any one of the at least two policy and charging control units; and

directing the received diameter message to the selected policy and charging control unit.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the received diameter message is one of a message relating to a handover procedure from another mobile communications network to the mobile communications network and a message relating to a handover procedure between two different access networks of the mobile communications network.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the database is accessed for identifying the policy and charging control unit that is controlling the data packet session to which the received diameter message belongs if the indicator is set and is not accessed for selecting any one of the at least two policy and charging control units if the indicator is not set.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the diameter message is received from a policy and charging enforcement unit via the Gx interface the message initiating an IP CAN session establishment procedure, wherein if the indicator is set, the received message is relating to a data packet session for which the other diameter message was received from a Bearer Binding and Event Reporting unit via the Gxx interface.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the diameter message is received from a Bearer Binding and Event Reporting unit via the Gxx interface, the message initiating a gateway control session establishment procedure, wherein, if the indicator is set, the received message is relating to a data packet session for which the other diameter message was received from a policy and charging enforcement unit via the Gx interface.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising:

receiving a second diameter message via the Gx interface and checking whether the indicator is set, wherein if the indicator is set, transmitting the received second message to the policy and charging control unit which was selected for the data packet session to which the other received diameter message belonged.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the indicator is set in the received diameter message when at least one of the following conditions is met:

a packet data network connection is established by a mobile entity requesting the data packet session, and a PMIP protocol is used for a communication between a policy and charging enforcement unit and a Bearer Binding and Event Reporting unit.

17. The method according to claim 2, wherein the database is accessed for identifying the policy and charging control unit that is controlling the data packet session to which the received diameter message belongs if the indicator is set and is not accessed for selecting any one of the at least two policy and charging control units if the indicator is not set.

18. The method according to claim 2, wherein the diameter message is received from a Bearer Binding and Event Reporting unit via the Gxx interface, the message initiating a gateway control session establishment procedure, wherein, if the indicator is set, the received message is relating to a data packet session for which the other diameter message was received from a policy and charging enforcement unit via the Gx interface.

19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising:

receiving a second diameter message via the Gx interface and checking whether the indicator is set, wherein if the indicator is set, transmitting the received second message to the policy and charging control unit which was selected for the data packet session to which the other received diameter message belonged.

20. The method according to claim 2, wherein the indicator is set in the received diameter message when at least one of the following conditions is met:

a packet data network connection is established by a mobile entity requesting the data packet session, and a PMIP protocol is used for a communication between a policy and charging enforcement unit and a Bearer Binding and Event Reporting unit.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the diameter message is received from a policy and charging enforcement unit via the Gx interface the message initiating an IP CAN session establishment procedure, wherein if the indicator is set, the received message is relating to a data packet session for which the other diameter message was received from a Bearer Binding and Event Reporting unit via the Gxx interface.

22. The method according to claim 20, wherein the diameter message is received from a Bearer Binding and Event Reporting unit via the Gxx interface, the message initiating a gateway control session establishment procedure, wherein, if the indicator is set, the received message is relating to a data packet session for which the other diameter message was received from a policy and charging enforcement unit via the Gx interface.

8. A diameter routing unit configured to route a diameter message of a data packet session using a diameter protocol in a mobile communications network in which at least two policy and charging control units are provided for policy and charging control of data packet sessions, the diameter routing unit comprising:

a Gx interface configured to receive diameter messages from a policy and charging enforcement unit;

a Gxx interface configured to receive diameter messages from a Bearer Binding and Event Reporting unit;

a processing unit configured to check, when a diameter message is received via one of the interfaces, whether in the received diameter message an indicator is set, the indicator indicating that the received message received from one of the two interfaces is relating to a data packet session for which another diameter message has already been received via the other of the two interfaces and for which the policy and charging control unit has already been selected;

the processing unit being configured, if the indicator is set, to;

access a database containing information which policy and charging control unit is handling which data packet session and containing information about the at least two policy and charging control units that are available for selection by the diameter routing unit;

identify the policy and charging control unit that is controlling the data packet session to which the received diameter message belongs; and

initiate a transmission of the received diameter message to the identified policy and charging control unit; and

the processing unit being configured, if the indicator is not set, to;

select any one of the at least two policy and charging control units; and

initiate a transmission of the received diameter message to the selected policy and charging control unit.

9. The diameter routing unit according to claim 8, wherein the mobile communications network comprises a 3GPP Evolved packet core network.

10. A method, by a policy and charging enforcement unit, to transmit a diameter message of a data packet session using a diameter protocol to a diameter routing unit via a Gx interface, the method comprising:

checking whether a PMIP protocol is used for a communication with a Bearer Binding and Event Reporting;

if the PMIP protocol is used;

setting an indicator in a diameter message for a data packet session initiating an IP CAN session procedure, wherein the indicator indicates to the diameter routing unit that the received diameter message relates to a data packet session for which another diameter message has already been received by the diameter routing unit via a Gxx interface and for which a policy and charging control unit has already been selected; and

if the PMIP protocol is not used the indicator is not set;

transmitting the diameter message to the diameter routing unit via the Gx interface.

11. A policy and charging enforcement unit configured to transmit a diameter message of a data packet session using a diameter protocol to a diameter routing unit, the policy and charging enforcement unit comprising:

a Gx interface configured to transmit diameter messages to the diameter routing unit; and

a processing unit configured to check whether a PMIP protocol is used for a communication with a Bearer Binding and Event Reporting unit;

if the PMIP protocol is used, the processing unit is configured to set an indicator in a diameter message for a data packet session initiating an IP CAN session procedure transmitted to the diameter routing unit via the Gx interface, the indicator indicating to the diameter routing unit that the received diameter message relates to a data packet session for which another diameter message has already been received via a Gxx interface and for which a policy and charging control unit has already been selected; and

if the PMIP protocol is not used, the processing unit is configured not to set the indicator in the diameter message.

12. A method, by a Bearer Binding and Event Reporting unit, to transmit a diameter message of a data packet session using a diameter protocol to a diameter routing unit via a Gxx interface, the method comprising:

identifying an attachment status information of a mobile user entity that is attaching to the mobile communications network;

if the attachment status information indicates that handover is one of taking place and is unknown;

setting an indicator in a diameter message for a data packet session to be transmitted to the diameter routing unit, the indicator indicating to the diameter routing unit that the received diameter message relates to a data packet session for which another diameter message has already been received by the diameter routing unit via a Gx interface and for which a policy and charging control unit has already been selected;

if the attachment status information indicates that the mobile user entity is initially attaching to the mobile communications network, the indicator is not set; and

transmitting the diameter message to the diameter routing unit via the Gxx interface.

13. A Bearer Binding and Event Reporting unit configured to transmit a diameter message of a data packet session using a diameter protocol to a diameter routing unit, the Bearer Binding and Event Reporting unit comprising:

a Gxx interface configured to transmit diameter messages to the diameter routing unit; and

a processing unit configured to identify an attachment status information of a mobile user entity that is attaching to the mobile communications network;

if the attachment status information indicates that handover is one of taking place and is unknown, the processing unit is configured to set an indicator in a diameter message for a data packet session to be transmitted to the diameter routing unit, the indicator indicating to the diameter routing unit that the received diameter message relates to a data packet session for which another diameter message has already been received by the diameter routing unit via a Gx interface and for which a policy and charging control unit has already been selected; and

if the attachment status information indicates that the mobile user entity is initially attaching to the mobile communications network, the processing unit is configured not to set the indicator; and

the Gxx interface is configured to transmit the diameter message to the diameter routing unit.

14. A computer readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed on at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to carry out a method by a diameter routing unit, to route a diameter message of a data packet session using a diameter protocol in a mobile communications network in which at least two policy and charging control units are provided for policy and charging control of data packet sessions, the method comprising:

receiving a diameter message for a data packet session via one of a Gx interface and a Gxx interface;

checking, whether in the received diameter message an indicator is set, the indicator indicating that the received message received from any one of the two interfaces is relating to a data packet session for which another diameter message has already been received via the other of the two interfaces and for which the policy and charging control unit has already been selected;

if the indicator is set;

accessing a database containing information which policy and charging control unit is handling which data packet session and containing information about the at least two policy and charging control units that are available for selection by the diameter routing unit;

identifying the policy and charging control unit that is controlling the data packet session to which the received diameter message belongs; and

directing the received diameter message to the identified policy and charging control unit; and

if the indicator is not set;

selecting any one of the at least two policy and charging control units; and

directing the received diameter message to the selected policy and charging control unit.

15-16. -16. (canceled)