Dynamic media authorization in mobile networks

• US 6,888,821 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2004
• Issued: 05/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Curcio, Igor, Räsänen, Juha A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Wellington
• Assistant Examiner(s): JAIN, RAJ K
• Application Number:
  US10/766,845
• Publication Number:
  US 20040190453A1
• Time in Patent Office: 459 Days
• Field of Search: 370/229, 370/230, 370/231, 370/235, 370352-356, 370/395.52, 709/226, 709/227, 709/229
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/15 in relation to multipoint traffic arrangements for broadcast or multicast in data networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/70 Admission control; Resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/762 triggered by the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/765 triggered by the end-points
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/801 Real time traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/808 User-type aware
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/824 Applicable to portable or mobile terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/10 Flow control between communication endpoints
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/04 Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server]

Abstract

An network interface architecture is provided with solutions for dynamic media authorization and better management of QoS classes of a session (connection between users or mobile terminals) comprising a plurality of media streams within mobile networks such that, when media stream(s) are modified (new ones started and existing ones deleted) during the session, the traffic class of a session is defined by the highest traffic class requirement by the media flows belonging to the same session in order to eliminate the difference of transmission delays of media streams belonging to the same session and, therefore, improving the quality of the connection perceived by the end user.

Claims

1. A Policy Decision Function (PDF) implemented in a mobile network to determine a maximum authorized traffic class for a given media flow of a session between two mobile terminals, or between a mobile terminal and a server, comprising:

determining if a media stream requiring the highest traffic class within a plurality of media streams is removed from a session, when the session established is modified between two mobile terminals or between a mobile terminal and a server, via a communication link; and

maintaining the existing traffic class for the remaining media streams for the session, if the media stream requiring the highest traffic class is removed from the session.

2. A Policy Decision Function (PDF) implemented in a mobile network to determine a maximum authorized traffic class for a given media flow of a session between two mobile terminals or between a mobile terminal and a server, comprising:

determining if a unidirectional stream is added to a session comprising a bidirectional stream, when the session is established or modified between two mobile terminals or between a mobile terminal and a server, via a communication link; and

applying the highest traffic class, allocated to any of media streams of the session, to all media streams of the session during the lifetime of the session, if the unidirectional stream is added to the session comprising the bidirectional stream.

3. An IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) architecture for IP multimedia services, comprising:

mobile terminals;

a gateway support node (GGSN) configured to handle packet transmission to/from the mobile terminals during a session; and

a proxy call session control function (P-CSCF) configured to serve as a first contact point of the mobile terminals and provide session management services during the session, including establishing a packet data protocol (PDP) context for IMS related signaling, registration, and other procedures for the session,

wherein said P-CSCF comprises a Policy Decision Function (PDF) configured to perform the following;

determining if a media stream requiring the highest traffic class within a plurality of media streams is removed from the session, when the session established is being modified between two mobile terminals or between a mobile terminal and a server, via a communication link; and

maintaining the used traffic class for the remaining media streams for the session, if the media stream requiring the highest traffic class is removed from the session.

4. A computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a mobile network, perform a method of determining a maximum authorized traffic class for a given media flow of a session between two mobile terminals, or between a mobile terminal and a server, said method comprising:

determining if a unidirectional stream is added to a session comprising a bi-directional stream, when the session is established or modified between two mobile terminals, or between a mobile terminal and a server, via a communication link; and

applying the highest traffic class, allocated to any of media streams of the session, to all media streams of the session during the lifetime of the session, if the unidirectional stream is added to the session comprising the bidirectional stream.