System and method with policy control function for multimedia broadcast/multicast system services
First Claim
1. A method for providing a policy control function for multimedia broadcast/multicast system (MBMS) service in a communications network, comprising:
- receiving a request message for a broadcast/multicast system service at a policy control function;
exchanging messages between the policy control function and a subscription management function to obtain access control;
sending a message from the policy control function to a MBMS service management function to request service attributes;
providing the service attributes from the MBMS service management function to the policy control function; and
sending a decision message from the policy control function containing a decision for the broadcast/multicast system service request.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method with policy control function (PCF) for multimedia broadcast/multicast system (MBMS) services that includes a core network, one or more application servers, and one or more policy control functions (PCF). In one embodiment, the core network includes one or more gateway GPRS support nodes (GGSN). One of the application servers provides a MBMS service. At least one policy control function is operatively connected between each GGSN and application server. MBMS session request information is sent from the MBMS service server to the policy control function. The policy control function provides authorization information for a MBMS session to the GGSN.
178 Citations
77 Claims
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1. A method for providing a policy control function for multimedia broadcast/multicast system (MBMS) service in a communications network, comprising:
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receiving a request message for a broadcast/multicast system service at a policy control function; exchanging messages between the policy control function and a subscription management function to obtain access control; sending a message from the policy control function to a MBMS service management function to request service attributes; providing the service attributes from the MBMS service management function to the policy control function; and sending a decision message from the policy control function containing a decision for the broadcast/multicast system service request. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for providing a policy control function for multimedia broadcast/multicast system (MBMS) service in a communications network, comprising:
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receiving service attribute information from a MBMS service management function; storing said service attribute information in a policy control function (PCF); receiving a request message for a broadcast/multicast system service at the PCF; exchanging messages between the PCF and a subscription management function to obtain access control information; and sending a decision message from the PCF containing a decision for the broadcast/multicast system service request. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for providing a policy control function for multimedia broadcast/multicast system (MBMS) service in a communications network, comprising:
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receiving a first packet of a MBMS service at a gateway general packet radio service (GPRS) support node (GGSN) from an application server; receiving a request message for the MBMS service at a policy control function; sending a message to request service attributes from the policy control function to a MBMS service management function; providing the service attributes from the MBMS service management function to the policy control function; and sending a decision message from the policy control function containing a decision for the MBMS service request. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for providing a policy control function for multimedia broadcast/multicast system (MBMS) service in a communications network, comprising:
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receiving, at a policy control function, service attribute information from a MBMS service management function; storing the service attribute information at the policy control function; receiving a first packet of a MBMS service at a gateway general packet radio service;
(GPRS) support node (GGSN);receiving a request message for the MBMS service at said policy control function; and sending a decision message from the policy control function containing a decision for the MBMS service request. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A communications system comprising:
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a core network, the core network including a gateway general packet radio service (GPRS) support node (GGSN); an application server configured to provide a multimedia multicast/broadcast system (MBMS) service; and a policy control function (PCF) operatively connected between the GGSN and the application server, wherein MBMS session request information is sent from the application server providing the MBMS service to the policy control function, the policy control function providing authorization information for a MBMS session to the GGSN. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A method for activation of a multimedia multicast/broadcast system (MBMS) service comprising:
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receiving a request message from a mobile device at a serving general packet radio service (GPRS) support node (SGSN) to register the mobile device to a multicast service; verifying the mobile device is authorized to receive MBMS bearer data, the verifying being based on subscription data retrieved from a Home Location Register (HLR) by the SGSN; sending a join request from the SGSN to a gateway GPRS support node (GGSN) to authorize the mobile device for the multicast service; transferring access control information between the GGSN and a policy control function; confirming authorization for the mobile device by the GGSN and sending a join response to the SGSN; and sending an activate MBMS context accept to the mobile device by the SGSN. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. A method for using policy control function (PCF) with multi-media broadcast/multicast system (MBMS) services comprising:
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sending a start message from a broadcast/multicast service center (BM-SC) to a policy control function (PCF); initiating a quality of service (QoS) authorization procedure; sending a request by a gateway general packet radio service (GPRS) support node (GGSN) for the PCF to authorize resources for a service; authorizing the resources by the PCF, the PCF sending a first message to the GGSN to transmit MBMS service attributes; propagating the MBMS service attributes by the GGSN to other network nodes; receiving an acknowledge message of the propagating at the GGSN, the GGSN sending a second message to the PCF; confirming to the BM-SC by the PCF that the resources are allocated and active; and sending broadcast service data packets by the BM-SC. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
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57. A method for controlling Quality of service (QoS) for MBMS by a PCF comprising:
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sending a Session Start message by a broadcast/multicast service center (BM-SC) when the BM-SC is ready to send MBMS data; determining, by a PCF, GGSN addresses specifying a MBMS service associated with the MBMS data; and sending the Session Start message including QoS information, by the PCF, to all GGSNs whose address was determined. - View Dependent Claims (58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65)
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66. A method for controlling QoS for MBMS by a PCF comprising:
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creating an MBMS bearer context in a GGSN; sending a notify message to a PCF by the GGSN notifying the PCF of the MBMS bearer context; storing information to identify a MBMS service associated with the MBMS bearer context and a GGSN address and acknowledging the notify message, by the PCF; sending a Session Start message by a BM-SC when the BM-SC is ready to send MBMS data; determining, by the PCF, GGSN addresses of the GGSNs which notified the PCF when the MBMS bearer context was created; and sending the Session Start message by the PCF to all GGSNs whose address was determined, the Session Start message including QoS information. - View Dependent Claims (67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77)
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Specification