Dynamic modification of a subscriber connection

• US 9,258,336 B2
• Filed: 05/27/2014
• Issued: 02/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ericsson AB (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Original Assignee: Ericsson AB (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Inventors: Stoner, Thomas M., Arberg, Peter, Bal, Manprit
• Primary Examiner(s): MIRZA, ADNAN M
• Application Number:
  US14/287,948
• Publication Number:
  US 20140280993A1
• Time in Patent Office: 623 Days
• Field of Search: 709/225, 709/226, 709/228
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/177 Initialisation or configuration control processor initialisation G06F9/4405
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/082 the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/20 Traffic policing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1086 session scope modification
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/142 Managing session states for stateless protocols; Signalling session states; State transitions; Keeping-state mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/24 Negotiation of communication capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A database server stores in a subscriber record one or more attributes of an active subscriber connection coupling a computing device associated with the subscriber, including a data rate attribute. The database server receives a request to modify one or more of the attributes of the active subscriber connection including at least to modify the data rate attribute. The database server modifies the at least one of the attributes including modifying at least the data rate attribute and transmits the at least one modified attribute including at least the modified data rate attribute for the active subscriber connection to the network element to cause the network element to modify a corresponding attribute without disconnecting the subscriber connection from the network element.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

storing, in a subscriber record associated with a subscriber at a database server, one or more attributes of an active subscriber connection coupling a computing device associated with the subscriber to a network, wherein the one or more attributes includes at least a data rate attribute for the active subscriber connection;

receiving, at the database server, a request to modify one or more attributes of the active subscriber connection including at least the data rate attribute for the active subscriber connection;

modifying, at the database server, at least one of the one or more attributes of the active subscriber connection including modifying at least the data rate attribute for the active subscriber connection; and

transmitting, by the database server to a network element coupled with the computing device, at least one modified attribute including at least the modified data rate attribute for the active subscriber connection to cause the network element to modify a corresponding attribute without disconnecting the active subscriber connection from the network element.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the active subscriber connection is connecting the computing device to the network through the network element, and wherein the modified data rate attribute comprises a modification of a rate at which data is received into the computing device from the network.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the active subscriber connection is connecting the computing device to the network through the network element, and wherein the modified data rate attribute comprises a modification of a rate at which data is transmitted from the computing device to the network.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

wherein modifying the at least one of the one or more attributes of the active subscriber connection further comprises modifying an access control list of the active subscriber connection; and

transmitting, by the database server to the network element, at least the modified access control list.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising updating, by the database server, an account for the active subscriber connection upon modifying the at least one of the one or more attributes of the active subscriber connection.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the database server is a RADIUS server.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the request is received from an application server that allows the subscriber to modify the active subscriber connection.

8. A non-transitory machine-readable medium of a database server that provides instructions, that when executed by a processor of the database server, cause said processor to perform operations comprising:

storing, in a subscriber record associated with a subscriber, one or more attributes of an active subscriber connection coupling a computing device associated with the subscriber to a network, wherein the one or more attributes includes at least a data rate attribute for the active subscriber connection;

receiving a request to modify one or more attributes of the active subscriber connection including at least the data rate attribute for the active subscriber connection;

modifying at least one of the one or more attributes of the active subscriber connection including modifying at least the data rate attribute for the active subscriber connection; and

transmitting, to a network element coupled with the computing device, at least one modified attribute including at least the modified data rate attribute for the active subscriber connection to cause the network element to modify a corresponding attribute without disconnecting the active subscriber connection from the network element.

9. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the active subscriber connection is connecting the computing device to the network through the network element, and wherein the modified data rate attribute comprises a modification of a rate at which data is received into the computing device from the network.

10. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the active subscriber connection is connecting the computing device to the network through the network element, and wherein the modified data rate attribute comprises a modification of a rate at which data is transmitted from the computing device to the network.

11. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 8, further comprising:

wherein modifying the at least one of the one or more attributes of the active subscriber connection further comprises modifying an access control list of the active subscriber connection; and

wherein the non-transitory machine-readable medium further provides instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause said processor to perform operations including transmitting, to the network element, at least the modified access control list.

12. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the non-transitory machine-readable medium further provides instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause said processor to perform operations including updating an account for the active subscriber connection upon modifying the at least one of the one or more attributes of the active subscriber connection.

13. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the database server is a RADIUS server.

14. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the request is received from an application server that allows the subscriber to modify the active subscriber connection.

15. A database server, comprising:

a processor; and

a non-transitory machine-readable medium containing instructions executable by said processor whereby said database server is operative to;

store, in a subscriber record associated with a subscriber, one or more attributes of an active subscriber connection coupling a computing device associated with the subscriber to a network, wherein the one or more attributes includes at least a data rate attribute for the active subscriber connection;

receive a request to modify one or more attributes of the active subscriber connection including at least the data rate attribute for the active subscriber connection;

modify at least one of the one or more attributes of the active subscriber connection including modifying at least the data rate attribute for the active subscriber connection;

transmit, to a network element coupled with the computing device, at least one modified attribute including at least the modified data rate attribute for the active subscriber connection to cause the network element to modify a corresponding attribute without disconnecting the active subscriber connection from the network element.

16. The database server of claim 15, wherein the active subscriber connection is connecting the computing device to the network through the network element, and wherein the modified data rate attribute comprises a modification of a rate at which data is received into the computing device from the network.

17. The database server of claim 15, wherein the active subscriber connection is connecting the computing device to the network through the network element, and wherein the modified data rate attribute comprises a modification of a rate at which data is transmitted from the computing device to the network.

18. The database server of claim 15, further comprising:

wherein modifying the at least one of the one or more attributes of the active subscriber connection further comprises modifying an access control list of the active subscriber connection; and

wherein the non-transitory machine-readable medium further contains instructions executable by said processor whereby said apparatus is operative to transmit, to the network element, at least the modified access control list.

19. The database server of claim 15, wherein the non-transitory machine-readable medium further contains instructions executable by said processor whereby said apparatus is operative to update an account for the active subscriber connection upon modifying the at least one of the one or more attributes of the active subscriber connection.

20. The database server of claim 15, wherein the database server is a RADIUS server.

21. The database server of claim 15, wherein the request is to be received from an application server that allows the subscriber to modify the active subscriber connection.