Policy implementation over LMR and IP networks

• US 9,559,967 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2015
• Issued: 01/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TAIT International Limited (Tait Limited)
• Original Assignee: Tait Limited
• Inventors: Peck, Geoffery Charles, Horn, Clive Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): Doan, Kiet
• Application Number:
  US14/725,922
• Publication Number:
  US 20150350090A1
• Time in Patent Office: 613 Days
• Field of Search: 455/524, 455/414.1, 455/519, 455/404.1, 455/452.2, 455/456.6, 455/450, 455/404.2, 370/329, 370/327, 370/328, 370/338, 342/457, 342/450
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/20 Traffic policing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0022 for transferring data sessions between adjacent core network technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/00224 between packet switched [PS] and circuit switched [CS] network technologies, e.g. circuit switched fallback [CSFB]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/08 User group management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0225 using monitoring of external events, e.g. the presence of a signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0261 managing power supply demand, e.g. depending on battery level
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A communication system is made up of a number of LMR and IP bearers including LTE and P25. The information flowing over the integrated system is managed according to the situational context of the user. A policy driven approach is described that uses user context as its inputs and converts this into actions that preferentially improves the communication for the user particularly as they move between the available networks.

Claims

1. A method of operation a policy controller in a communication system having Land Mobile Radio (LMR) and Internet Protocol (IP) networks, comprising:

receiving context information from a mobile terminal which is operating in a first one of the networks;

using the context information to determine a policy which relates to the terminal in the first network;

implementing the policy in the first network in relation to the terminal;

determining that the terminal is transferring operation from the first network to the second network; and

maintaining the policy by the policy controller in the second network in relation to the terminal, once the terminal has transferred to the second network;

wherein the first and second networks are respectively the LMR and IP networks, the context is an emergency, and the policy gives priority to an emergency call by the terminal.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the second network has an existing policy or rules system and the maintaining the policy in the second network includes changing existing policy or rules in the existing system.

3. A method of policy implementation in a communication system having Land Mobile Radio (LMR) and Internet Protocol (IP) networks, including:

receiving context information from a mobile terminal which is operating in a first one of the networks,

using the context information to determine a policy which relates to the terminal in the first network,

transferring operation of the terminal from the first network to the second network as a result of the policy, and

maintaining the policy in the second network once operation of the terminal has been transferred;

wherein the first and second networks are respectively the IP and LMR networks, and the policy is force joining of a group base on geographical location.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein the first and second networks are respectively the LMR and IP networks, the context is reduced battery power, and the IP network requires less power for operation of the terminal.

5. A method according to claim 3 wherein the second network has an existing policy or rules system and the maintaining the policy in the second network includes changing existing policy or rules in the existing system.

6. A policy controller for implementing policy in a communication system having Land Mobile Radio (LMR) and Internet Protocol (IP) networks, including:

a context database which receives information relating to the context of mobile terminals operating in the networks,

a policy database containing rules relating to the operation of mobile terminals in either network,

an event detector which detects a change in the context of a terminal according to information in the context database, and determines any corresponding change of policy according to information in the policy database, and

a policy enforcer which implements the corresponding change of policy in either of the networks as required in relation to operation of the terminal, and maintains the change of policy when the terminal transfers between networks,

wherein the first and second networks are respectively the IP and LMR networks, and the policy is force joining of a group base on geographical location.

7. A controller according to claim 6 wherein a policy requires the implementation of multiple rules for operation of the terminal.

8. A controller according to claim 6 wherein one policy includes maintaining priority of an emergency call when a terminal moves between the LMR and IP networks.

9. A controller according to claim 6 wherein one policy includes transferring operation of a terminal from the LMR network to the IP network when battery power of the terminal runs low.

10. A controller according to claim 6 wherein one policy includes forced joining of an LMR group based on geographical location.

11. A controller according to claim 6 wherein the second network has an existing policy or rules system and the maintaining the policy in the second network includes changing existing policy or rules in the existing system.