Policy control of multiplexed real time protocol and real time control protocol

• US 20080253368A1
• Filed: 04/08/2008
• Published: 10/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nokia Solutions and Networks US LLC (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Solutions and Networks US LLC (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Rasanen, Juha
• Application Number:
  US12/078,925
• Publication Number:
  US 20080253368A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/389
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/65 Network streaming protocols, e.g. real-time transport protocol [RTP] or real-time control protocol [RTCP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/70 Media network packetisation

Abstract

A system can include an application function which is configured to indicate per each multiplexed flow to a rules function that a flow includes multiplexed real time protocol data packets and control packets flow and to indicate the status of each component of the multiplexed flow. The rules function can be configured to inform an enforcement function which is configured to detect the multiplexed flows by the IP addresses and port numbers and to detect the multiplexed subcomponents. The enforcement function can be configured to apply separate gating to data packets and control packets according to the status of each subcomponent.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

providing a request comprising a predefined attribute to indicate real time protocol data packets and control packets to be multiplexed onto a single port; and

receiving an answer indicating that multiplexed real time protocol data packets and control packets are to be processed according to the predefined attribute.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the multiplexed real time protocol data packets and the control packets depend on a unicast session or a multicast session.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the multicast session depends on a source multicast or a single source multicast.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the unicast session or the multicast session is signaled using the session initiation protocol.

5. An apparatus, comprising:

a transmitter configured to send a request comprising a predefined attribute to indicate real time protocol data packets and control packets to be multiplexed onto a single port; and

a receiver configured to receive an answer indicating that multiplexed real time protocol data packets and control packets are to be processed according to the predefined attribute.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the multiplexed real time protocol data packets and the control packets depend on a unicast session or a multicast session.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the multicast session depends on a source multicast or a single source multicast.

8. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the unicast session or the multicast session is signaled using the session initiation protocol.

9. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the apparatus comprises a user equipment.

10. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium, the computer program being configured to control a processor to perform:

providing a request comprising a predefined attribute to indicate real time protocol data packets and control packets to be multiplexed onto a single port; and

receiving an answer indicating that multiplexed real time protocol data packets and control packets are to be processed according to the predefined attribute.

11. An apparatus, comprising:

sending means for sending a request comprising a predefined attribute to indicate real time protocol data packets and control packets to be multiplexed onto a single port; and

receiving means for receiving an answer indicating that multiplexed real time protocol data packets and control packets are to be processed according to the predefined attribute.

12. A method, comprising:

receiving a request message indicating flow multiplexing from a user equipment;

sending the request message to a called party;

receiving a response message from the called party indicating flow multiplexing;

forwarding the response message to the user equipment;

detecting real time protocol data packets and control packets to be multiplexed on a single port; and

sending session information with flow multiplexing information and multiplexed flow status information to a rules function to apply gating and policy and charging rules.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the method offers applications that require dynamic policy and/or charging control over a user plan behavior.

14. An apparatus, comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a request message indicating flow multiplexing from a user equipment;

a transmitter configured to transmit the request message to a called party,

wherein the receiver is configured to receive a response message from the called party indicating flow multiplexing, and

wherein the transmitter is configured to the response message to the user equipment;

a detector configured to detect real time protocol data packets and control packets to be multiplexed on a single port,

wherein the transmitter is configured to send session information with flow multiplexing information and multiplexed flow status information to a rules function to apply gating and policy and charging rules.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the apparatus comprises an application function or a call state control function.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the application function is an element offering applications that require dynamic policy and/or charging control over a user plan behavior.

17. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium, the computer program being configured to control a processor to perform:

receiving a request message indicating flow multiplexing from a user equipment;

sending the request message to a called party;

receiving a response message from the called party indicating flow multiplexing;

forwarding the response message to the user equipment;

detecting real time protocol data packets and control packets to be multiplexed on a single port; and

sending session information with flow multiplexing information and multiplexed flow status information to a rules function to apply gating and policy and charging rules.

18. An apparatus, comprising:

receiving means for receiving a request message indicating flow multiplexing from a user equipment;

sending means for sending the request message to a called party,

wherein the receiving means receives a response message from the called party indicating flow multiplexing;

forwarding means for forwarding the response message to the user equipment; and

detecting means for detecting real time protocol data packets and control packets to be multiplexed on a single port,

wherein the sending means sends session information with flow multiplexing information and multiplexed flow status information to a rules function to apply gating and policy and charging rules.

19. A method, comprising:

receiving session information with flow multiplexing information and multiplexed flow status information from an application function; and

sending policy and charging rules with flow multiplexing information and multiplexed flow status information to an enforcement function.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the method is performed by a policy charging rules function.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein policy charging rules function comprises policy control decision and flow based charging control functions.

22. An apparatus, comprising:

a receiver configured to receive session information with flow multiplexing information and multiplexed flow status information from an application function; and

a transmitter configured to send policy and charging rules with flow multiplexing information and multiplexed flow status information to an enforcement function.

23. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the apparatus comprises a policy charging rules function.

24. The apparatus according to claim 23 wherein policy charging rules function comprises policy control decision and flow based charging control functions.

25. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium, the computer program being configured to control a processor to perform:

receiving session information with flow multiplexing information and multiplexed flow status information from an application function; and

sending policy and charging rules with flow multiplexing information and multiplexed flow status information to an enforcement function.

26. An apparatus, comprising:

receiving means for session information with flow multiplexing information and multiplexed flow status information from an application function; and

sending means for sending policy and charging rules with flow multiplexing information and multiplexed flow status information to an enforcement function.

27. A method, comprising:

receiving information from policy charging rules function; and

processing flows based on the information,

wherein the information comprises information differentiating real time protocol and real time control protocol within a multiplexed flow.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein the processing flows comprises detecting the multiplexed flows.

29. The method according to claim 27, wherein the processing flows comprises applying gating and policy and charging rules.

30. The method according to claim 29, wherein the gating is directed to the blocking or allowing packets belonging to a service data flow to pass through to a desired endpoint.

31. An apparatus, comprising:

a receiver configured to receive information from policy charging rules function; and

a processor configured to process flows based on the information,

wherein the information comprises information differentiating real time protocol and real time control protocol within a multiplexed flow.

32. The apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the processing flows comprises detecting multiplexed flows.

33. The apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the processing flows comprises applying gating and policy and charging rules.

34. The apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the gating is directed to the blocking or allowing packets belonging to a service data flow to pass through to a desired endpoint.

35. The apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the apparatus comprises a policy charging enforcement function.

36. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium, the computer program being configured to control a processor to perform:

receiving information from policy control rules function; and

processing flows based on the information,

wherein the information comprises information differentiating real time protocol and real time control protocol within a multiplexed flow.

37. An apparatus, comprising:

receiving means for receiving information from policy control rules function; and

processing means for processing flows based on the information,

wherein the information comprises information differentiating real time protocol and real time control protocol within a multiplexed flow.

38. A system, comprising:

an application function configured to indicate per each multiplexed flow to a rules function that a flow includes multiplexed real time protocol data packets and control packets flow and to indicate the status of a component of the multiplexed flow,

wherein the rules function is configured to inform an enforcement function which is configured to detect the multiplexed flows by internet protocol addresses and port numbers and to detect the multiplexed subcomponents, and

wherein the enforcement function is configured to apply separate gating to data packets and control packets according to the status of each subcomponent.