Mechanisms for policy based UMTS QoS and IP QoS management in mobile IP networks
First Claim
1. A method for managing UMTS layer QoS to IP layer QoS mapping rules in a mobile network that includes support nodes, wherein the support nodes include at least one SGSN and at least one GGSN, comprising:
- configuring at least one mapping rule with a policy server; and
utilizing a policy based management mechanism to provide the at least one mapping rule from the policy server to support nodes on the mobile network for enabling a response to a PDP context event.
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Abstract
Mechanisms for QoS mapping rules on a mobile network between a UMTS layer and an IP layer are provided. A policy server is coupled to the SGSNs and GGSNs on the mobile network and maintains a centralized location for layer QoS mapping on the mobile network. Three mapping mechanisms have been provided, including an out-sourcing mechanism, a provisioning mechanism, and a hybrid mechanism. The out-sourcing mechanism uses the policy server to handle PDP context events and supply the appropriate rules to the appropriate support node. Under the provisioning mechanism, the policy server pushes down the corresponding mapping rules to each support node across the network in advance of any PDP context event. The hybrid mechanism utilizes a combination of the out-sourcing mechanism and the provisioning mechanism. The mechanisms ensure consistent UMTS layer QoS to IP layer QoS mapping across a mobile network.
107 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method for managing UMTS layer QoS to IP layer QoS mapping rules in a mobile network that includes support nodes, wherein the support nodes include at least one SGSN and at least one GGSN, comprising:
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configuring at least one mapping rule with a policy server; and
utilizing a policy based management mechanism to provide the at least one mapping rule from the policy server to support nodes on the mobile network for enabling a response to a PDP context event. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
determining when the PDP context event occurs, and when the PDP context event occurs;
querying the policy server from at least one support node for the at least one mapping rule to handle the PDP context event;
determining when the at least one mapping rule has been received from the policy server to handle the PDP context event; and
executing the at least one mapping rule on the at least one support node.
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4. The method of claim 2, wherein the provisioning mechanism, further comprises:
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registering at least one support node with the policy server;
sending the policy server a policy request for the at least one mapping rule from the at least one support node;
storing the at least one mapping rule received from the policy server in the at least one support node; and
when a PDP context event has occurred relating to the at least one support node, executing the stored at least one mapping rule.
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5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:
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monitoring for an updated mapping rule; and
when the updated mapping rule has been received from the policy server, storing the updated mapping rule.
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6. The method of claim 2, wherein the hybrid mechanism, further comprises:
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registering at least one support node with the policy server;
sending a policy request to the policy server requesting a default mapping rule for the at least one support node;
storing the default mapping rule in the at least one support node when the default mapping rule is received from the policy server; and
when a PDP context event occurs relating to the at least one support node;
scanning the stored default mapping rule;
determining when the stored default mapping rule is appropriate for the PDP context event relating to the at least one support node; and
when;
executing the default mapping rule;
and when the PDP context event is not appropriate for the PDP context event;
querying the policy server for another mapping rule appropriate for the PDP context event; and
executing the other mapping rule appropriate for the PDP context event when received from the policy server.
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7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:
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monitoring for an updated mapping rule; and
when the updated mapping rule has been received from the policy server, storing the updated mapping rule in the at least one support node.
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8. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the at least one mapping rule, further comprises utilizing an identifier and an attribute selected from a QoS profile to generate the at least one mapping rule.
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9. The method of claim 8, wherein the attribute is selected from an MSISDN, a traffic class, a maximum bit rate, a guaranteed bit rate, a transfer delay, a traffic handling priority, and an allocation priority.
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10. An apparatus for providing mapping rules to manage the mapping between a UMTS layer QoS and an IP layer QoS in a mobile network, wherein the mobile network includes support nodes, wherein the support nodes include at least one SGSN and at least one GGSN, comprising:
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a processor and a computer-readable medium;
an operating environment executing on the processor from the computer-readable medium;
a network interface unit arranged to communicate with the support nodes on the network; and
a policy server program executing under the control of the operating system and operative to perform actions, including;
storing at least one mapping rule;
utilizing a mapping mechanism to manage the at least one mapping rule between the UMTS layer QoS and the IP layer QoS; and
providing the at least one mapping rule to at least one support node on the mobile network. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
determining when the at least one mapping rule has been updated; and
storing an updated mapping rule when updated.
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13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein storing the at least one mapping rule with a policy server, further comprises:
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selecting an attribute from a QoS profile; and
generating a differentiated services code point in response to the selected attribute and an identifier.
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14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the attribute is selected from an MSISDN, a traffic class, a maximum bit rate, a guaranteed bit rate, a transfer delay, a traffic handling priority, and an allocation priority.
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15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the provisioning mechanism, further comprises pushing the at least one mapping rule to at least one support node.
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16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:
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determining when the at least one mapping rule has been updated;
storing an updated mapping rule when updated; and
pushing the updated mapping rule to at least one support node.
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17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the hybrid mechanism, further comprises:
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sending a default mapping rule to at least one support node; and
when the PDP context event occurs relating to the at least one support node that is not handled by the default mapping rule;
scanning for another mapping rule to handle the PDP context; and
sending the other mapping rule appropriate for the PDP context event to the at least one support node.
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18. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:
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determining when the default mapping rule has been updated;
storing the default mapping rule when updated; and
pushing an updated default rule to at least one support node.
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19. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the out-sourcing mechanism, further comprises:
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determining when the PDP context event occurs, and when the PDP context event occurs;
querying the policy server from at least one support node for each mapping rule to handle the PDP context event;
determining when each mapping rule has been received from the policy server to handle the PDP context event; and
executing each received mapping rule on the at least one support node.
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20. A system for managing QoS mapping rules between two layers on a mobile network, comprising:
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support nodes, wherein the support nodes include at least one SGSN and at least one GGSN;
wherein each support node includes a network interface unit arranged to communicate across the mobile network; and
a policy server that is configured to provide at least one mapping rule to manage the QoS between the two layers on the mobile network, wherein the policy server includes;
a network interface unit arranged to communicate with the support nodes; and
a policy server program executing under the control of an operating system and operative to perform actions, including;
storing the at least one mapping rule relating to managing the QoS mapping between the two layers;
receiving a request from at least one support node;
determining the at least one mapping rule; and
sending the at least one mapping rule to the at least one support node. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
selecting an attribute from a QoS profile; and
generating the at least one mapping rule using the selected attribute and an identifier.
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23. The system of claim 22, wherein the attribute is selected from an MSISDN, a traffic class, a maximum bit rate, a guaranteed bit rate, a transfer delay, a traffic handling priority, and an allocation priority.
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24. The system of claim 21, wherein the provisioning mechanism, further comprises pushing the mapping rule to at least one support node.
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25. The system of claim 24, further comprising:
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determining when the at least one mapping rule has been updated;
storing an updated mapping rule when updated; and
pushing the updated mapping rule to at least one support node.
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26. The system of claim 24, wherein the hybrid mechanism, further comprises:
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sending a default mapping rule to at least one support node; and
when a PDP context event occurs relating to at least one support node that is not handled by the default mapping rule;
scanning for another mapping rule to handle the PDP context; and
sending the other mapping rule appropriate for the PDP context event to the at least one support node.
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27. The system of claim 26, further comprising:
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determining when the default mapping rule has been updated;
storing the default mapping rule when updated; and
pushing an updated default mapping rule to at least one support node.
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28. The system of claim 25, wherein the out-sourcing mechanism, further comprises:
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determining when the PDP context event occurs, and when the PDP context event occurs;
querying the policy server from at least one support node for the at least one mapping rule to handle the PDP context event;
determining when the at least one mapping rule has been received from the policy server to handle the PDP context event; and
executing the at least one mapping rule to handle the PDP context event on the at least one support node.
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Specification