Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (publ)

Brian C Williams

Ina Widegren

Johnson Oyama

Leslie Gary Graf

Mark Alan Hollis

Ian Rytina

Gabor Fodor

George Foti

Sorin Surdila

In order to address the problem of allowing a GGSN of a UMTS core network to work towards multiple Policy Control Functions (PCFs) co-located with P-CSCF nodes using the COPS protocol, a policy control function coordinator (PCF-C) is implemented between the GGSN and the P-CSCF. A single COPS connection is established between the GGSN and the PCF-C while a COPS connection is established between the PCF-C and each of the P-CSCF nodes. Decisions made at the PCFs are routed to the GGSN via the PCF-C, and responses generated at the GGSN are routed to the appropriate PCFs via the GGSN. This architecture avoids conflicts which might otherwise arise with the COPS protocol.

Policy co-ordination in a communications network

Using session signaling, a multimedia session with plural media data streams is initiated between the mobile terminal and a remote host coupled to a packet data network. The mobile terminal is coupled to the packet data network and to a multimedia system that provides multimedia session services by way of an access point. A plurality of packet access bearers is established between the mobile terminal and the access point to transport corresponding ones of the media data streams between the mobile terminal and the access points. The media binding information is created for each media data stream. The media binding information associates each media data stream in the session to one of the media packet access bearers and is used to provide session-based control of each of the media packet access bearers. Different example techniques for generating/providing the media information are disclosed.

Media binding to coordinate quality of service requirements for media flows in a multimedia session with IP bearer resources

A protocol proxy relationship is established between a non-enabled host and a protocol-enabled router or other node in a multimedia session including a mobile communications network. A mechanism is provided that allows a non-enabled mobile terminal to communicate a protocol proxy request with a protocol-enabled node along an end-to-end path between the mobile terminal and a remote host. A mechanism is further provided to install information in the protocol enabled node so that it can function as the protocol proxy for the non-enabled mobile terminal.

Method and apparatus for establishing a protocol proxy for a mobile host terminal in a multimedia session

In order to address the problem of allowing a GGSNof a UMTS core network to work towards multiple Policy Control Functions (PCFs)co-located with P-CSCF nodesusing the COPS protocol, a policy control function coordinator (PCF-C)is implemented between the GGSNand the P-CSCFA single COPS connection is established between the GGSNand the PCF-C, whilst a COPS connection is established between the PCF-Cand each of the P-CSCF nodes. Decisions made at the PCFsare routed to the GGSNvia the PCF-C, and responses generated at the GGSNare routed to the appropriate PCFsvia the GGSN. This architecture avoids conflicts which might otherwise arise with the COPS protocol.

A signaling bearer quality of service profile is pre-established and configured in various nodes in an access network. This is a new quality of service class designed to meet the needs of signaling bearers in multimedia sessions. A message requesting a bearer to support a communication between a mobile terminal and an access point to a packet data network is generated. That message includes a signaling quality of service indicator, which when detected, causes a bearer to be established between the mobile terminal and the access point in accordance with the pre-established signaling quality of service profile. The pre-established signaling quality of service profile typically includes low delay and low bit error rates in addition to high priority and accommodation of bursty traffic patterns. A signaling usage indicator may also employed to implement a standard set of minimum signaling bearer capabilities.

Signaling quality of service class for use in multimedia communicatations

A method of filtering and gating data flow in a QoS connection between a remote host and user equipment in a packet data network using policy control mechanisms includes a remote host initiating an application in an application server and a corresponding session between the remote host and the user equipment (&ldquo;UE&rdquo;) via the application server. The UE requests, to a gateway support node (&ldquo;GGSN&rdquo;) of the network, establishment of a network bearer service between the UE and the remote host. A corresponding policy control function (&ldquo;PCF&rdquo;) in a policy server receives, from the application server, filtering data derived from session data received by the application server during the session. The GGSN interrogates the corresponding PCF in the policy server to initialize a gate using policy control filtering data at the GGSN. The gate then filters the data flow in the QoS connection according to the policy control filtering data.

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Victoria, Australia

Brian C Williams