Alcatel Lucent

Haiqing H Ma

Robert Alexander Mann

Lui Chu Yeung

Kalyan Premchand Siddam

Sachin J Lalseta

Xiong Xue

Fernando Cuervo

Mira Vrbaski

Partoo Mohebi-Sarmadi

Zhaoliang Z Ding

Kevin Scott Cutler

Susan Patricia Ackerman

Ivy Mao

Peter Wang

Cory R Weppler

Gita Beyk

David Huynh

Lui Yeung

Various embodiments relate to a method performed by a network node for creating a Diameter session, the method including: receiving an S9 session request message comprising an S9 session identifier (ID) and one or more subsession IDs; and for each said one or more subsession IDs, creating a Diameter session with a session ID comprising said S9 session ID and said respective S9 subsession ID. Embodiments can add IP address information the Diameter session and are suited to handling subsequent Rx messages without subscriber information.

S9 roaming session destination selection

Various embodiments relate to a method performed by a network node for terminating an S9 roaming session, the method including: receiving a Gx roaming session termination request; forwarding a corresponding S9 roaming session termination request to a controlling Policy and Charging Rule Function (PCRF) node; waiting a preconfigured time interval; and terminating the S9 roaming session without receiving an expected S9 acknowledgement message from the controlling PCRF node. Embodiments can include scheduling an IPCAN session audit for a selected IPCAN session of an S9 roaming session at preconfigured time intervals; generating an IPCAN session status request message; converting the IPCAN session status request message to a corresponding S9 status request message; forwarding the S9 status request message to a visited PCRF node; and responsive to receiving an S9 message indicating an unknown session from the visited PCRF node, removing the selected IPCAN session at the network node.

S9 roaming session cleanup with S9 connection failure

Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method of determining by a network node whether a session establishment request is for a subscriber of a home network. The method may include: defining a home network identity including a network identifier and an emergency access point name (APN); receiving a session establishment request; comparing a called station ID of the session establishment request with the emergency APN; comparing a subscription ID of the session establishment request with the network identifier; and if either the called station ID matches an emergency APN or the subscription ID matches a network identifier: determining that the subscriber is a subscriber of the home network, and fulfilling the session establishment request. Various exemplary embodiments relate to a system for determining the home network of a subscriber. The system may include a policy and charging rules node (PCRN) configured to process a session establishment request.

PCRN home network identity

Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method performed by a policy and charging rules function (PCRF) node for selecting an Online Charging System (OCS), the method including: receiving a session establishment request for a subscriber (subscriber session); selecting an OCS realm for the subscriber session based on, in order of priority: policy rules, subscriber attribute or system preference; selecting an OCS host for the subscriber session based on, in order of priority: policy rules, subscriber attribute or system preference; and creating an Sy session using the selected OCS realm and selected OCS host.

Flexible online charging system

Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method performed by a node for creating a virtual IP-CAN session, the method including: receiving, at the network node, a S9 message; creating a S9 session; creating a virtual IP-CAN session associated with the S9 session; persisting the S9 session; and transmitting an answer S9 message.

PCRN session architecture for roaming

Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method performed by a policy and charging rules node (PCRN), the method including: receiving a credit control request (CCR) message from a packet data network gateway (PGW) based upon a general radio packet service (GPRS) internet protocol connectivity access network (IP-CAN) session request; determining that no operator policy rule specifies an aggregate maximum bit rate (APN-AMBR) value; determining that the CCR message includes an APN-AMBR value; setting an APN-AMBR value for the GPRS IP-CAN session to an APN-AMBR value for a subscriber associated with the GPRS IP-CAN session; setting a GPRS IP-CAN session maximum bit rate download/upload (MBR DL/UL) value to the lowest of the subscriber APN-AMBR value and a subscriber MBR DL/UL value; and sending a credit control answer (CCA) message to the PGW with the selected APN-AMBR and MBR DL/UL values.

APN-AMBR authorization in GPRS mobile network

Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method and related network node including one or more of the following: receiving the set of PCC rules at the network device from a partner device; determining that the set of PCC rules includes an unauthorized PCC rule, wherein the unauthorized PCC rule fails an authorization; determining that the set of PCC rules includes an authorized PCC rule, wherein the authorized PCC rule passes the authorization; generating an unauthorized rules list including an indication of the unauthorized PCC rule; generating an authorized rules list including an indication of the authorized PCC rule; transmitting the unauthorized rules list and the authorized rules list to the partner device.

Indication of authorized and unauthorized PCC rules

Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method performed by a policy and charging rules node (PCRN), the method including: receiving a credit control request (CCR) message from a packet data network gateway (PGW) based upon a general radio packet service (GPRS) internet protocol connectivity access network (IP-CAN) session request; determining that an operator policy rule specifies an aggregate maximum bit rate (APN-AMBR) value; determining that the CCR message includes an APN-AMBR value; setting an APN-AMBR value for the GPRS IP-CAN session to the APN-AMBR value specified by the operator policy rule; setting a GPRS IP-CAN session maximum bit rate download/upload (MBR DL/UL) value to the lowest of the APN-AMBR value specified by the operator policy rule and a subscriber MBR DL/UL value; and sending a credit control answer (CCA) message to the PGW with the selected APN-AMBR and MBR DL/UL values.

Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method and related network node including one or more of the following: receiving, at the network node, an indication of an event from a network monitor, the event associated with a network element; identifying an applicable rule of a plurality of rules based on the event, the applicable rule specifying at least one action; initiating performance of the at least one action with respect to at least one session associated with the network element. Various embodiments additionally include one or more of the following: identifying a group of sessions associated with the network element; and wherein the steps of identifying an applicable rule and initiating performance of the at least one action are performed for each session of the group of sessions.

Intelligent network management of network-related events

Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method performed by a policy and charging rules node (PCRN) of updating a policy and charging control (PCC) rule. The method includes: receiving a filter update request comprising a new filter and a reference filter; matching the reference filter with a previously requested PCC rule; determining a set of filters associated with the service data flow; determining whether any filter of the set of filters is removed; and authorizing quality of service (QoS) information based on the remaining filters of the set of filters. Various exemplary embodiments relate to a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium encoded with instructions executable by a processor for performing the method.

PCC QoS authorization based on rule split and flow direction

A method, and machine readable storage medium is disclosed for a method performed by policy and charging rules function (PCRF) node (PCRN) in a packet switching network, for identifying a Gn/Gp mode of an adjacent network node, in which the adjacent network node which is connected directly to a Serving General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) Support Node (SGSN) node via a Gn/Gp interface, from an adjacent network node connected to a Serving Gateway (S-GW) via a S5/S8 interface, wherein the adjacent network node is a Packet Data Network Gateway (P-GW) node or a Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN). The method comprises receiving at the PCRN from the adjacent network node, a Diameter Credit Control Request (CCR) message requesting a IP-CAN session; determining whether the request message includes a SGSN-Address and does not include an AN-GW-Address.

Identifying Gn/Gp mode at PCRF

Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method and related network node including one or more of the following: determining by the network device that an S9 session should be audited; determining that the S9 session is a suspect session; transmitting an S9 message to a partner device, wherein the S9 message includes an innocuous instruction; receiving, at the network device, a response message from the partner device; determining, based on the response message, whether the suspect session is orphaned; and if the suspect session is orphaned, removing an S9 session record associated with the suspect session.

Diameter session audits

Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method and related network node including one or more of the following: receiving, at a policy and charging rules node from a first requesting device, a first message including a first set of information regarding an application request; generating a set of PCC rules for fulfilling the application request based on the first set of information; determining whether the PCRN should wait for a period of time for at least one PCC rule to receive a second message including a second set of information regarding the application request; and if the PCRN should wait for the period of time: waiting for the period of time to receive a second message including a second set of information regarding the application request, determining, after the time has elapsed, whether the second message has arrived, and if the second message has not arrived, initiating a cleanup procedure.

Method and system for determining a PCC rule waiting for further action

Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method of identifying a subscriber at a network node. The method may include: receiving a message including a network access identifier (NAI); removing the first digit from the NAI to form a stripped NAI; determining whether the stripped NAI corresponds to a subscriber; determining whether the NAI corresponds to a subscriber; adding a hint digit to form an extended NAI, and determining whether the extended NAI corresponds to a subscriber; and if any of the NAIs correspond to a subscriber, using the corresponding NAI to identify the subscriber. Various exemplary embodiments relate to a policy and charging rules node including: a subscriber cache including a subscriber identifier; an interface configured to receive a NAI; a NAI modifier configured to form an extended NAI and a stripped NAI; and a subscriber identification module configured to determine whether a NAI is stored in the subscriber cache.

NAI subscription-ID hint digit handling

Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method performed by a policy and charging rules node (PCRN) for processing a change in a status of a roaming partner, the method including: receiving, at the PCRN, a message indicating a change in a status of the roaming partner; identifying roaming subscriber sessions associated with the roaming partner; determining home based roaming subscriber sessions among the identified subscriber sessions; marking the determined home based roaming subscriber sessions for termination; and sending a termination message to a policy and charging enforcement node for the determined home based roaming subscriber sessions.

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Ottawa, Canada

Haiqing H Ma