Method and apparatus for managing subscription to policy counters

Abstract

A method, performed in a Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF), for managing subscription to policy counters maintained at an Online Charging System (OCS) is disclosed. The PCRF is operable to communicate with the OCS over an Sy reference. The method comprises receiving a Multiple Users subscription trigger from a network operator (), the Multiple Users subscription trigger identifying a reference network policy and a subject network policy. The method further comprises sending a Spending Limit Request (SLR) command to the OCS (), the SLR command specifying an identifier of a subject policy counter for the subject network policy and specifying application of the SLR command with respect to the subject policy counter to all ongoing Sy sessions between the PCRF and the OCS which already include a subscription to a policy counter for the reference network policy. Also disclosed is a method, performed in an OCS, for managing subscription by a PCRF to policy counters maintained at the OCS. The method comprises receiving an SLR command from the PCRF (), the SLR command specifying an identifier of a subject policy counter for a subject network policy and specifying application of the SLR command with respect to the subject policy counter to all ongoing Sy sessions between the PCRF and the OCS which already include a subscription to a policy counter for a reference network policy. The method also comprises applying the received SLR command with respect to the subject policy counter to each ongoing Sy session between the OCS and the PCRF which already includes a subscription to a policy counter for the reference network policy (-). Also disclosed are a PCRF, an OCS and a computer program product.