Service redirection from a policy and charging control architecture

A method of authorizing a service with a policy and charging control (PCC) architecture, the method comprising:

• upon establishment or modification of an internet protocol (IP) connectivity access network (IP-CAN) session with a user equipment (UE), requesting, by a policy and charging enforcement function (PCEF) device, PCC rules from a policy and charging control rules function (PCRF) server;
• determining, at the PCRF server, PCC rules to be applied per service basis for the IP-CAN session;
• determining, at the PCRF server based on redirection policy criteria, a service for which a redirection is required;
• submitting, from the PCRF server to the PCEF device, the PCC rules per service basis and redirection information for the service for which the redirection is required, wherein the redirection information for the service for which the redirection is required includes a service redirection identifier indicating where the UE is to be redirected for the service for which the redirection is required and a redirection activation indicator indicating whether the redirection is to be set or not;
• installing, at the PCEF device, the received PCC rules per service basis and the redirection information for the service for which the redirection is required;
• upon a first service request from the UE for a service identified by a service destination identifier, determining, by the PCEF device based on the redirection information received from the PCRF and the PCC rules per service basis, that the service identified by the service destination identifier is the service for which redirection is required, and returning toward the UE a redirection message with the service redirection identifier and the service destination identifier;
• and
• after completion of service redirection
• the first service request for the service identified by the service destination identifier reaching again the PCEF device;
• verifying at the PCEF device that the service identified by the service destination identifier can be authorized;
• and
• submitting a service allowance message for the first service request from the PCEF device toward a service server handling the service identified by the service destination identifier.

A policy and charging enforcement function (PCEF) device of a policy and charging control (PCC) architecture for enforcing PCC rules applicable during an internet protocol (IP) connectivity access network (IP-CAN) session established with a user equipment (UE), the PCEF device comprising:

• a PCEF processing unit to determine establishment or modification of an IP-CAN session with a UE;
• a first PCEF interfacing unit to request, upon establishment or modification of the IP-CAN session, PCC rules from a policy and charging control rules function (PCRF) server in charge of generating the PCC rules;
• and to receive, in response to the request for PCC rules, the PCC rules per service basis and redirection information for a service for which a redirection is required from the PCRF server, wherein the redirection information for the service for which the redirection is required includes a service redirection identifier indicating where the UE is to be redirected for the service for which the redirection is required;
• wherein the PCEF processing unit installs received PCC rules per service basis and the redirection information for the service for which the redirection is required;
• a second PCEF interfacing unit to receive a service request from the UE for a service identified by a service destination identifier;
• wherein the PCEF processing unit determines, based on the redirection information received from the PCRF and the PCC rules per service basis, that the service identified by the service destination identifier is the service for which redirection is required, and determines the service redirection identifier;
• wherein the second PCEF interfacing unit returns toward the UE a redirection message with the service redirection identifier and with the service destination identifier;
• and
• wherein after completion of the service redirection
• the second PCEF interfacing unit receives again the service request for the service identified by the service destination identifier;
• the PCEF processing unit verifies that the service identified by the service destination identifier can be authorized;
• and
• a third PCEF interfacing unit to submit a service allowance message for the service request toward a service server handling the service identified by the service destination identifier.

A policy and charging control rules function (PCRF) server of a policy and charging control (PCC) architecture for generating PCC rules to be enforced by a policy and charging enforcement function (PCEF) device during an internet protocol (IP) connectivity access network (IP-CAN) session established with a user equipment (UE), the PCRF server comprising:

• a PCRF interfacing unit to receive a request for PCC rules, upon establishment or modification of the IP-CAN session, from a policy and charging enforcement function (PCEF) device in charge of enforcing the PCC rules;
• and
• a PCRF processing unit to determine, responsive to receiving the request for PCC rules at the PCRF server:
• PCC rules to be applied per service basis for the IP-CAN session;
• and
• a service for which a redirection is required prior to the PCEF device verifying that the service is authorized, wherein the determination is based on redirection policy criteria;
• wherein the PCRF interfacing unit, responsive to receiving the request for PCC rules at the PCRF server, submits to the PCEF device the PCC rules per service basis and redirection information for the service for which the redirection is required, and
• wherein the redirection information for the service for which the redirection is required includes a service redirection identifier indicating where the UE is to be redirected for the service for which the redirection is required.