# US 10,484,245 B2 · Selective inactivation of control rules parameters > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,484,245 B2 - Document ID: US10484245B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/562,521 - Filed: 2015-03-31 - Published: 2018-04-05 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2015-03-31 - Assignees: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ) - Applicants: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ) - Inventors: Angel Navas Cornejo; Susana Fernandez Alonso; Marta Montejo Ayala - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10484245B2 ## CPC - H04L 12/1407: {Policy-and-charging control [PCC] architecture} - H04L 41/0893: Assignment of logical groups to network elements - H04L 41/5022: by giving priorities, e.g. assigning classes of service - H04M 15/66: {Policy and charging system} - H04W 4/24: Accounting or billing - H04L 12/1435: {volume-based} - H04L 41/0894: Policy-based network configuration management - H04W 4/70: Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC] - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract The present invention faces the issues of inactivating a particular control rule parameter, only for a given control rule and whilst maintaining this particular control rule parameter for other control rules and provides for methods and apparatuses whereby, upon determining by a control server that a particular parameter is no longer applicable for a first control rule, a modified control rule is determined that includes a removal indicator indicating the particular parameter to be removed for the first control rule previously installed and not for other control rules. The modified control rule is submitted to an enforcing device which removes the particular parameter only for the first control rule previously installed and not for others. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for modifying a control rule for a service or application in a Policy and Charging Control, PCC, architecture, the method executed by a control server and comprising the steps of: determining a first control rule for a service or application, both hereinafter indistinctly referred to as the service, wherein the first control rule comprises a plurality of parameters to be used for enforcement of the first control rule for the service; submitting the first control rule to an enforcing device; upon determining that a particular parameter, amongst the plurality of parameters, is no longer applicable for the first control rule, determining a modified control rule that includes a removal indicator indicating the particular parameter to be removed for the first control rule previously submitted; and submitting the modified control rule to the enforcing device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: prior to determining that the particular parameter is no longer applicable, determining a further control rule for a further service or application, both hereinafter indistinctly referred to as the further service, wherein the further control rule comprises the particular parameter amongst a plurality of further parameters to be used for enforcement of the further control rule for the further service; and submitting the further control rule to the enforcing device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising, upon determining that the particular parameter is no longer applicable for the first control rule, determining that the particular parameter is still applicable for the further control rule so that a modified further control rule with the removal indicator is not required. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising identifying a common monitoring key associated with the service and with the further service; determining a usage threshold, hereinafter referred to as monitoring quota, associated with the common monitoring key; wherein the first control rule and the further control rule include the common monitoring key; and wherein submitting the first control rule and the further control rule to the enforcing device includes submitting the monitoring quota associated with the common monitoring key. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the particular parameter no longer applicable for the first control rule is the common monitoring key included in the first control rule and the further control rule, and wherein the removal indicator included in the modified control rule indicates the common monitoring key, which is to be removed only for the first control rule and not for the further control rule previously submitted. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the particular parameter no longer applicable for the first control rule is a policy-related, charging-related, QoS-related or sponsor-related parameter included, at least, in the first control rule, and wherein the removal indicator included in the modified control rule indicates the corresponding policy-related, charging-related, QoS-related or sponsor-related parameter, which is to be removed only for the first control rule previously submitted. ### Claim 7 A method for enforcement of a modified control rule for a service or application in a Policy and Charging Control, PCC, architecture, the method executed by an enforcing device and comprising the steps of: receiving a first control rule for a service or application, both hereinafter indistinctly referred to as the service, from a control server, wherein the first control rule comprises a plurality of parameters to be used for enforcement of the first control rule for the service; installing the first control rule and enforcing the first control rule by enabling the plurality of parameters; receiving a modified control rule for the service from the control server, wherein the modified control rule includes a removal indicator indicating a particular parameter to be removed for the first control rule previously installed; removing the particular parameter indicated by the removal indicator for the first control rule previously installed; if any additional parameter is included in the modified control rule, enabling the additional parameter for the first control rule previously installed; and enforcing the first control rule with the enabled parameters. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, further comprising: receiving from the control server, prior to receiving the modified control rule for the service, a further control rule for a further service or application, both hereinafter indistinctly referred to as the further service, wherein the further control rule comprises the particular parameter amongst a plurality of further parameters to be used for enforcement of the further control rule for the further service; and installing the further control rule and enforcing the further control rule by enabling the plurality of further parameters. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising, upon receiving the modified control rule with the removal indicator indicating the particular parameter to be removed for the first control rule previously installed, maintaining the plurality of further parameters previously enabled, without removing the particular parameter, for the further control rule. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the first control rule and the further control rule include a common monitoring key associated with the service and with the further service, wherein receiving the first control rule and the further control rule from the control server include receiving a usage threshold, hereinafter referred to as monitoring quota, associated with the common monitoring key, and further comprises monitoring user traffic for the service and the further service using the monitoring quota. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the removal indicator in the modified control rule indicates the common monitoring key, wherein the common monitoring key is removed for the first control rule and maintained for the further control rule previously installed, and wherein the user traffic is monitored for the further service and not monitored for the service. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the removal indicator in the modified control rule indicates a policy-related, charging-related, QoS-related or sponsor-related parameter, which is included at least in the first control rule, and wherein the corresponding policy-related, charging-related, QoS-related or sponsor-related parameter is removed only for the first control rule previously submitted. ### Claim 13 A control server for providing control rules for services and applications in a Policy and Charging Control, PCC, architecture, the control server comprising: one or more processors configured to determine a first control rule for a service or application, both hereinafter indistinctly referred to as the service, wherein the first control rule comprises a plurality of parameters to be used for enforcement of the first control rule for the service; a transmitter configured to submit the first control rule to an enforcing device; wherein the one or more processors, upon determining that a particular parameter, amongst the plurality of parameters, is no longer applicable for the first control rule, is configured to determine a modified control rule that includes a removal indicator indicating the particular parameter to be removed for the first control rule previously submitted; and wherein the transmitter is configured to submit the modified control rule to the enforcing device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The control server of claim 13, wherein: the one or more processors are is configured to, prior to determining that the particular parameter is no longer applicable for the first control rule, determine a further control rule for a further service or application, both hereinafter indistinctly referred to as the further service, the further control rule comprising the particular parameter amongst a plurality of further parameters to be used for enforcement of the further control rule for the further service; and the transmitter is configured to submit the further control rule to the enforcing device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The control server of claim 14, wherein the one or more processors are configured to, upon determining that the particular parameter is no longer applicable for the first control rule, determine that the particular parameter is still applicable for the further control rule so that a modified further control rule with the removal indicator is not required. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The control server of claim 14, further comprising one or more processors configured to: identify a common monitoring key associated with the service and with the further service; determine a usage threshold, hereinafter referred to as monitoring quota, associated with the common monitoring key; include the common monitoring key in the first control rule and the further control rule; and submit the monitoring quota associated with the common monitoring key, along with the first control rule and the further control rule, to the enforcing device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The control server of claim 16, wherein the particular parameter no longer applicable for the first control rule is the common monitoring key included in the first control rule and the further control rule, and wherein the removal indicator included in the modified control rule indicates the common monitoring key, which is to be removed at the enforcing device only for the first control rule and not for the further control rule previously submitted. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The control server of claim 13, wherein the particular parameter no longer applicable for the first control rule is a policy-related, charging-related, QoS-related or sponsor-related parameter included, at least, in the first control rule, and wherein the removal indicator included in the modified control rule indicates the corresponding policy-related, charging-related, QoS-related or sponsor-related parameter, which is to be removed at the enforcing device only for the first control rule previously submitted. ### Claim 19 An enforcing device for enforcement of control rules for services and applications in a Policy and Charging Control, PCC, architecture, the enforcing device comprising: a receiver configured to receive, from a control server, a first control rule for a service or application, both hereinafter indistinctly referred to as the service, wherein the first control rule comprises a plurality of parameters to be used for enforcement of the first control rule for the service; one or more processors configured to install the first control rule and enforce the first control rule by enabling the plurality of parameters; the receiver being configured to receive, from the control server, a modified control rule for the service, wherein the modified control rule includes a removal indicator indicating a particular parameter to be removed for the first control rule previously installed; the one or more processors being configured to remove the particular parameter indicated by the removal indicator for the first control rule previously installed; if any additional parameter is included in the modified control rule, the one or more processors being configured to enable the additional parameter for the first control rule previously installed; and the one or more processors being configured to enforce the first control rule with the enabled parameters. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The enforcing device of claim 19, wherein: the receiver is configured to receive from the control server, prior to receiving the modified control rule for the service, a further control rule for a further service or application, both hereinafter indistinctly referred to as the further service, wherein the further control rule comprises the particular parameter amongst a plurality of further parameters to be used for enforcement of the further control rule for the further service; and the one or more processors are configured to install the further control rule and enforce the further control rule by enabling the plurality of further parameters. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The enforcing device of claim 20, wherein the one or more processors, upon receiving by the receiver the modified control rule with the removal indicator indicating the particular parameter to be removed for the first control rule previously installed, are configured to maintain the plurality of further parameters previously enabled, without removing the particular parameter, for the further control rule. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The enforcing device of claim 20, wherein the first control rule and the further control rule include a common monitoring key associated with the service and with the further service, wherein the receiver receiving the first control rule and the further control rule from the control server is configured to receive a usage threshold, hereinafter referred to as monitoring quota, associated with the common monitoring key, and the one or more processors are further configured to monitor user traffic for the service and the further service using the monitoring quota. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The enforcing device of claim 22, wherein the removal indicator in the modified control rule indicates the common monitoring key, wherein the one or more processors are configured to remove the common monitoring key for the first control rule and maintain the common monitoring key for the further control rule previously installed, and wherein the one or more processors are configured to monitor the user traffic for the further service and not for the service. ### Claim 24 (depends on 19) The enforcing device of claim 19, wherein the removal indicator in the modified control rule indicates a policy-related, charging-related, QoS-related or sponsor-related parameter, which is included at least in the first control rule, and wherein the one or more processors are configured to remove the corresponding policy-related, charging-related, QoS-related or sponsor-related parameter only for the first control rule previously submitted. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions which, when executed on at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to carry out the method according to claim 1. ### Claim 26 (depends on 7) A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions which, when executed on at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to carry out the method according to claim 7.