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US 11,903,047 B2Granted
Service-based policy for cellular communications
AssigneeT-Mobile USA, Inc.
InventorsMuhammad Waqar Afzal, Khurram Ahmad Mirza
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system uses deep packet inspection and a services policy database to select policy control functions based on services associated with a packet data session rather than an access point name or data network name. As a packet data session is initiated, a system management function (SMF) determines a service associated with the session and routes a policy request to one of several policy control functions (PCF or PCRF) depending on the service. Policies specific to the service may be chosen and enforced at the selected PCF/PCRF.
Claims14
A computerized method of operating a cellular communication system, the method comprising:
- establishing a data connection between a mobile device and a digital entity external to the cellular communication system;
- within the data connection, identifying a request for one of a plurality of data packet sessions;
- in response to identifying, inspecting the request via a deep packet inspection module of a session management function-packet data network gateway-control (SMF+PGW-C), wherein the SMF+PGW-C is configured to execute computer-executable instructions for a policy control function (PCF) coupled thereto;
- determining, by the deep packet inspection module, a service, an origin, and a destination associated with a plurality of data packets in the plurality of data packet sessions, wherein the plurality of data packets further comprises user data and session data;
- in accordance with the digital entity and the service associated with the plurality of data packets, connecting to a policy database of the PCF, wherein the PCF is configured to select a policy for the plurality of data packets according to the service of the plurality of data packets;
- for at least one protocol data unit within the one of the plurality of data packet sessions to determine a first service with which the at least one protocol data unit is associated, wherein the at least one protocol data unit comprises first user data and first session data;
- and
- in response to determining the first service, selecting, by a policy control function (PCF) coupled with the SMF+PGW-C, a policy from a policy database coupled with the PCF for governing the one of the plurality of data packet sessions corresponding to the first service.
5 more elements
A computerized method of servicing a cellular communication system:
- establishing a data connection between a mobile device and a digital entity external to the cellular communication system;
- within a data connection established between a mobile device and a digital entity, identifying a request for one of a plurality of data packet sessions;
- in response to identifying, inspecting the request via a deep packet inspection module of a session management function-packet data network gateway-control (SMF+PGW-C), wherein the SMF+PGW-C is configured to execute computer-executable instructions for a policy control function (PCF) coupled thereto;
- determining, by the deep packet inspection module, a service, an origin, and a destination associated with a plurality of data packets in the plurality of data packet sessions, wherein the plurality of data packets further comprises user data and session data;
- in accordance with the digital entity and the service associated with the plurality of data packets, connecting to a policy database of the PCF, wherein the PCF is configured to select a policy for the plurality of data packets according to the service of the plurality of data packets;
- for at least one protocol data unit within the one of the plurality of data packet sessions to determine a first service with which the at least one protocol data unit is associated, wherein the at least one protocol data unit comprises first user data and first session data;
- and
- in response to determining the first service, selecting, by a policy control function (PCF) coupled with the SMF+PGW-C, a policy from a policy database coupled with the PCF for governing the one of the plurality of data packet sessions corresponding to the first service.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.