Alternative charging handling based on QoS utilizing a policy control function to enforce policy and charging control rules
AssigneeTelefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
InventorsSusana Fernandez Alonso, Fuencisla Garcia Azorero
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Abstract
A method is performed by a first node, such as a PCF node, of a telecommunication network is provided. The method includes providing an alternative charging profile and an alternative QoS profile to a second node, such as a SMF node, as part of a policy and charging, PCC, rule. The method also includes requesting the second node to apply charging from the PCC rule according to the alternative charging profile based on a QoS degradation. A method performed by a second node also is provided.
Claims27
A method by a Policy Control Function (PCF) of enabling a Session Management Function (SMF) in a telecommunication network to enforce a Policy and Charging Control (PCC) rule, in relation to a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session between a User Device and the telecommunication network by providing, by said PCF, in said telecommunication network, Quality-of-Service (QoS) parameters to said SMF for use in said PCC rule, said method comprising:
- receiving, by said PCF, service information comprising service QoS requirements and alternative QoS requirements;
- mapping, by said PCF, said received service information into QoS parameters and related charging parameters, wherein said QoS and related charging parameters at least comprise:
- a QoS profile and a charging profile bound to said QoS profile;
- and
- an alternative QoS profile and an alternative charging profile bound to said alternative QoS profile, wherein said alternative QoS profile and said alternative charging profile is to be used in case of QoS degradation;
- providing, by said PCF, to said SMF, said mapped QoS parameters and related charging parameters for enforcing said PCC rule in relation to said PDU session between said User Device and said telecommunication network;
- receiving, by said PCF, from said SMF, a notification that QoS targets are not guaranteed, wherein the notification indicates said alternative QoS profile that is guaranteed and said alternative charging profile that is being applied;
- and
- notifying, by said PCF to an Application Function (AF), that the QoS targets cannot be guaranteed and indicating, to the AF, alternative service requirements being applied;
- wherein said mapping and providing is performed at, or as part of, establishment of the PDU session with the QoS profile, and
- wherein the notification is received from the SMF during the PDU session based on a Radio Access Network (RAN) part of said telecommunication network detecting QoS degradation that comprises the QoS targets associated with the QoS profile no longer being guaranteed such that the QoS profile can no longer be fulfilled.
A method of enforcing, by a Session Management Function (SMF) in a telecommunication network, a Policy and Charging Control (PCC) rule, in relation to a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session between a User Device and the telecommunication network, wherein the method comprises:
- receiving, by said SMF, from a Policy Control Function (PCF) in said telecommunication network, Quality-of-Service (QoS) parameters and related charging parameters for enforcing said PCC rule in relation to said PDU session between said User Device and said telecommunication network, wherein said QoS parameters and related charging parameters comprise:
- a QoS profile and a charging profile bound to said QoS profile, and
- an alternative QoS profile and an alternative charging profile bound to said alternative QoS profile, wherein said alternative QoS profile and said alternative charging profile is to be used in case of QoS degradation;
- receiving, by said SMF, from a Radio Access Network (RAN), part of said telecommunication network, a notification that QoS targets are not guaranteed but QoS targets of said alternative QoS profile can be used;
- enforcing, by said SMF, said alternative QoS profile and said alternative charging profile in case of QoS degradation;
- and
- providing, by said SMF, to said PCF, a notification that QoS targets are not guaranteed, wherein the notification indicates said alternative QoS profile that is guaranteed and said alternative charging profile that is being applied;
- wherein the QoS parameters and related charging parameters are received at, or as part of, establishment of the PDU session with the QoS profile, and
- wherein the notification is provided to said PCF during the PDU session based on said RAN part of said telecommunication network detecting QoS degradation that comprises the QoS targets associated with the QoS profile no longer being guaranteed such that the QoS profile can no longer be fulfilled.
A Policy Control Function (PCF) of a telecommunication network arranged for enabling a Session Management Function (SMF) in the telecommunication network to enforce a Policy and Charging Control (PCC) rule, in relation to a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session between a User Device and the telecommunication network by providing, by said PCF, Quality-of-Service (QoS) parameters to the SMF for use in the PCC rule, the PCF comprising:
- processing circuitry;
- and
- memory coupled with the processing circuitry, wherein the memory includes instructions that when executed by the processing circuitry causes the PCF to:
- receive service information comprising service QoS requirements and alternative QoS requirements;
- map said received service information into QoS parameters and related charging parameters, wherein said QoS and related charging parameters at least comprise:
- a QoS profile and a charging profile bound to said QoS profile, and
- an alternative QoS profile and an alternative charging profile bound to said alternative QoS profile, wherein said alternative QoS profile and said alternative charging profile is to be used in case of QoS degradation;
- provide to said SMF, said mapped QoS parameters and related charging parameters for enforcing said PCC rule in relation to said PDU session between said User Device and said telecommunication network;
- receive, from said SMF, a notification that QoS targets are not guaranteed and comprises said alternative QoS profile that is guaranteed and said alternative charging profile that is being applied;
- and
- notify an Application Function (AF) that the QoS targets cannot be guaranteed and indicate to the AF alternative service requirements being applied;
- wherein the processing circuitry causes the PCF to map the received service information into the QoS parameters and related charging parameters, and to provide the mapped QoS parameters and related charging parameters to said SMF, at, or as part of, establishment of the PDU session with the QoS profile, and
- wherein the processing circuitry causes the PCF to receive the notification from the SMF during the PDU session based on a Radio Access Network (RAN) part of said telecommunication network detecting QoS degradation that comprises the QoS targets associated with the QoS profile no longer being guaranteed such that the QoS profile can no longer be fulfilled.
A Session Management Function (SMF) of a telecommunications network arranged for enforcing a Policy and Charging Control (PCC) rule, in relation to a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session between a User Device and the telecommunication network, the SMF comprising:
- processing circuitry;
- and
- memory coupled with the processing circuitry, wherein the memory includes instructions that when executed by the processing circuitry causes the PCF to:
- receive, from a Policy Control Function (PCF) in said telecommunication network, Quality-of-Service (QoS) parameters and related charging parameters for enforcing said PCC rule in relation to said PDU session between said User Device and said telecommunication network, wherein said QoS parameters and related charging parameters comprise:
- a QoS profile and a charging profile bound to said QoS profile, and
- an alternative QoS profile and an alternative charging profile bound to said alternative QoS profile, wherein said alternative QoS profile and said alternative charging profile is to be used in case of QoS degradation;
- receive, from a Radio Access Network (RAN), part of said telecommunication network, a notification that QoS targets are not guaranteed but QoS targets of said alternative QoS profile can be used;
- enforce said alternative QoS profile and said alternative charging profile in case of QoS degradation;
- and
- provide, to said PCF, a notification that QoS targets are not guaranteed and indicate, to said PCF, said alternative QoS profile that is guaranteed and said alternative charging profile that is being applied;
- wherein the processing circuitry causes the SMF to receive the QoS parameters and related charging parameters at, or as part of, establishment of the PDU session with the QoS profile, and
- wherein the processing circuitry causes the SMF to provide the notification to said PCF during the PDU session based on said RAN part of said telecommunication network detecting QoS degradation that comprises the QoS targets associated with the QoS profile no longer being guaranteed such that the QoS profile can no longer be fulfilled.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.