System and method of quality of service enablement for over the top applications in a telecommunications system

A system for providing Quality of Service (QoS) to an Over The Top (OTT) service provider in a telecommunications network in which a User Equipment (UE) initiates an Internet Protocol (IP)-based application session with the OTT service provider by sending an application-dependent message toward an OTT application server, the system comprising:

• an OTT application server for providing an OTT service by the OTT service provider in the telecommunications network, the OTT application server having means for initiating an IP-based application session upon receipt of the application-dependent message;
• a proxy function within the telecommunications network, the proxy function including:
• communication means for intercepting the application-dependent message prior to receipt by the OTT application server;
• means for modifying the application-dependent message by adding to a header of the application-dependent message, a subscriber identification associated with the UE;
• and
• communication means for forwarding the modified application-dependent message to the OTT application server;
• wherein the OTT application server includes means for sending a request having the subscriber identification to the telecommunications network with a QoS requirement for the IP-based application session;
• a network policy node for determining an appropriate QoS level for the IP-based application session based on the subscriber identification and the QoS requirement;
• and
• a network gateway for enforcing the determined QoS level for the IP-based application session with the OTT service provider.

A node for enabling a telecommunications network to provide a Quality of Service (QoS) level to an Over The Top (OTT) service provider, the node comprising:

• means for intercepting an application-dependent message sent by a User Equipment (UE) initiating an Internet Protocol (IP)-based application session with an OTT application servicer prior to receipt by the OTT application server;
• means for modifying the application-dependent message by adding to a header of the application-dependent message, a subscriber identification associated with the UE;
• and
• means for forwarding the modified application-dependent message to the OTT application server;
• wherein when the OTT application server sends a request having the subscriber identification to the telecommunications network with a QoS requirement for the IP-based application session, the network determines an appropriate QoS level for the subscriber and enforces the determined QoS level for the IP-based application session with the OTT service provider.