Method for Policy Control and Method for Bearer Control as Well as Corresponding Servers, Systems and Computer Programs

A method for policy control carried out by a node including a policy and charging rules function, the method comprising:

• creating a policy provision including an inactivity period indicator indicating a period for which a service data flow is allowed to be inactive;
• and
• providing the policy provision, including the inactivity period indicator, for installation in a bearer control element, to determine at least one of:
• bearer establishment, bearer modification, and bearer deactivation, in accordance with the policy provision and the included inactivity period indicator.

A method for bearer control carried out by a node including a bearer binding function, the method comprising:

• receiving from a policy control element a policy provision that includes an inactivity period indicator indicating a period for which a service data flow is allowed to be inactive;
• monitoring service data associated with the service;
• and
• determining whether to modify or deactivate an associated bearer according to the inactivity period indicator and the monitored service data.

A method carried out by a node including a policy and charging rules function and a node including a bearer binding function, the method comprising:

• creating via a policy control element a policy provision including an inactivity period indicator indicating a period for which a service data flow is allowed to be inactive;
• and
• providing the policy provision, including the inactivity period indicator, for installation in a bearer control element, to determine at least one of:
• bearer establishment, bearer modification, and bearer deactivation, in accordance with the policy provision and the included inactivity period indicator;
• wherein the bearer control element constitutes a function in the node including the bearer binding function and the policy control element constitutes a function in the node including the policy and charging rules function.

A node configured for implementing a policy and charging rules function, comprising:

• a provision creator configured to create a policy provision including an inactivity period indicator indicating a period for which a service data flow is allowed to be inactive;
• and
• a provision provider configured to provide the policy provision including the inactivity period indicator for installation in a bearer control element, to determine at least one of:
• bearer establishment, bearer modification and bearer deactivation, in accordance with the policy provision and the included inactivity period indicator.

A node configured for implementing a bearer binding function, comprising:

• a provision obtainer configured to receive a policy provision including an inactivity period indicator indicating a period for which a service is allowed to be inactive;
• a monitor configured to monitor service data associated with the service;
• and
• an inactivity determiner configured to determine whether to modify or deactivate a bearer associated with the service, according to the inactivity period indicator and the monitored service data.

A system for bearer control, comprising:

• a provision creator configured to create a policy provision including an inactivity period indicator indicating a period for which a service is allowed to be inactive;
• a provision obtainer configured to receive the created policy provision, including the inactivity period indicator;
• a monitor configured to monitor service data associated with the service;
• and
• an inactivity determiner configured to determine whether to modify or deactivate a bearer associated with the service, according to the inactivity period indicator and the monitored service data.

A computer-readable medium storing a computer program comprising program instructions that, when executed on a data processor of a node implementing a policy and charging rules function, configure the policy and charging rules function to:

• create a policy provision including an inactivity period indicator indicating a period for which a service data flow is allowed to be inactive;
• and
• providing the policy provision, including the inactivity period indicator, for installation in a bearer control element, to determine at least one of:
• bearer establishment, bearer modification, and bearer deactivation, in accordance with the policy provision and the included inactivity period indicator.