Service Redirection from a Policy and Charging Control Architecture

A method of authorizing a service with a policy and charging control (PCC) architecture, the method comprising:

• upon establishment or modification of an internet protocol (IP) connectivity access network (IP-CAN) session with a user equipment (UE), requesting, by a policy and charging enforcement function (PCEF) device, control rules from a policy and charging control rules function (PCRF) server;
• determining, at the PCRF server, control rules to be applied per service basis for the IP-CAN session;
• determining, at the PCRF server based on redirection policy criteria, those services for which a redirection is required;
• submitting, from the PCRF server to the PCEF device, control rules and redirection information per service basis, wherein the redirection information per service basis includes a service redirection identifier indicating where the UE is to be redirected for the service;
• installing, at the PCEF device, received control rules and redirection information per service basis;
• upon a first service request from the UE for a service identified by a service destination identifier, determining, by the PCEF device, that the service requires redirection, and returning toward the UE a redirection message with the service redirection identifier and the service destination identifier;
• upon completion of service redirection, the first service request for the service identified by the service destination identifier reaching again the PCEF device;
• verifying at the PCEF device that the service identified by the service destination identifier can be authorized;
• and
• submitting a service allowance message for the first service request from the PCEF device toward a service server handling the service identified by the service destination identifier.

A policy and charging enforcement function (PCEF) device for enforcing control rules applicable during an internet protocol (IP) connectivity access network (IP-CAN) session established with a user equipment (UE), the PCEF device comprising:

• a processing unit configured to determine establishment or modification of an IP-CAN session with a UE;
• a first interfacing unit configured to request control rules from a policy and charging control rules function (PCRF) server in charge of generating the control rules;
• and to receive the control rules and redirection information per service basis from the PCRF server, wherein the redirection information per service basis includes a service redirection identifier indicating where the UE is to be redirected for the service;
• wherein the processing unit is further configured to install received control rules and the redirection information per service basis;
• a second interfacing unit configured to receive a service request from the UE for a service identified by a service destination identifier;
• wherein the processing unit is further configured to determine that the service requires redirection and to determine the service redirection identifier;
• the second interfacing unit is further configured to return toward the UE a redirection message with the service redirection identifier and with the service destination identifier, and to receive again, upon completion of the service redirection, the service request for the service identified by the service destination identifier;
• and the processing unit is further configured to verify that the service identified by the service destination identifier can be authorized;
• and
• a third interfacing unit configured to submit a service allowance message for the service request toward a service server handling the service identified by the service destination identifier.

A policy and charging control rules function (PCRF) server for generating control rules to be enforced by a policy and charging enforcement function (PCEF) device during an internet protocol (IP) connectivity access network (IP-CAN) session established with a user equipment (UE), the PCRF server comprising:

• an interfacing unit configured to receive a request for control rules from a policy and charging enforcement function (PCEF) device in charge of enforcing the control rules;
• and
• a processing unit configured to determine control rules to be applied per service basis for the IP-CAN session, and to determine, based on redirection policy criteria, those services for which a redirection is required;
• wherein the interfacing unit is further configured to submit to the PCEF device the control rules and redirection information per service basis, and the redirection information per service basis includes a service redirection identifier indicating where the UE is to be redirected for the service.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out a method of authorizing a service with a policy and charging control (PCC) architecture, wherein the method comprises:

• upon establishment or modification of an internet protocol (IP) connectivity access network (IP-CAN) session with a user equipment (UE), requesting, by a policy and charging enforcement function (PCEF) device, control rules from a policy and charging control rules function (PCRF) server;
• determining, at the PCRF server, control rules to be applied per service basis for the IP-CAN session;
• determining, at the PCRF server based on redirection policy criteria, those services for which a redirection is required;
• submitting, from the PCRF server to the PCEF device, control rules and redirection information per service basis, wherein the redirection information per service basis includes a service redirection identifier indicating where the UE is to be redirected for the service;
• installing, at the PCEF device, received control rules and redirection information per service basis;
• upon a first service request from the UE for a service identified by a service destination identifier, determining, by the PCEF device, that the service requires redirection, and returning toward the UE a redirection message with the service redirection identifier and the service destination identifier;
• upon completion of service redirection, the first service request for the service identified by the service destination identifier reaching again the PCEF device;
• verifying at the PCEF device that the service identified by the service destination identifier can be authorized;
• and
• submitting a service allowance message for the first service request from the PCEF device toward a service server handling the service identified by the service destination identifier.