A method to minimize network and information technology resources consumption in converged networks when provisioning services

A method to minimize network and Information Technology resources consumption in converged networks when provisioning services, said converged networks implementing Policy Control and Charging Rules Function, or PCRF and advanced Path Computation Element, or PCE+ in a 3rd Generation Partnership Project architecture and said converged networks supporting services such as Information Technology, or IT, and scheduled services, comprising performing a communication procedure between a PCRF module and a PCE+ module by means of an adaptor entity in order to provide, by said PCE+ module, information to said PCRF module, said PCRF module using said information to at least allocate network and IT resources demanded when provisioning said services,

• wherein, said communication procedure comprises the following steps:
• sending, by a service layer of a converged network, a request for resources of a service to said PRCF module;
• evaluating, by said PCRF module, said request and sending a Path Request to said PCE+ module via said adaptor entity;
• sending, by said PCE+ module, a Path Response to said PCRF module via said adaptor entity;
• determining, by said PCRF module, policy rules for said service according to information on Quality of Service received from said service layer, to said Path Response and to subscriber data available form a Subscription Profile Repository;
• and
• forwarding, by said PCRF module, said rules to a Policy and Charging Enforcement Function,
• wherein said allocation of network and IT resources is performed in a concrete moment specified in said request sent from said service layer to said PCRF module or in a concrete moment computed by said adaptor entity, and
• wherein said adaptor entity is implemented in said PCRF module, in said PCE+ module or in an external module.