Node and method for monitoring an ability of a wireless device to receive downlink data

A Policy and Charging Rules Function, PCRF, node for monitoring an ability of a wireless device to receive downlink data, the PCRF node being in a wireless communications network, the PCRF node comprising:

• a receiver for receiving a request transmitted by an application server to monitor the ability of the wireless device to receive downlink data;
• a transmitter for transmitting, to a network node, an application server initiated status request to check a congestion status of the wireless device with respect to a congestion threshold and/or a reachability status of the wireless device;
• and
• a processor, wherein:
• the processor is configured to determine if the wireless device is able to receive downlink data based on status information received from the network node, wherein the network node transmitted the status information in response to the status request;
• and
• the processor is further configured such that, as a result of determining that the wireless device is able to receive downlink data, the processor employs the transmitter to transmit, to the application server, a notification that the wireless device is able to receive the downlink data.

A method, in a network node, for monitoring an ability of a wireless device to receive downlink data, the network node being in a wireless communications network, the method comprising:

• receiving, from a Policy and Charging Rules Function, PCRF, node, an application server initiated status request to check a congestion status of the wireless device with respect to an congestion threshold or a reachability status of the wireless device;
• determining the congestion status or the reachability status of the wireless device;
• and
• transmitting, to the PCRF node, the congestion status or the reachability status of the wireless device.

A network node for monitoring an ability of a wireless device to receive downlink data, the network node being in a wireless communications network, the network node comprising:

• a receiving unit configured to receive, from a Policy and Charging Rules Function, PCRF, node, an application server initiated status request to check a congestion status of the wireless device with respect to a congestion threshold or a reachability status of the wireless device;
• processing unit configured to determine the congestion status or the reachability status of the wireless device;
• and
• a transmitting unit configured to transmit, to the PCRF node, the congestion status or the reachability status of the wireless device.

A method, in an application server, for monitoring an ability of a wireless device to receive downlink data, the application server being in a wireless communications network, the method comprising:

• transmitting, to a Policy and Charging Rules Function, PCRF, node, a request message to monitor the ability of the wireless device to receive downlink data;
• receiving, from the PCRF node, a notification that the wireless device is able to receive the downlink data based on the wireless device being in a connected mode, being in a valid location and/or a congestion status of the wireless device being lower than a congestion threshold;
• and
• upon receiving the notification, transmitting, to the wireless device, the downlink data.

An application server for monitoring an ability of a wireless device to receive downlink data, the application server being in a wireless communications network, the application server comprising:

• a transmitting unit configured to transmit, to a Policy and Charging Rules Function, PCRF, node, a request message to monitor the ability of the wireless device to receive downlink data;
• a receiving unit configured to receive, from the PCRF node, a notification that the wireless device is able to receive the downlink data based on the wireless device being in a connected mode, being in a valid location and/or a congestion status of the wireless device being lower than a congestion threshold;
• and
• upon receiving the notification, the transmitting unit further configured to transmit, to the wireless device, the downlink data.