Dynamic Policy Rule Selection

Abstract

The invention relates to a method, by a policy controller 100, for generating policy rules for data packet flows in a communications network. The policy controller 100 has access to a policy database 130 and stores a service level agreement. The service level agreement contains a plurality of different service level identifiers, each service level identifier being associated with a set of conditions that govern the policy rules to be applied to the data packet flows in the communications network. The method comprises the following steps: An authorization request is received for a data packet flow, the authorization request comprising service information for a service and a service level identifier. The policy database 130 is accessed and the set of conditions associated with the received service level identifier is determined. Further, based on the determined set of conditions, a policy rule to be applied to the data packet flow is generated. Policy controller 100 is configured to generate policy rules based on a third party or company profile, with the third party company being able to influence which policy rule should be selected by the policy controller. The authorization request may be received directly from an application function, AF 200. An input unit 230 is provided via which the third party can define and agree upon the service level agreement with an operator of the communications network. A policy control enforcing function PCEF 51 can interact with the PCRF 100 in order to enforce the policy rules.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.