System and method with policy control function for multimedia broadcast/multicast system services

A method for providing a policy control function for multimedia broadcast/multicast system (MBMS) service in a communications network, comprising:

• receiving service attribute information from a MBMS service management function;
• storing said service attribute information in a policy control function (PCF);
• receiving a request message for a broadcast/multicast system service at the PCF;
• exchanging messages between the PCF and a subscription management function to obtain access control information;
• and
• sending a decision message from the PCF containing a decision for the broadcast/multicast system service request.

A method for providing a policy control function for multimedia broadcast/multicast system (MBMS) service in a communications network, comprising:

• receiving a first packet of a MBMS service at a gateway general packet radio service (GPRS) support node (GGSN) from an application server;
• receiving a request message for the MBMS service at a policy control function;
• sending a message to request service attributes from the policy control function to a MBMS service management function;
• providing the service attributes from the MBMS service management function to the policy control function;
• and
• sending a decision message from the policy control function containing a decision for the MBMS service request.

A method for providing a policy control function for multimedia broadcast/multicast system (MBMS) service in a communications network, comprising:

• receiving, at a policy control function, service attribute information from a MBMS service management function;
• storing the service attribute information at the policy control function;
• receiving a first packet of a MBMS service at a gateway general packet radio service;
• (GPRS) support node (GGSN);
• receiving a request message for the MBMS service at said policy control function;
• and
• sending a decision message from the policy control function containing a decision for the MBMS service request.

A communications system comprising:

• a core network, the core network including a gateway general packet radio service (GPRS) support node (GGSN);
• an application server configured to provide a multimedia multicast/broadcast system (MBMS) service;
• and
• a policy control function (PCF) operatively connected between the GGSN and the application server,
• wherein MBMS session request information is sent from the application server providing the MBMS service to the policy control function, the policy control function providing authorization information for a MBMS session to the GGSN.

A method for activation of a multimedia multicast/broadcast system (MBMS) service comprising:

• receiving a request message from a mobile device at a serving general packet radio service (GPRS) support node (SGSN) to register the mobile device to a multicast service;
• verifying the mobile device is authorized to receive MBMS bearer data, the verifying being based on subscription data retrieved from a Home Location Register (HLR) by the SGSN;
• sending a join request from the SGSN to a gateway GPRS support node (GGSN) to authorize the mobile device for the multicast service;
• transferring access control information between the GGSN and a policy control function;
• confirming authorization for the mobile device by the GGSN and sending a join response to the SGSN;
• and
• sending an activate MBMS context accept to the mobile device by the SGSN.

A method for using policy control function (PCF) with multi-media broadcast/multicast system (MBMS) services comprising:

• sending a start message from a broadcast/multicast service center (BM-SC) to a policy control function (PCF);
• initiating a quality of service (QoS) authorization procedure;
• sending a request by a gateway general packet radio service (GPRS) support node (GGSN) for the PCF to authorize resources for a service;
• authorizing the resources by the PCF, the PCF sending a first message to the GGSN to transmit MBMS service attributes;
• propagating the MBMS service attributes by the GGSN to other network nodes;
• receiving an acknowledge message of the propagating at the GGSN, the GGSN sending a second message to the PCF;
• confirming to the BM-SC by the PCF that the resources are allocated and active;
• and
• sending broadcast service data packets by the BM-SC.

A method for controlling Quality of service (QoS) for MBMS by a PCF comprising:

• sending a Session Start message by a broadcast/multicast service center (BM-SC) when the BM-SC is ready to send MBMS data;
• determining, by a PCF, GGSN addresses specifying a MBMS service associated with the MBMS data;
• and
• sending the Session Start message including QoS information, by the PCF, to all GGSNs whose address was determined.

A method for controlling QoS for MBMS by a PCF comprising:

• creating an MBMS bearer context in a GGSN;
• sending a notify message to a PCF by the GGSN notifying the PCF of the MBMS bearer context;
• storing information to identify a MBMS service associated with the MBMS bearer context and a GGSN address and acknowledging the notify message, by the PCF;
• sending a Session Start message by a BM-SC when the BM-SC is ready to send MBMS data;
• determining, by the PCF, GGSN addresses of the GGSNs which notified the PCF when the MBMS bearer context was created;
• and
• sending the Session Start message by the PCF to all GGSNs whose address was determined, the Session Start message including QoS information.