Method and apparatuses for policy decisions on usage monitoring

A Policy and Charging Rules Function server “PCRF” for providing control rules and usage limits for usage of network resources by users during a plurality of reporting periods of time, the PCRF comprising:

• an interfacing unit arranged for receiving a request for control rules from a Policy and Charging Enforcement Function server “PCEF”, which is in charge of enforcing the control rules and monitoring the usage of network resources per user during a first reporting period, the request including information about usage of network resources by a user during the first reporting period;
• a memory for storing the information about usage of network resources by the user;
• a processing unit arranged for determining first control rules as a result of a first policy evaluation by taking into account the information about usage of network resources by the user, and second control rules as a result of a second policy evaluation by taking into account an initial value for usage of network resources by the user during a second reporting period following the first reporting period;
• and
• the interfacing unit arranged for submitting to the PCEF the first control rules for the first reporting period along with the second control rules for the second reporting period.

A Policy and Charging Enforcement Function server “PCEF” for enforcing control rules and monitoring usage of network resources per user during a plurality of reporting periods, the PCEF comprising:

• a processing unit arranged for determining an event for which control rules are required for one or more user traffic flows of a user;
• an interfacing unit arranged for requesting control rules to a Policy and Charging Rules Function server “PCRF”, which is in charge of providing control rules and usage limits for usage of network resources by users during a first reporting period, the request including information about usage of network resources by the user during the first reporting period;
• the interfacing unit arranged for receiving from the PCRF first and second control rules;
• a memory unit arranged for storing the second control rules;
• and
• the processing unit arranged for enforcing the first control rules received from the PCRF during the first reporting period and, upon starting a second reporting period for the user, the processing unit arranged for inactivating the first control rules for the first reporting period and for enforcing the second control rules stored in the memory unit for the second reporting period, the second reporting period following the first reporting period.

A computer program, loadable into an internal memory of a computer with input and output units as well as with a processing unit, the computer program comprising executable code adapted when running in the computer to:

• determine at the PCEF an event during a first reporting period for which control rules are required for one or more user traffic flows of a user;
• request control rules from the PCEF to the PCRF, the request including information about usage of network resources by the user during the first reporting period;
• determine at the PCRF first control rules as a result of a first policy evaluation by taking into account the information about usage of network resources by the user during the first reporting period;
• determine at the PCRF second control rules as a result of a second policy evaluation by taking into account an initial value for usage of network resources by the user during a second reporting period following the first reporting period;
• submit from the PCRF to the PCEF the first and second control rules;
• enforce at the PCEF the first control rules received from the PCRF during the first reporting period;
• and
• without interrogating the PCRF and upon starting the second reporting period for the user, inactivating the first control rules and enforcing at the PCEF the second control rules received from the PCRF.