PCRF assisted APN selection

A method in a Core Network (CN) node for handling Access Point Names (APNs), the method comprising:

• transmitting, to a Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) node, a request message comprising information indicating a first APN associated with a packet data connection, and wherein the request message is a request for a second APN being configured for a wireless device arranged to communicate via the packet data connection;
• and
• receiving a response message from the PCRF node, wherein the response message comprises information indicating a selected second APN that is selected based on (i) a selection of a configuration for the wireless device from a plurality of wireless device configurations, and (ii) after the selection of the configuration for the wireless device, a selection of the second APN from a plurality of candidate second APNs,
• wherein the selected second APN is adapted to the selected configuration for the wireless device,
• wherein the plurality of wireless device configurations includes at least three wireless device configurations for the wireless device,
• wherein each candidate second APN is a separate entity, and
• wherein each candidate second APN in the plurality of candidate second APNs comprises different configurations with respect to each other for the same packet data connection.

A Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) node for handling Access Point Names (APNs) the PCRF node being adapted to:

• receive, from a Core Network (CN) node, a request message comprising information indicating a first APN associated with a packet data connection, and wherein the request message is a request for a second APN being configured for a wireless device arranged to communicate via the packet data connection;
• select, from a plurality of wireless device configurations, a configuration for the wireless device, wherein the plurality of wireless device configurations includes at least three wireless device configurations for the wireless device;
• after the selection of the configuration for the wireless device, select, from a plurality of candidate second APNs, the second APN adapted to the selected configuration from the plurality of candidate second APNs, wherein each candidate second APN in the plurality of candidate second APNs comprises different configurations with respect to each other for the same packet data connection, wherein each candidate second APN is a different entity;
• and
• transmit a response message to the CN node, wherein the response message comprises information indicating the selected second APN.

A Core Network (CN) node for handling Access Point Names (APNs), the CN node being adapted to:

• transmit, to a Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) node, a request message comprising information indicating a first APN associated with a packet data connection, and wherein the request message is a request for a second APN being configured for a wireless device arranged to communicate via the packet data connection;
• and
• receive a response message from the PCRF node, wherein the response message comprises information indicating a selected second APN that is selected based on (i) a selection of a configuration for the wireless device from a plurality of wireless device configurations, and (ii) after the selection of the configuration for the wireless device, a selection of the second APN from a plurality of candidate second APNs,
• wherein the selected second APN is adapted to the selected configuration for the wireless device,
• wherein the plurality of wireless device configurations includes at least three wireless device configurations for the wireless device,
• wherein each candidate second APN is a separate entity, and
• wherein each candidate second APN in the plurality of candidate second APNs comprises different configurations with respect to each other for the same packet data connection.

A computer program product loadable into a non-transitory computer-readable memory, wherein the computer program product comprises software code portions for performing:

• receiving, from a Core Network (CN) node, a request message comprising information indicating a first APN associated with a packet data connection, and wherein the request message is a request for a second APN being configured for a wireless device arranged to communicate via the packet data connection;
• selecting, from a plurality of wireless device configurations, a configuration for the wireless device, wherein the plurality of wireless device configurations includes three or more configurations for the wireless device;
• after selecting the configuration for the wireless device, the PCRF selecting, from a plurality of candidate second APNs, the second APN adapted to the selected configuration from a plurality of candidate second APNs, wherein each candidate second APN in the plurality of candidate second APNs comprises different configurations with respect to each other for the same packet data connection, wherein each candidate second APN is a separate entity;
• and
• transmitting a response message to the CN node, wherein the response message comprises information indicating the selected second APN.

A computer program product loadable into a non-transitory computer-readable memory, wherein the computer program product comprises software code portions for performing:

• transmitting, to a Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) node, a request message comprising information indicating a first APN associated with a packet data connection, and wherein the request message is a request for a second APN being configured for a wireless device arranged to communicate via the packet data connection;
• and
• receiving a response message from the PCRF node, wherein the response message comprises information indicating a selected second APN that is selected based on (i) a selection of a configuration for the wireless device from a plurality of wireless device configurations, and (ii) after the selection of the configuration for the wireless device, a selection of the second APN from a plurality of candidate second APNs,
• wherein the selected second APN is adapted to the selected configuration for the wireless device,
• wherein the plurality of wireless device configurations includes at least three wireless device configurations for the wireless device,
• wherein each candidate second APN is a separate entity, and
• wherein each candidate second APN in the plurality of candidate second APNs comprises different configurations with respect to each other for the same packet data connection.