WO2016062025A1

WO2016062025A1 - Method and device for selecting policy and charging rules function

Info

Publication number: WO2016062025A1
Application number: PCT/CN2015/076192
Authority: WO
Inventors: 周晓云; 金海�; 孙闵; 史旭刚
Original assignee: 中兴通讯股份有限公司
Priority date: 2014-10-20
Filing date: 2015-04-09
Publication date: 2016-04-28
Also published as: CN105516952A

Abstract

A method and device for selecting a policy and charging rules function. The method comprises: a diameter routing agent (DRA) receives identification information of a specified service that is subscribed by a user, the identification information being acquired by a bearer binding and event report function (BBERF) from a home subscriber server (HSS) in a gateway control session setup process; or, the DRA receives identification information of a specified service that is subscribed by a user, the identification information being acquired by a policy and charging enforcement function (PCEF) from an HSS in an IP-connectivity access network (IP-CAN) session setup process; and the DRA selects, for a terminal UE or an IP-CAN session according to the identification information of the specified service, a policy and charging rules function (PCRF) that supports the implementation of the specified service. By means of embodiments of the present invention, different PCRFs can be selected according to different services.

Description

Method and device for selecting policy and charging rule function

Technical field

This document relates to a policy control method in a wireless communication system, and in particular, to a method and apparatus for selecting a policy and charging rule function.

Background technique

1 is a schematic diagram of a Policy and Charging Control (PCC) defined by a 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) in the related art, as shown in FIG. The Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) is the core of the entire PCC architecture. The PCRF needs to combine the service information received from the Application Function (AF), the user subscription information received from the Subscription Profile Repository (SPR), and the policy configured by the operator. The PCRF sends the control policy for the service to the Policy and Charging Enforcement Function (PCEF) or the Bearer Binding and Event Report Function (BBERF). At the same time, the PCRF can subscribe to the bearer layer related events to the PCEF and/or the BBERF to sense in time when the bearer layer occurs, and change the control strategy. PCEF can also support application detection control functions. The PCEF can perform application detection and perform policy enforcement (such as gating, redirection, and bandwidth limitation) according to the local configuration or the PCC rule that is sent by the PCRF and includes the application identifier. The PCEF is generally located on the gateway GW of the network, such as the Packet Data Network Gateway (PDN-GW) of the EPS, connecting the OCS (Online Billing System) and the OFCS (Offline Billing System). In addition, the network can implement application detection control by deploying a separate traffic detection function (Traffic Detection Function, TDF for short). The TDF and the PCRF are connected through the Sd interface. The TDF can perform application detection and policy execution according to the application detection and control (ADC) rules that are pre-configured or sent by the PCRF.

In the related art, a plurality of PCRFs are usually deployed in a public land mobile network PLMN, and the DRA (Diamete Routing Agent) will be responsible for managing these. PCRF, and ensure that all policy control sessions (such as Gx, Gxx, Sd sessions) associated with an IP-CAN (IP Connected Access Network) session or a UE (User Equipment, Terminal) are associated with the same PCRF. The assumption in the related art is that the multiple PCRFs have the same capability (in this case, the DRA can usually select the PCRF according to the number segment of the UE, the IP address, or the load information of each PCRF). Therefore, the DRA does not need to consider the different service processing capabilities of the PCRF to select a PCRF for the UE or IP-CAN session.

However, in some application scenarios, when an operator needs to carry out a new service (such as a red envelope service) or an operator deploys a new data intelligent network on an existing service network and a PCC architecture, how does the operator Business development under the condition of changing existing business networks and PCC architecture remains to be resolved.

Summary of the invention

This document provides a method and apparatus that supports different PCRF selections based on different services.

A method for selecting policy and charging rule functions, including:

The diameter routing agent DRA receives the bearer binding and the event reporting function BBERF identifies the specific service of the user subscribed from the home subscriber server HSS during the gateway control session establishment process; or the DRA receiving policy and the charging execution function PCEF is in the IP The identification information of the specific service subscribed by the user acquired from the HSS during the establishment of the access network IP-CAN session;

The DRA selects a policy and charging rule function PCRF for supporting the specific service for the terminal UE or the IP-CAN session according to the identification information of the specific service.

Optionally, the PCRA that selects and supports the specific service for the UE or the IP-CAN session according to the identifier information of the specific service includes:

Determining, by the DRA, the PCRF that supports the determined specific service according to the identification information of the specific service and the correspondence between the configured PCRF and the specific service supported;

When a set of PCRFs is deployed in the network to support the specific service development, the DRA selects any one of the PCRFs of the set of PCRFs.

Optionally, the DRA is a UE or an IP-CAN session according to the identifier information of the specific service. After selecting the PCRF that supports the specific business, it also includes:

The DRA saves a correspondence between a user identity, a packet data network PDN identifier, and an address of the selected PCRF.

Optionally, before the DRA receives the identification information of the specific service subscribed by the user that is obtained by the BBERF from the HSS during the gateway control session establishment process, the method further includes:

For the evolved unified terrestrial radio access network E-UTRAN access, the mobility management entity MME interacts with the HSS to obtain the subscription information of the UE, the subscription information carries the identification information of the specific service, and the MME sends the session establishment to the serving gateway S-GW. a request message, where the message carries a user identifier, a PDN identifier, and identifier information of the specific service;

For the non-3GPP access network access, the secure A-GW/evolved data packet gateway ePDG interacts with the HSS to obtain the subscription information of the UE, where the subscription information carries the identification information of the specific service;

The BBERF of the S-GW, the security gateway A-GW, or the ePDG sends a gateway control session establishment message to the DRA, where the message carries the user identifier, the PDN identifier, and the identifier information of the specific service.

Optionally, after the DRA saves the correspondence between the user identifier, the packet data network PDN identifier, and the address of the selected PCRF, the method further includes:

The DRA carries an address of the selected PCRF in a redirect message sent to the BBERF;

Sending, by the BBERF, a gateway control session establishment message to the selected PCRF;

After receiving the IP-CAN session establishment indication message including the IP address sent by the PCEF, the DRA searches for the corresponding relationship according to the user identifier and the PDN identifier carried in the IP-CAN session establishment indication message, if the relationship has been selected. The PCRF adds the IP address to the saved correspondence, and returns a redirect message to the PCEF, carrying the selected PCRF address.

Sending, by the DRA, a gateway control session establishment message to the selected PCRF, where the message carries the user identifier and the PDN identifier; and after receiving the gateway control session establishment confirmation message returned by the PCRF, forwarding the gateway control session to the BBERF Establish a confirmation message, the gateway control meeting The call establishment confirmation message carries the quality of service QoS rule and the event trigger;

After receiving the IP-CAN session establishment indication message including the IP address sent by the PCEF, searching for the saved correspondence according to the user identifier and the PDN identifier carried in the IP-CAN session establishment indication message, if the PCRF has been selected, Adding the IP address to the saved correspondence; forwarding the IP-CAN session establishment indication message to the selected PCRF, carrying the user identifier, the PDN identifier, and the IP address, and receiving the carried back by the PCRF The Policy and Charging Control Architecture PCC rules and event triggers are carried back to the PCEF in an IP-CAN Session Setup Confirmation message.

Optionally, before the DRA receiving policy and the charging execution function PCEF obtains the identification information of the specific service subscribed by the user from the HSS in the IP-CAN access network establishment process, the method further includes:

For the E-UTRAN access, the MME and the HSS obtain the subscription information of the UE, and the subscription information carries the identification information of the specific service, and the MME sends a session establishment request message to the packet data gateway P-GW through the S-GW, where the user is carried. Identification, PDN identification, and identification information of the specific service;

For the non-3GPP access network access, the A-GW/ePDG exchanges with the HSS to obtain the subscription information of the UE, where the subscription information carries the identification information of the specific service; the A-GW/ePDG sends the session creation request to the P-GW. a message, where the user identifier, the PDN identifier, and the identifier information of the specific service are carried;

The PCEF located in the P-GW sends an IP-CAN session establishment indication message to the DRA, where the message carries the user identifier, the PDN identifier, the IP address, and the identification information of the specific service.

The DRA carries an address of the selected PCRF in a redirect message returned to the PCEF;

The PCEF sends an IP-CAN Session Setup Indication message to the selected PCRF.

The DRA forwards the IP-CAN session establishment indication message to the selected PCRF; receives an IP-CAN session establishment confirmation message of the PCC rule and event trigger returned by the PCRF; and confirms the IP-CAN session establishment The message is returned to the PCEF.

A device for selecting a policy and charging rule function, applied to a diameter routing agent DRA, comprising:

The obtaining module is configured to: receive the bearer binding and the event reporting function, the BBERF obtains the identification information of the specific service subscribed by the user from the home subscriber server HSS during the gateway control session establishment process; or, the receiving policy and the charging execution function PCEF are IP connection access network identification information of the specific service subscribed by the user obtained from the HSS during the IP-CAN session establishment process;

The selecting module is configured to: select, according to the identification information of the specific service, a policy and charging rule function PCRF for supporting the specific service for the terminal UE or the IP-CAN session.

Optionally, the selection module is set to:

Selecting, according to the identification information of the specific service, and the correspondence between the configured PCRF and the specific service supported, selecting a PCRF that supports the determined specific service;

When a set of PCRFs is deployed in the network to support the specific service development, any one of the PCRFs of the set of PCRFs is selected.

Optionally, the device comprises:

a storage module, configured to: after the selection module selects to support the PCRF of the specific service for the UE or the IP-CAN session according to the identifier information of the specific service, save the user identifier, the packet data network PDN identifier, and the The correspondence between the addresses of the selected PCRFs.

Optionally, the device further includes:

The interaction module is configured to: after the storage module saves the correspondence, carry the address of the selected PCRF in the redirect message sent to the BBERF; and receive the IP-CAN including the IP address sent by the PCEF After the session establishment indication message, the corresponding relationship is searched according to the user identifier and the PDN identifier carried in the IP-CAN session establishment indication message, and if the PCRF has been selected, the storage module is instructed to save the corresponding relationship. Adding the IP address; Returning a redirect message to the PCEF carrying the selected PCRF address.

Optionally, the device further includes:

The interaction module is configured to: after the storage module saves the corresponding relationship, send a gateway control session establishment message to the selected PCRF, where the message carries the user identifier and the PDN identifier; and when the gateway control session returned by the PCRF is received After the confirmation message is established, the gateway control session establishment confirmation message is forwarded to the BBERF, where the gateway control session establishment confirmation message carries the quality of service QoS rule and the event trigger; when receiving the IP address of the IP address sent by the PCEF After the CAN session establishment indication message, the user relationship and the PDN identifier carried in the IP-CAN session establishment indication message are searched for the saved correspondence relationship. If the PCRF has been selected, the saved relationship is added to the saved relationship. IP address; forwarding the IP-CAN session establishment indication message to the selected PCRF, carrying the user identifier, PDN identifier and IP address, receiving the PCC rule and event trigger returned by the PCRF; carrying in the IP-CAN session The setup confirmation message is returned to the PCEF.

Optionally, the device further includes:

The interaction module is configured to: after the storage module saves the correspondence, carry the address of the selected PCRF in the redirect message returned to the PCEF.

Optionally, the device further includes:

The interaction module is configured to: after the storage module saves the correspondence, forward the IP-CAN session establishment indication message to the selected PCRF; and receive the IP of the PCC rule and the event trigger returned by the PCRF - a CAN session setup confirmation message; returning the IP-CAN session setup confirmation message to the PCEF.

A computer readable storage medium storing computer executable instructions for performing the method of any of the above.

The technical solution of the embodiment of the present invention can deploy one or a group of PCRFs in an existing PCRF domain to support processing of new services, and support different PCRF selections according to different services.

BRIEF abstract

1 is a schematic diagram of a policy and charging control architecture defined by 3GPP;

2 is a flowchart of a method for selecting a policy and a charging rule function according to an embodiment of the present invention;

3 is a flowchart of Embodiment 1 of a method for selecting a PCRF according to an embodiment of the present invention;

4 is a flowchart of Embodiment 2 of a method for selecting a PCRF according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of Embodiment 3 of a method for selecting a PCRF according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of Embodiment 4 of a method for selecting a PCRF according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic structural diagram of a device for selecting a policy and a charging rule function according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Embodiments of the invention

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings and embodiments.

A method for selecting a policy and charging rule function, as shown in FIG. 2, includes:

Step 101: The DRA receives the identification information of the specific service subscribed by the user acquired by the BBERF from the HSS during the establishment of the gateway control session; or the DRA receives the specific service subscribed by the user obtained by the PCEF from the HSS during the IP-CAN session establishment process. Identification information;

This step can also be described as: BBERF obtains the identification information of the specific service subscribed by the user from the home subscriber server HSS during the establishment of the gateway control session or the PCEF in the process of establishing the IP-CAN session and provides the information to the DRA;

Step 102: The DRA selects, according to the identification information of the specific service, a PCRF that supports the specific service for the terminal or the IP-CAN session of the UE.

Embodiment 1

This embodiment describes that the UE accesses from an E-UTRAN (Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network) and uses between an S-GW (Serving Gateway) and a P-GW (Packet Data Gateway). IPIP is established when the PMIPv6 protocol is used, or when the PMIPv6 protocol is used between the A-GW (Security Gateway)/ePDG (Evolved Packet Data Gateway) and the P-GW from the trusted non-3GPP network or the untrusted non-3GPP network. -CAN session process and PCRF selection process. The DRA is a Redirect Agent. FIG. 3 is a flowchart of Embodiment 1 of a method for selecting a PCRF according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, the following steps are included. Step:

Step 201: The UE establishes an IP-CAN session through E-UTRAN access or from a trusted non-3GPP network access request. The UE initiates an attach request to the access network. In this process, for the E-UTRAN access, the mobility management entity MME interacts with the HSS to obtain the subscription information of the UE, where the subscription information carries the identification information of the specific service, and the MME sends the information to the S. The GW sends a session establishment request message, where the message carries the user identifier, the packet data network PDN identifier, and the identification information of the specific service. For the non-3GPP access network access, the non-3GPP access gateway (A-GW)/ePDG can be used to interact with the HSS to obtain the subscription information of the UE, where the subscription information carries the identification information of the specific service;

Step 202: The BBERFs of the S-GW, the A-GW, and the ePDG send a gateway control session establishment message to the DRA, where the message carries the user identifier, the PDN identifier, and the identifier information of the specific service.

Step 203: The DRA searches for the locally saved correspondence according to the user identifier and the PDN identifier, and finds that the PCRF is not selected for the user identifier or the PDN identifier. The DRA finds that the gateway control session establishment message carries the identification information of the specific service, and the DRA determines the identification information of the specific service and the configuration on the DRA (that is, the correspondence between the PCRF and the specific service supported by the DRA). Selecting a PCRF that supports the specific service for the UE or the IP-CAN session, and storing the correspondence between the user identifier, the PDN identifier, and the address of the selected PCRF, and carrying the information in the redirect message sent to the BBERF. The address of the selected PCRF;

When a set of PCRFs is deployed in the network to support the specific service development, then the DRA will select any one of the PCRFs in the set of PCRFs.

Step 204: The BBERF sends a gateway control session establishment message to the selected PCRF, where the message carries the user identifier and the PDN identifier.

Step 205: The PCRF sends a subscription document request message to the SPR, where the message carries the user identifier and the PDN identifier.

Step 206: The SPR returns the subscription information.

Step 207: The PCRF formulates policies according to the subscription information, the network policy, and the access network information, such as a PCC rule, a quality of service QoS rule, and an event trigger. The PCRF returns a gateway control session establishment confirmation message to the BBERF, carrying the QoS rules and event triggers. BBERF installation strategy;

Step 208: The gateway where the BBERF is located sends a request to establish an IP-CAN session to the gateway where the PCEF is located, and the message carries the user identifier and the PDN identifier. The gateway where the PCEF is located allocates an IP Address (address) for the established IP-CAN session;

Step 209: The PCEF sends an IP-CAN session establishment indication message to the DRA, where the message carries the user identifier, the PDN identifier, and the allocated IP Address.

Step 210: The DRA searches for the saved correspondence according to the user identifier and the PDN identifier, and finds that the PCRF is selected for the IP-CAN session or the UE, and the corresponding relationship (user identifier, PDN identifier, IP address, and PCRF address) is updated, that is, Add an IP address to the saved correspondence. The DRA returns a redirect message to the PCEF, carrying the selected PCRF address;

Step 211: The PCEF sends an IP-CAN session establishment indication message to the selected PCRF, where the message carries the user identifier, the PDN identifier, and the IP Address.

Step 212: The PCRF returns a PCC rule and an event trigger that are specified in step 207 according to the user identifier and the PDN identifier.

Step 213: The gateway where the PCEF is located returns a response to the gateway where the BBERF is located to establish an IP-CAN session, and carries an IP Address;

Step 214: The S-GW/A-GW/ePDG performs the remaining steps of the attach procedure.

Through the above process, the DRA selects a PCRF for the UE or the IP-CAN session to support the specific service for the user to subscribe. When the user conducts the specific service, the PCRF formulates a policy according to the subscription information of the specific service subscribed by the user.

Embodiment 2

This embodiment describes that when the UE accesses from the E-UTRAN in the non-roaming scenario and the GTP (GPRS Tunnel Protocol) protocol is adopted between the S-GW and the P-GW, When the non-3GPP network or the untrusted non-3GPP network is trusted to access the 3GPP system, when the GTP protocol is adopted between the A-GW/ePDG and the P-GW, an IP-CAN session process and a PCRF selection process are established. DRA is the Redirect Agent. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of Embodiment 2 of a method for selecting a PCRF according to an embodiment of the present invention, including the following steps:

Step 301: The UE establishes access through E-UTRAN or requests from a trusted non-3GPP network. Establish an IP-CAN session. The UE initiates an attach request to the access network. In this process, for the E-UTRAN access, the MME interacts with the HSS to obtain the subscription information of the UE, where the subscription information carries the identification information of the specific service, and the MME uses the S-GW to The P-GW sends a session establishment request message, where the message carries the user identifier, the PDN identifier, and the identification information of the specific service. For the non-3GPP access network access, the non-3GPP access gateway (A-GW)/ePDG can be used to interact with the HSS to obtain the subscription information of the UE, where the subscription information carries the identification information of the specific service, A-GW/ePDG Sending a session creation request message to the P-GW, where the message carries the user identifier, the PDN identifier, and the identifier information of the specific service;

Step 302: The PCEF located in the P-GW sends an IP-CAN session establishment indication message to the DRA, where the message carries the user identifier, the PDN identifier, the IP Address, and the identification information of the specific service.

Step 303: The DRA searches for the locally saved correspondence according to the user identifier and the PDN identifier, and finds that the PCRF is not selected for the user identifier or the PDN identifier, and the DRA discovery message carries the identification information of the specific service, and the DRA is based on the specific service. Identifying information and selecting a PCRF for supporting the specific service for the UE or the IP-CAN session according to the configuration on the DRA (ie, the correspondence between the PCRF and the specific service supported), saving the user identifier, the PDN identifier, Corresponding relationship between the addresses of the selected PCRFs, carrying the address of the selected PCRF in the redirect message returned to the PCEF;

Step 304: The PCEF sends an IP-CAN session establishment indication message to the selected PCRF, where the message carries the user identifier, the PDN identifier, and the IP Address.

Step 305: The PCRF sends a subscription document request message to the SPR, where the message carries the user identifier and the PDN identifier.

Step 306: The SPR returns the subscription information.

Step 307: The PCRF formulates policies according to the subscription information, the network policy, and the access network information, such as a PCC rule and an event trigger. The PCRF returns an IP-CAN session establishment confirmation message to the PCEF, carrying the PCC rules and event triggers. PCEF installation strategy;

Step 308: The P-GW performs the remaining steps of the attach procedure.

Embodiment 3

This embodiment describes that the user accesses from the E-UTRAN and uses the PMIPv6 protocol between the S-GW and the P-GW or accesses the 3GPP system from the untrusted non-3GPP network and the A-GW. When the /ePDG and P-GW adopt the PMIPv6 protocol, the IP-CAN session process and the PCRF selection process are established. DRA is the (proxy server proxy) Proxy Agent. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an embodiment of a method for selecting a PCRF according to an embodiment of the present invention, including the following steps:

Step 401: The UE establishes an IP-CAN session through E-UTRAN access or from a trusted non-3GPP network access request. The UE initiates an attach request to the access network. In this process, for the E-UTRAN access, the MME interacts with the HSS to obtain the subscription information of the UE, where the subscription information carries the identification information of the specific service, and the MME sends the identifier information to the S-GW. A session establishment request message carries a user identifier, a PDN identifier, and identification information of a specific service. For the non-3GPP access network access, the non-3GPP access gateway (A-GW)/ePDG can be used to interact with the HSS to obtain the subscription information of the UE, where the subscription information carries the identification information of the specific service;

Step 402: The BBERFs of the S-GW, the A-GW, and the ePDG send a gateway control session establishment message to the DRA, where the message carries the user identifier, the PDN identifier, and the identifier information of the specific service.

Step 403: The DRA searches for the locally saved correspondence according to the user identifier and the PDN identifier, and finds that the PCRF is not selected for the user identifier or the PDN identifier. The DRA selects a PCRF that supports the specific service for the UE or the IP-CAN session according to the identification information of the specific service and the configuration on the DRA (ie, the correspondence between the PCRF and the specific service supported). The DRA sends a gateway control session setup message to the selected PCRF, where the message carries the user identifier and the PDN identifier.

Step 404: The PCRF sends a subscription document request message to the SPR, where the message carries the user identifier. And PDN logo;

Step 405: The SPR returns the subscription information.

Step 406: The PCRF formulates policies according to the subscription information, the network policy, and the access network information, such as PCC rules, QoS rules, and event triggers. The PCRF returns a gateway control session establishment confirmation message to the DRA, carrying QoS rules and event triggers.

Step 407: The DRA forwards the gateway control session establishment confirmation to the BBERF, and carries the QoS rule and the event trigger. BBERF installation strategy;

Step 408: The gateway where the BBERF is located sends a request to establish an IP-CAN session to the gateway where the PCEF is located, and the message carries the user identifier and the PDN identifier. The gateway where the PCEF is located allocates an IP Address for the established IP-CAN session;

Step 409: The PCEF sends an IP-CAN session establishment indication message to the DRA, where the user identifier, the PDN identifier, and the IP Address are carried.

Step 410: The DRA searches for the saved correspondence according to the user identifier and the PDN identifier, and finds that the PCRF has been selected for the IP-CAN session or the UE, and the corresponding relationship (user identifier, PDN identifier, IP Address, PCRF address) is updated. The DRA forwards an IP-CAN session establishment indication message to the selected PCRF, carrying the user identifier, the PDN identifier, and the IP address;

Step 411: The PCRF returns a PCC rule and an event trigger defined by the corresponding step 406 according to the user identifier and the PDN identifier.

Step 412: The DRA returns an IP-CAN session establishment confirmation message to the PCEF, where the PCC rule and the event trigger are carried.

Step 413: The gateway where the PCEF is located returns a response to the gateway where the BBERF is located to establish an IP-CAN session, and carries an IP Address;

Step 414: The S-GW/A-GW/ePDG performs the remaining steps of the attach procedure.

Embodiment 4

This embodiment describes that the UE accesses from the E-UTRAN in the non-roaming scenario and uses the GTP protocol between the S-GW and the P-GW, or accesses the 3GPP system from the non-3GPP and the A-GW/ePDG and the P- When the GTP protocol is adopted between the GWs, an IP-CAN session process and a PCRF selection process are established. DRA is a Proxy Agent. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an embodiment of a method for selecting a PCRF according to an embodiment of the present invention, including the following steps:

Step 501: The UE establishes an IP-CAN session through E-UTRAN access or from a trusted non-3GPP network access request. The UE initiates an attach request to the access network. In this process, for the E-UTRAN access, the MME interacts with the HSS to obtain the subscription information of the UE, where the subscription information carries the identification information of the specific service, and the MME uses the S-GW to The P-GW sends a session establishment request message, where the message carries the user identifier, the PDN identifier, and the identification information of the specific service. For the non-3GPP access network access, the non-3GPP access gateway (A-GW)/ePDG can be used to interact with the HSS to obtain the subscription information of the UE, where the subscription information carries the identification information of the specific service, A-GW/ePDG Sending a session creation request message to the P-GW, where the message carries the user identifier, the PDN identifier, and the identifier information of the specific service;

Step 502: The PCEF located in the P-GW sends an IP-CAN session establishment indication message to the DRA, where the message carries the user identifier, the PDN identifier, the IP address, and the identification information of the specific service.

Step 503: The DRA searches for the locally saved correspondence according to the user identifier and the PDN identifier, and finds that the PCRF is not selected for the user identifier or the PDN identifier. The DRA selects a PCRF that supports the specific service for the UE or the IP-CAN session according to the identification information of the specific agent and the configuration on the DRA (ie, the correspondence between the PCRF and the specific service supported), and saves the user identifier. Correspondence between the PDN identifier, the IP address, and the address of the selected PCRF. The DRA forwards the IP-CAN session establishment indication message to the selected PCRF;

Step 504: The PCRF sends a subscription document request message to the SPR, where the message carries the user identifier and the PDN identifier.

Step 505: The SPR returns the subscription information.

Step 506: The PCRF formulates policies according to the subscription information, the network policy, and the access network information, such as a PCC rule and an event trigger. The PCRF returns an IP-CAN session establishment confirmation message to the DRA, carrying the PCC rules and event triggers.

Step 507: The DRA returns an IP-CAN session establishment confirmation message to the PCEF, where the message carries a PCC rule and an event trigger. PCEF installation strategy;

Step 508: The P-GW performs the remaining steps of the attach procedure.

As shown in FIG. 7, a device for selecting a policy and a charging rule function according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied to a DRA, including:

The obtaining module 701 is configured to: receive the identification information of the specific service subscribed by the user acquired by the BBERF from the HSS during the establishment of the gateway control session; or receive the subscription of the user acquired by the PCEF from the HSS during the IP-CAN session establishment process. Identification information of a specific service;

The selecting module 702 is configured to: select, according to the identification information of the specific service, a policy and charging rule function PCRF for supporting the specific service for the terminal UE or the IP-CAN session.

Optionally, the selection module is configured to:

The selecting device may further include:

The interaction module is configured to: after the storage module saves the correspondence, carry the address of the selected PCRF in the redirect message sent to the BBERF; and receive the IP-CAN including the IP address sent by the PCEF After the session establishment indication message, the corresponding relationship is searched according to the user identifier and the PDN identifier carried in the IP-CAN session establishment indication message, and if the PCRF has been selected, the storage module is instructed to save the corresponding relationship. Adding the IP address; returning a redirect message to the PCEF, carrying the selected PCRF address.

Or the interaction module is configured to: after the storage module saves the corresponding relationship, send a gateway control session establishment message to the selected PCRF, where the message carries the user identifier and the PDN identifier; when receiving the gateway control returned by the PCRF After the session establishment confirmation message, the gateway control session establishment confirmation message is forwarded to the BBERF, where the gateway control session establishment confirmation message carries the quality of service QoS rule and the event trigger; when receiving the IP address sent by the PCEF, including the IP address After the CAN session establishment indication message, the user relationship and the PDN identifier carried in the IP-CAN session establishment indication message are searched for the saved correspondence relationship. If the PCRF has been selected, the saved relationship is added to the corresponding relationship. The IP address is forwarded to the selected PCRF, the IP-CAN session establishment indication message is carried, the user identifier, the PDN identifier and the IP address are carried, and the PCC rule and event trigger returned by the PCRF are received; carried in the IP-CAN The session establishment confirmation message is returned to the PCEF.

Or the interaction module is configured to: after the storage module saves the correspondence, carry the address of the selected PCRF in the redirect message returned to the PCEF.

Or the interaction module is configured to: after the storage module saves the correspondence, forward the IP-CAN session establishment indication message to the selected PCRF; and receive the PCC rule and event trigger returned by the PCRF. An IP-CAN session establishment confirmation message; returning the IP-CAN session establishment confirmation message to the PCEF.

One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that all or a portion of the steps of the above-described embodiments can be implemented using a computer program flow, which can be stored in a computer readable storage medium, such as on a corresponding hardware platform (eg, The system, device, device, device, etc. are executed, and when executed, include one or a combination of the steps of the method embodiments.

Optionally, all or part of the steps of the foregoing embodiments may also be implemented by using an integrated circuit, and the steps may be separately fabricated into integrated circuit modules, or multiple modules thereof or The steps are made into a single integrated circuit module.

The devices/function modules/functional units in the above embodiments may be implemented by a general-purpose computing device, which may be centralized on a single computing device or distributed over a network of multiple computing devices.

When the device/function module/functional unit in the above embodiment is implemented in the form of a software function module and sold or used as a stand-alone product, it can be stored in a computer readable storage medium. The above mentioned computer readable storage medium may be a read only memory, a magnetic disk or an optical disk or the like.

Industrial applicability

Claims

A method for selecting policy and charging rule functions, including:

The diameter routing agent DRA receives the bearer binding and the event reporting function BBERF identifies the specific service of the user subscribed from the home subscriber server HSS during the gateway control session establishment process; or the DRA receiving policy and the charging execution function PCEF is in the IP The identification information of the specific service subscribed by the user acquired from the HSS during the establishment of the access network IP-CAN session;

The DRA selects, according to the identification information of the specific service, a policy and charging rule function PCRF for supporting the specific service for the terminal UE or the IP-CAN session.
The method according to claim 1, wherein the DRA selects a PCRF for supporting the specific service for the UE or the IP-CAN session according to the identification information of the specific service, including:

Determining, by the DRA, the PCRF that supports the determined specific service according to the identification information of the specific service and the correspondence between the configured PCRF and the specific service supported;

When a set of PCRFs is deployed in the network to support the specific service development, the DRA selects any one of the PCRFs of the set of PCRFs.
The method according to claim 1 or 2, after the DRA selects and supports the PCRF of the specific service for the UE or the IP-CAN session according to the identification information of the specific service, the DRA further includes:

The DRA saves a correspondence between a user identity, a packet data network PDN identifier, and an address of the selected PCRF.
The method of claim 3, wherein before the DRA receives the identification information of the specific service subscribed by the user that is obtained by the BBERF from the HSS during the gateway control session establishment process, the method further includes:

For the evolved unified terrestrial radio access network E-UTRAN access, the mobility management entity MME interacts with the HSS to obtain the subscription information of the UE, the subscription information carries the identification information of the specific service, and the MME sends the session establishment to the serving gateway S-GW. a request message, where the message carries a user identifier, a PDN identifier, and identifier information of the specific service;

For the non-3GPP access network access, the secure A-GW/evolved data packet gateway ePDG interacts with the HSS to obtain the subscription information of the UE, where the subscription information carries the identification information of the specific service;

The BBERF of the S-GW, the security gateway A-GW, or the ePDG sends a gateway control session establishment message to the DRA, where the message carries the user identifier, the PDN identifier, and the identifier information of the specific service.
The method of claim 4, after the DRA saves the correspondence between the user identifier, the packet data network PDN identifier, and the address of the selected PCRF, the method further includes:

The DRA carries an address of the selected PCRF in a redirect message sent to the BBERF;

Sending, by the BBERF, a gateway control session establishment message to the selected PCRF;

After receiving the IP-CAN session establishment indication message including the IP address sent by the PCEF, the DRA searches for the corresponding relationship according to the user identifier and the PDN identifier carried in the IP-CAN session establishment indication message, if the relationship has been selected. The PCRF adds the IP address to the saved correspondence, and returns a redirect message to the PCEF, carrying the selected PCRF address.
The method of claim 4, after the DRA saves the correspondence between the user identifier, the packet data network PDN identifier, and the address of the selected PCRF, the method further includes:

Sending, by the DRA, a gateway control session establishment message to the selected PCRF, where the message carries the user identifier and the PDN identifier; and after receiving the gateway control session establishment confirmation message returned by the PCRF, forwarding the gateway control session to the BBERF Establishing a confirmation message, where the gateway control session establishment confirmation message carries a quality of service QoS rule and an event trigger;

After receiving the IP-CAN session establishment indication message including the IP address sent by the PCEF, searching for the saved correspondence according to the user identifier and the PDN identifier carried in the IP-CAN session establishment indication message, if the PCRF has been selected, Adding the IP address to the saved correspondence; forwarding the IP-CAN session establishment indication message to the selected PCRF, carrying the user identifier, the PDN identifier, and the IP address, and receiving the carried back by the PCRF The Policy and Charging Control Architecture PCC rules and event triggers are carried back to the PCEF in an IP-CAN Session Setup Confirmation message.
The method according to claim 3, wherein the DRA receiving policy and the charging execution function PCEF acquire the specificity of the user subscription from the HSS during the IP connection access network IP-CAN session establishment process Before the identification information of the business, it also includes:

For the E-UTRAN access, the MME and the HSS obtain the subscription information of the UE, and the subscription information carries the identification information of the specific service, and the MME sends a session establishment request message to the packet data gateway P-GW through the S-GW, where the user is carried. Identification, PDN identification, and identification information of the specific service;

For the non-3GPP access network access, the A-GW/ePDG exchanges with the HSS to obtain the subscription information of the UE, where the subscription information carries the identification information of the specific service; the A-GW/ePDG sends the session creation request to the P-GW. a message, where the user identifier, the PDN identifier, and the identifier information of the specific service are carried;

The PCEF located in the P-GW sends an IP-CAN session establishment indication message to the DRA, where the message carries the user identifier, the PDN identifier, the IP address, and the identification information of the specific service.
The method of claim 7, after the DRA saves the correspondence between the user identifier, the packet data network PDN identifier, and the address of the selected PCRF, the method further includes:

The DRA carries an address of the selected PCRF in a redirect message returned to the PCEF;

The PCEF sends an IP-CAN Session Setup Indication message to the selected PCRF.
The method of claim 7, after the DRA saves the correspondence between the user identifier, the packet data network PDN identifier, and the address of the selected PCRF, the method further includes:

The DRA forwards the IP-CAN session establishment indication message to the selected PCRF; receives an IP-CAN session establishment confirmation message of the PCC rule and event trigger returned by the PCRF; and confirms the IP-CAN session establishment The message is returned to the PCEF.
A device for selecting a policy and charging rule function, applied to a diameter routing agent DRA, comprising:

The obtaining module is configured to: receive the bearer binding and the event reporting function, the BBERF obtains the identification information of the specific service subscribed by the user from the home subscriber server HSS during the gateway control session establishment process; or, the receiving policy and the charging execution function PCEF are IP connection access network identification information of the specific service subscribed by the user obtained from the HSS during the IP-CAN session establishment process;

And a selection module, configured to: select, according to the identification information of the specific service, a policy and a charging rule function PCRF for supporting the specific service for the terminal UE or the IP-CAN session.
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said selection module is configured to:

Selecting, according to the identification information of the specific service, and the correspondence between the configured PCRF and the specific service supported, selecting a PCRF that supports the determined specific service;

When a set of PCRFs is deployed in the network to support the specific service development, any one of the PCRFs of the set of PCRFs is selected.
The apparatus of claim 10 or 11, further comprising:

a storage module, configured to: after the selection module selects to support the PCRF of the specific service for the UE or the IP-CAN session according to the identifier information of the specific service, save the user identifier, the packet data network PDN identifier, and the The correspondence between the addresses of the selected PCRFs.
The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

The interaction module is configured to: after the storage module saves the correspondence, carry the address of the selected PCRF in the redirect message sent to the BBERF; and receive the IP-CAN including the IP address sent by the PCEF After the session establishment indication message, the corresponding relationship is searched according to the user identifier and the PDN identifier carried in the IP-CAN session establishment indication message, and if the PCRF has been selected, the storage module is instructed to save the corresponding relationship. Adding the IP address; returning a redirect message to the PCEF, carrying the selected PCRF address.
The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

The interaction module is configured to: after the storage module saves the corresponding relationship, send a gateway control session establishment message to the selected PCRF, where the message carries the user identifier and the PDN identifier; and when the gateway control session returned by the PCRF is received After the confirmation message is established, the gateway control session establishment confirmation message is forwarded to the BBERF, where the gateway control session establishment confirmation message carries the quality of service QoS rule and the event trigger; when receiving the IP address of the IP address sent by the PCEF After the CAN session establishment indication message, the user relationship and the PDN identifier carried in the IP-CAN session establishment indication message are searched for the saved correspondence relationship. If the PCRF has been selected, the saved relationship is added to the saved relationship. IP address; forwarding the IP-CAN session establishment to the selected PCRF The indication message carries the user identifier, the PDN identifier, and the IP address, and receives the PCC rule and the event trigger returned by the PCRF; the bearer is returned to the PCEF in the IP-CAN session establishment confirmation message.
The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

The interaction module is configured to: after the storage module saves the correspondence, carry the address of the selected PCRF in the redirect message returned to the PCEF.
The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

The interaction module is configured to: after the storage module saves the correspondence, forward the IP-CAN session establishment indication message to the selected PCRF; and receive the IP of the PCC rule and the event trigger returned by the PCRF - a CAN session setup confirmation message; returning the IP-CAN session setup confirmation message to the PCEF.
A computer readable storage medium storing computer executable instructions for performing the method of any of claims 1-9.