JP5947762B2 - Communication policy rule changing system and communication policy rule changing method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for changing a communication policy rule of PCEF (Policy and Charging Enforcement Function).

  In a data usage charge service and a QoS (Quality of Service) control service, it is necessary to control communication of a communication device such as a terminal used by a user in real time. Non-Patent Document 1 and Non-Patent Document 2 describe a study on a mobile operator network by 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project). In this examination, one standard rule in a model for realizing a policy control service for performing such control is shown.

  This standard rule is roughly divided into a policy and charging rules function (PCRF) rule as a policy control service platform and a PCEF rule that applies a policy rule specified by the PCRF. According to the rules of the PCRF, the charging system (OCS: Online Charging System) grasps the communication status of the communication device, and the PCRF determines what policy for which communication device based on the information grasped by the billing system. Controls whether the rule is applied. In PCEF, DSCP (Differentiated Services Code Point) remarking for performing bandwidth control, which is actual processing according to policy rules, and priority control between transfer quality classes based on QoS policies, according to control by PCRF Etc.

  Non-Patent Document 3 defines a Gx interface for managing communication rules in order to control communication of a communication device between PCRF and PCEF in real time. Communication in the Gx interface operates on an authentication protocol called Diameter.

  In addition, as a method for setting policy rules from PCRF to PCEF, two types of pre-defined policy rules setting and dynamic policy rules setting are disclosed (see Non-Patent Document 1).

  Pre-defined Policy Rules setting is executed by setting a policy rule in advance in the PCEF and specifying the application timing of the policy rule from the PCRF as needed. This Pre-defined Policy Rules setting is a method realized by many commercially available DPI (Deep Packet Inspection) devices and the like, and is performed using a dedicated GUI (Graphical User Interface) or the like. However, the contents that can be instructed from the PCRF to the PCEF are only validation and invalidation after designating the policy rule name, and it is assumed that the contents of the policy rule are set in the PCEF in advance.

  The Dynamic Policy Rules setting is executed by creating policy rules in the PCRF and installing them in the PCEF as needed. The contents that can be instructed from the PCRF to the PCEF can be newly added / updated / deleted by specifying a policy rule name and an attribute in the policy rule.

  In both the Pre-defined Policy Rules setting and the Dynamic Policy Rules setting, the PCRF can apply the policy rule to communication between communication devices by specifying the policy rule name to the PCEF. .

“3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group Core Network and Terminals; Policy and Charging Control (PCC); Reference points (Release 12)”, [online], 3GPP, TS, 29.212 V12.0.0 (2013-03), [Heisei Search on July 22, 2013], Internet <URL: http://www.3gpp.org/ftp/Specs/archive/29_series/29.212/29212-c00.zip> “3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group Core Network and Terminals; Policy and Charging Control signaling flows and Quality of Service (QoS) parameter mapping (Release 11)”, [online], 3GPP TS 29.213 V11.6.0 (2013-03) [Search July 22, 2013] Internet <URL: http://www.3gpp.org/ftp/Specs/archive/29_series/29.213/29213-b60.zip> IETF, “Network Working Group, Request for Comments: 3588, Category: Standards Track, Diameter Base Protocol”, September 2003

  When a communication service is provided by pay-as-you-go, traffic monitoring is performed for a parameter representing the data communication volume, and if the parameter value exceeds a preset threshold for communication of the communication device, bandwidth limitation or It is necessary to be able to execute control such as session disconnection in a timely manner in PCEF. Moreover, due to the increase in various mobile terminals in recent years and the rise of MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) operators, not only pay-per-use but also various policy controls according to the needs of individual subscribers. You need to be able to do it.

  However, both the Pre-defined Policy Rules setting and the Dynamic Policy Rules setting cannot change the contents of the policy rule defined by the policy rule name. Therefore, when changing the contents of the policy rule, there is a problem that the contents of the policy rule must be defined (newly created) using a new policy rule name.

  For example, in the Pre-defined Policy Rules setting, when there is a request to change only a part of the policy rule for communication of a large number of communication devices subject to policy control, first create a new policy rule name The defined policy rule is defined to PCEF. Then, the application of the new policy rule is instructed again from the PCRF (policy control server) to the communication of the communication apparatus. For this reason, there is a problem that a series of processes related to the setting of a new policy rule increases in proportion to the number of policy control target communication devices and the number of communications of the communication devices.

  In addition, in both the Pre-defined Policy Rules setting and the Dynamic Policy Rules setting, when applying a partly different policy rule to communication for each communication device, a different new policy rule name is used for each policy rule. It is necessary to define (create new) the created policy rule. Therefore, when executing flexible policy control for each communication of the communication device, there is a problem that the number of policy definitions increases explosively.

  When the network operator updates or deletes the policy rule set in the PCEF or PCRF (policy control server) due to the above problem, the policy rule is changed in the Pre-defined Policy Rules setting and the Dynamic Policy Rules setting. There is a risk of lack of flexibility when performing maintenance, and increasing the possibility of causing human error during maintenance.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a technique for reducing the amount of processing related to policy rule change and improving the flexibility when changing the policy rule.

  The communication policy rule changing system according to the present invention includes a policy rule condition, a value to be assigned to the condition, a common setting indicating that the condition is commonly set for all application destinations, and a single application destination. Policy rule definition information for storing policy rule information with policy rule names assigned to one of a set of conditions associated with individual settings indicating individual settings or a plurality of sets of the condition sets, and the policy rules A policy rule application destination information in which a name and an application destination of the policy rule information to which the policy rule name is attached are stored in association with each other, the policy rule name, and one or more When the condition set is acquired, policy rule information with the policy rule name is generated, and the generated policy rule information is stored in the policy rule definition information When the policy rule definition unit and the policy rule name attached to the generated policy rule information and the application destination are received from the policy rule definition unit, the policy rule name is attached with reference to the policy rule definition information. A policy rule setting unit that acquires the policy rule information and sets the acquired policy rule information as the application destination, and a policy rule name and an application destination of the set policy rule information from the policy rule setting unit. And a policy rule application destination processing unit that associates the policy rule name and the application destination and stores the policy rule application destination information in the policy rule application destination information.

  According to such a configuration, the communication policy rule changing system includes a policy rule condition, a value to be assigned to the condition, a common setting indicating that the condition is commonly set for all application destinations, and a single It stores policy rule information in which a policy rule name is assigned to one or a plurality of condition sets associated with individual settings indicating individual settings for application destinations. Therefore, the communication policy rule changing system can make common settings for one policy rule information and can also make individual settings. Since a common value and individual values can be collectively associated and managed as a single policy rule name for a plurality of application destinations, the amount of processing related to the number of policy rule definitions can be reduced.

  The policy rule definition unit of the communication policy rule changing system obtains the policy rule name and one or more condition sets included in the instruction to redefine the policy rule information. Update one or a plurality of the condition sets of the policy rule information with the policy rule name already stored in the definition information with the acquired one or more condition sets, and add the policy rule definition information to the policy rule definition information. It is memorized.

  According to such a configuration, the communication policy rule changing system can change the condition of the policy rule information with the existing policy rule name. Therefore, the communication policy rule changing system can improve flexibility when changing the policy rule.

  When the policy rule application destination processing unit of the communication policy rule changing system acquires the policy rule name included in the application destination search instruction from the policy rule definition unit, the policy rule application destination information Referring to, the application destination associated with the policy rule name is extracted, the policy rule name and the extracted application destination are transmitted to the policy rule setting unit, and the policy rule setting unit includes the policy rule definition information. The policy rule information with the policy rule name received from the policy rule application destination processing unit is acquired, and the policy rule information is set as the received application destination.

  According to such a configuration, the communication policy rule changing system uses the policy rule name of the changed policy rule information by referring to the policy rule application destination information that associates the policy rule name and the application destination. The application destination can be easily extracted. Further, the changed policy rule information can be applied to the extracted application destination. Therefore, the communication policy rule changing system can reduce the amount of processing related to the change of the policy rule and improve the flexibility when changing the policy rule.

  Further, the policy rule definition unit of the communication policy rule changing system includes the policy rule name included in the instruction to change the policy rule information by specifying the policy rule name, and one or a plurality of the condition sets. Is obtained by comparing with one or a plurality of the condition sets of the policy rule information with the name of the policy rule already stored in the policy rule definition information. When it is determined that there is a change in the condition set indicating that the setting is common to all application destinations based on the common setting flag included in the condition set, the one or more of the compared conditions The set is updated with the one or more acquired condition sets, stored in the policy rule definition information, and the policy rule application processing unit When the policy rule name included in the application destination search instruction is acquired from the policy rule definition unit, the application destination associated with the policy rule name is extracted with reference to the policy rule application destination information. The policy rule name and the extracted application destination are transmitted to the policy rule setting unit, the policy rule setting unit refers to the policy rule definition information, and the policy rule name received from the policy rule application destination processing unit is The attached policy rule information is acquired, and the policy rule information is set as the received application destination.

  Further, the policy rule definition unit of the communication policy rule changing system includes the policy rule name included in the instruction to change the policy rule information by specifying the policy rule name, and one or a plurality of the condition sets. Is obtained by comparing with one or a plurality of the condition sets of the policy rule information to which the policy rule name already stored in the policy rule definition information is attached. One or more of the compared conditions when it is determined that the change is only the condition set indicating individual setting for a single application destination based on the individual setting flag included in the condition set The set is updated with the acquired one or more condition sets, stored in the policy rule definition information, and the policy rule setting unit When the policy rule name of the policy rule information, one or more condition sets having the individual setting flag and the application destination are received from the rule definition unit, they are already stored in the policy rule definition information. One or a plurality of the condition sets of policy rule information to which the policy rule name is assigned is searched, and a part or all of the searched condition sets are included in the received individual setting flag. Alternatively, it is updated with a plurality of the condition sets, and the updated policy rule information is set in the received application destination.

According to such a configuration, the communication policy rule changing system sets the policy rule information as the application destination by dividing the case according to whether the policy rule information to be changed is a common setting or an individual setting. You can change the procedure.
When the value of a condition that is commonly set in the policy rule information set condition is changed, without instructing to individually set the policy rule for all application destinations to which the policy rule information is applied The policy rule information condition is changed. On the other hand, when only the value of the condition set individually in the policy rule information set condition is changed, the new policy rule information is not applied to the application destination. This is because the condition set that is individually set originally specifies a value for each application destination, but when there is no specification, the value recorded in the policy rule information is used for the purpose of being applied as a default value.
As described above, the communication policy rule changing system can improve flexibility when changing the policy rule by identifying the common setting or the individual setting by the flag.

  The invention relating to the communication policy rule changing method in the communication policy rule changing system has the same technical features as the communication policy rule changing system, and has the same effects as the communication policy rule changing system. The description is omitted.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, while reducing the processing amount which concerns on a change of a policy rule, the flexibility at the time of changing a policy rule can be improved.

It is a figure which shows the structural example of the communication policy rule change system in this embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of policy rule definition DB. It is a figure which shows an example of policy rule application DB. It is a figure which shows the example of a processing flow in the case of setting a policy rule newly. It is a figure which shows the example of a processing flow in the case of redefining a policy rule (in the case of immediate reflection). It is a figure which shows the example of a processing flow in the case of redefining a policy rule (in the case of reflection at the time of reset). It is a figure which shows the example of a processing flow in the case of changing the parameter of a policy rule common setting. It is a figure which shows the example of a processing flow in the case of changing the parameter of the policy rule individual setting. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the communication policy rule change system in a comparative example, (a) represents the case of Pre-defined Policy Rules setting, (b) represents the case of Dynamic Policy Rules setting.

  A mode for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as “the present embodiment”) will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate.

  First, a configuration example of the communication policy rule changing system in the comparative example will be described with reference to FIGS. As a method for setting a policy rule in the PCEF by the PCRF, there are a Pre-defined Policy Rules setting and a Dynamic Policy Rules setting (see Non-Patent Document 1). The comparative example shown in FIG. 9A is an example related to Pre-defined Policy Rules setting. Further, the comparative example shown in FIG. 9B is an example related to the Dynamic Policy Rules setting.

FIG. 9A is a diagram showing a communication policy rule changing system 1A in a comparative example.
The communication policy rule changing system 1A includes a subscriber profile repository (SPR) 4, a policy control server (PCRF) 3A, and a PCEF 26A.

  The subscriber profile repository 4 stores contract information related to each communication device (not shown). The contract information is service contract information that a user of a communication device (not shown) ties with a communication carrier. The network provided by the telecommunications carrier includes IP (Internet Protocol), ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode), STM (Synchronous Transfer Mode) and other types of communication, whether wired or wireless, telephone network or mobile network Any type of network such as

  The policy control server (PCRF) 3A has a function of referring to the subscriber profile repository 4 to instruct the PCEF 26A of the policy rule 6 to be applied to communication of a communication device (not shown) and the application timing.

  In the PCEF 26A, for example, the policy rule 6 is set in advance by a dedicated GUI or the like. The PCEF 26A has a function of validating the policy rule 6 corresponding to the designated policy rule name by designating the policy rule name from the policy control server (PCRF) 3A.

FIG. 9B is a diagram showing a communication policy rule changing system 1B in the comparative example.
The communication policy rule changing system 1B includes a subscriber profile repository (SPR) 4, a policy control server (PCRF) 3B, and a PCEF 26B.

The subscriber profile repository (SPR) 4 is the same as that shown in FIG.
The policy control server (PCRF) 3B refers to the subscriber profile repository (SPR) 4, creates policy rules 6, installs the created policy rules 6 one by one in the PCEF 26B, and installs the policy rules 6 of the installed policy rules 6. It has a function of further instructing application timing.
The PCEF 26B has a function of setting the policy rule 6 installed by the policy control server (PCRF) 3B and validating the policy rule 6 based on the application timing instruction.

  However, both the Pre-defined Policy Rules setting shown in FIG. 9A and the Dynamic Policy Rules setting shown in FIG. 9B cannot change the contents of the policy rule defined by the policy rule name. Therefore, both of the above settings have a problem that when changing the contents of the policy rule, the contents of the policy rule must be defined (newly created) using a new policy rule name.

  Therefore, a configuration example of the communication policy rule changing system 1 in this embodiment that solves the above problem will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 1, only the configuration and functions directly related to the present invention are shown, and other descriptions are omitted.

  The communication policy rule changing system 1 includes an IP network relay device 2 including a PCEF 26, a policy control server (PCRF) 3, a subscriber profile repository 4, and an external operation device 5. However, although the external operation device 5 is described in FIG. 1, it is not essential.

  The IP network relay device 2 is arranged at the edge of the network of the communication carrier. In the present embodiment, the PCEF 26 is described as being built in the IP network relay device 2 and having a function within a range surrounded by an alternate long and short dash line. Details of the function of the IP network relay device 2 will be described later.

  The subscriber profile repository 4 stores contract information related to each communication device (not shown). The contract information is service contract information that a user of a communication device (not shown) ties with a communication carrier.

  The policy control server (PCRF) 3 refers to the subscriber profile repository 4, installs policy rules to be applied to communication data 7 transmitted from a communication device (not shown), and sets the application timing of the policy rules to the PCEF 26. It has a function to instruct to. The policy control server (PCRF) 3 installs the policy rule in the PCEF 26 using the Dynamic Policy Rules setting, and validates the policy rule to be applied.

  The external operation device 5 is a device operated by a network operator. The network operator receives a change request for the communication service contract requested by the subscriber, operates the external operation device 5 and manually sets a new policy rule corresponding to the request of the subscriber in the PCEF 26. Note that the external operation device 5 uses the Pre-defined Policy Rules setting to specify a policy rule name for the PCEF 26 and validates the policy rule to be applied.

  The IP network relay device 2 includes the PCEF 26, and when receiving the communication data 7, performs processing using the policy rule information 243 (see FIG. 2) to be applied to the communication data 7, and transfers it to the transmission destination. It has a function.

  The IP network relay device 2 includes a processing unit 21, a storage unit 24, and a communication unit 25 as functions. The processing unit 21 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a main memory (not shown), and develops a policy processing unit 22 and a communication data transfer unit 23 by expanding an application program stored in the storage unit 24 to the main memory. It has become.

The policy processing unit 22 includes a policy rule definition unit 221, a policy rule application destination processing unit 222, and a policy rule setting unit 223.
The policy rule definition unit 221 receives installation of a policy rule from the policy control server (PCRF) 3 and creates policy rule information 243 (see FIG. 2) or changes the policy rule information 243, and It has a function of storing the policy rule information 243 in a policy rule definition DB (Data Base) 241 of the storage unit 24. The policy rule definition unit 221 transmits a policy rule name and an application destination to the policy rule setting unit 223 when the application destination of the policy rule information 243 is received from the policy control server (PCRF) 3. Have The application destination is communication using the communication data 7 to which the policy rule information 243 is applied. The communication data 7 is identified by identification information of a communication device such as an IP address, a MAC (Media Access Control) address, and an IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identity).

  When the Pre-defined Policy Rules setting is used by the external operation device 5, the policy rule definition unit 221 receives the policy rule name and designation of application destination, and sends the policy rule to the policy rule setting unit 223. It has a function to send the name and application destination.

  When receiving a policy rule application destination registration request from the policy rule setting unit 223, the policy rule application destination processing unit 222 has a function of storing the application destination of the policy rule information 243 in the policy rule application destination DB 242. When the policy rule application destination processing unit 222 receives an instruction from the policy rule definition unit 221 to search for an application destination of the policy rule information 243, the policy rule application destination processing unit 222 refers to the policy rule application destination DB 222, extracts the application destination, A function of transmitting the name and the extracted application destination to the policy rule setting unit 223;

  The policy rule setting unit 223 receives the policy rule name and the application destination from the policy rule definition unit 221 and the policy rule application destination processing unit 222, and sets (validates) the policy rule information 243 of the policy rule name at the application destination. ) Function. Further, when the policy rule setting unit 223 receives the policy rule name and the application destination from the policy rule definition unit 221 and sets the policy rule information 243, the policy rule setting unit 223 applies the policy rule to the policy rule application destination processing unit 222. It has a function of transmitting the previous registration request.

  When the communication data transfer unit 23 receives the communication data 7, the policy rule information set by the policy rule setting unit 223 for the communication data 7 using the identification information of the communication device included in the communication data 7. 243 is applied. The communication data transfer unit 23 has a function of executing a routing process for transferring the communication data 7 to the transmission destination.

  The storage unit 24 is a storage device such as a hard disk, and stores a policy rule definition DB 241 and a policy rule application DB 242.

The policy rule definition DB (policy rule definition information) 241 stores policy rule information 243 as shown in FIG. The policy rule information 243 includes a policy rule name, No. Associate parameters, values, common settings and individual settings. Here, the parameter, value, common setting, and individual setting associated with each other are referred to as a condition set. One policy rule name is associated with one or more sets of condition sets.
The policy rule name is a name for identifying the policy rule information 243.
No. Is a number assigned to distinguish parameters, and is a number for identifying a set in which parameters, values, common settings and individual settings are associated.

The parameter (policy rule condition) is, for example, a template (corresponding to an object-oriented class) indicating a condition to be applied, and a value (corresponding to an instance) stored in the value column is applied (substitute) ) In FIG. 2, the difference between the templates is represented as template 1, template 2,.
The values are values such as “upper limit traffic” and “communication traffic monitoring parameter” shown in FIG.

  Here, a specific example is shown about the relationship between the parameter template and the value. For example, the template 1 has a condition such as “If the amount of data used in the current month exceeds <upper limit communication amount>, the communication speed is set to the maximum α kbps until the end of the current month”. When βMB is stored as the upper limit traffic in the value column, the βMB is assigned to the <upper limit traffic> portion of template 1 and No. 1 condition (Attribute Value Pair (AVP)) is completed.

  In the common setting and individual setting, a flag (“1” or “0” in FIG. 2) is used to distinguish whether the policy rule application destination is set commonly for a plurality of subscribers or for each subscriber. ]). In FIG. 2, when “1” is added to the common setting column, this indicates that the parameter is a common setting. In FIG. 2, when “1” is added to the individual setting column, it indicates that the parameter is an individual setting. Note that only one of the common setting and individual setting fields may be used. In addition, the common setting is essential, and the individual setting is arbitrary. Parameters that are individually set are set to default values unless otherwise specified. The individually set parameters may be set so as to be used mainly to conditionally change the commonly set parameters, or may newly include parameters that are not in the common settings.

  As a specific example of the common setting and the individual setting, it is possible to set the upper limit communication amount as a common setting for all subscribers and to change the upper limit communication amount according to the subscriber's billing status as an individual setting.

  Also, in the policy rule information 243 with the policy rule name “N” shown in FIG. 2, “null” is stored in the value column corresponding to the template Z. The policy rule information 243 with the policy rule name “N” is provided for applying a policy rule “not performing communication” to a communication apparatus that is not communicating.

The policy rule application destination DB (policy rule application destination information) 242 is a database in which the policy rule name and application destination (communication device identification information) are associated with each other, as shown in FIG.
The policy rule name is the same information as the policy rule name shown in FIG.
The application destination is identification information of the communication device. Note that the identification information of the communication device is, for example, the IP address, MAC address, IMSI, or the like of the communication device.
Note that at least one policy rule name is associated with the identification information of one communication device. A plurality of policy rule names may be associated with the identification information of one communication device.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the communication unit 25 is a communication interface. For example, a Gx interface that manages communication rules may be used between the policy control server (PCRF) 3 and the external operation device 5 and the PCEF 26.

(First embodiment)
In the first embodiment, a processing flow example in the case where a policy rule is set using the policy control server 3 will be described.
First, an example of a processing flow when a policy rule is newly set will be described with reference to FIG. 4 (see FIGS. 1-3 as appropriate).

  In step S401, the policy control server 3 instructs the PCEF 26 to define a policy rule. Here, the definition is a new creation. Specifically, the policy control server 3 refers to the subscriber profile repository 4 and creates the policy rule name, parameters, values, common settings, and individual settings shown in FIG. 2, and creates one policy rule name and one created. Alternatively, a plurality of condition sets are included in the instruction and transmitted to the PCEF 26.

  In step S402, the policy rule definition unit 221 newly creates policy rule information 243 (see FIG. 2) based on an instruction from the policy control server 3. Then, the policy rule definition unit 221 stores the newly created policy rule information 243 in the policy rule definition DB 241.

  In step S403, the policy control server 3 instructs the PCEF 26 to specify the application destination of the policy rule defined in step S401. Specifically, the policy control server 3 transmits the identification information of the communication device as the application destination of the policy rule.

  In step S404, the policy rule definition unit 221 transmits the policy rule name and application destination to the policy rule setting unit 223.

  In step S405, the policy rule setting unit 223 receives the policy rule name and the application destination, refers to the policy rule definition DB 241, and sets (validates) the policy rule information 243 corresponding to the received policy rule name. )

  In step S406, the policy rule setting unit 223 instructs the policy rule application destination processing unit 222 to register the policy rule application destination. Specifically, the policy rule setting unit 223 transmits the policy rule name and application destination of the policy rule information 243 set in step S405 to the policy rule application destination processing unit 222.

  In step S407, the policy rule application destination processing unit 222 updates the policy rule application destination DB 242. Specifically, the policy rule application destination processing unit 222 associates the policy rule name received from the policy rule setting unit 223 with the application destination (identification information of the communication device) and newly registers it in the policy rule application DB 242 ( Remember. This registration process means that the policy rule has been set in the policy rule setting unit 223.

  In the present embodiment, “policy rule application DB update” in step S407 is performed after “setting” in step S405. This is a procedure for quickly setting policy rules. Further, when step S405 is executed after step S407, the policy rule application DB 242 determines that the policy rule has been set even though the policy rule is not set. There arises a problem that a period of inconsistency occurs. On the other hand, the problem can also be solved by executing step S407 after step S405.

  Next, an example of a processing flow when redefining a policy rule (in the case of immediate reflection) will be described with reference to FIG. 5 (see FIGS. 1-3 as appropriate). Here, redefinition means changing the contents of policy rule information 243 (attribute value pair (AVP)). Immediate reflection means immediately changing policy rule information 243 to a policy rule setting unit. Is set to 223.

  In step S501, the policy control server 3 instructs the PCEF 26 to redefine the policy rule. Specifically, the policy control server 3 refers to the subscriber profile repository 4 and creates a policy rule name, a parameter to be changed, a value, a common setting, and an individual setting, and changes the policy rule name. Information indicating immediate reflection is added to one or a plurality of condition sets, included in the instruction, and transmitted to the PCEF 26.

  In step S502, the policy rule definition unit 221 updates the content of the policy rule information 243 of the received policy rule name based on an instruction from the policy control server 3. Specifically, the policy rule definition unit 221 acquires one or more condition sets of the policy rule information with the received policy rule name already stored in the policy rule definition DB 241, Update to multiple condition sets. The policy rule definition unit 221 stores the updated policy rule information 243 in the policy rule definition DB 241.

  In step S503, when the policy rule definition unit 221 detects information indicating immediate reflection, the policy rule definition unit 221 instructs the policy rule application destination processing unit 222 to search for a policy rule application destination. Specifically, the policy rule definition unit 221 transmits the policy rule name in which the policy rule information 243 is updated. Note that the application destination to be changed in some cases is also transmitted.

  In step S504, the policy rule application destination processing unit 222 uses the received policy rule name to refer to the policy rule application DB 242 illustrated in FIG. 3 and extracts an application destination associated with the policy rule name. The policy rule application destination processing unit 222 updates the policy rule application destination DB 242 when receiving an application destination to be changed.

  In step S505, the policy rule application destination processing unit 222 transmits the policy rule name and the application destination extracted in step S504 to the policy rule setting unit 223. Note that the application destination to be changed in some cases is also transmitted.

  In step S506, the policy rule setting unit 223 refers to the policy rule definition DB 241 to obtain the policy rule information 243 of the policy rule name associated with the received application destination, and uses the policy rule information 243 that has already been set. The policy rule information 243 is changed to the acquired policy rule information 243.

  Next, an example of a processing flow in the case of changing a policy rule (in the case of reflection at the time of resetting) will be described with reference to FIG. 6 (see FIGS. 1-3 as appropriate). Here, redefinition means that the contents of policy rule information 243 (attribute value pair (AVP) is changed, and the application destination is also changed in some cases. The policy rule information 243 is set in the policy rule setting unit 223 when there is a setting request from a terminal (not shown) operated by the network operator.

  In step S601, the policy control server 3 instructs the PCEF 26 to redefine the policy rule. Specifically, the policy control server 3 refers to the subscriber profile repository 4 and creates a policy rule name, a parameter to be changed, a value, a common setting, and an individual setting, and changes the policy rule name. The parameter, value, common setting, and individual setting are included in the instruction and transmitted to the PCEF 26.

  In step S602, the policy rule definition unit 221 updates the policy rule information 243 of the received policy rule name based on an instruction from the policy control server 3. The policy rule definition unit 221 stores the updated policy rule information 243 in the policy rule definition DB 241. Note that the policy rule definition unit 221 determines that the reflection at the time of resetting is instructed when the information indicating the immediate reflection is not received.

  In step S603, the policy control server 3 instructs the PCEF 26 to specify the application destination of the policy rule redefined in step S601. Specifically, the policy control server 3 transmits the identification information of the communication device as the application destination of the policy rule.

  In step S604, the policy rule definition unit 221 transmits the policy rule name and application destination to the policy rule setting unit 223.

  In step S605, the policy rule setting unit 223 receives the policy rule name and the application destination, refers to the policy rule definition DB 241, obtains the policy rule information 243 of the received policy rule name, and sets the already set policy rule. The rule information 243 is changed to the acquired policy rule information 243.

  In step S606, the policy rule setting unit 223 instructs the policy rule application destination processing unit 222 to register the policy rule application destination. Specifically, the policy rule setting unit 223 transmits the policy rule name and application destination of the policy rule information 243 changed in step S605 to the policy rule application destination processing unit 222.

  In step S607, the policy rule application destination processing unit 222 updates the policy rule application destination DB 242. Specifically, the policy rule application destination processing unit 222 updates the policy rule application DB 242 by associating the policy rule information 243 changed by the policy rule setting unit 223 with the application destination (identification information of the communication device) ( Remember. This update process means that the policy rule has been set in the policy rule setting unit 223.

  Next, an example of a processing flow when changing the policy rule common setting parameters will be described with reference to FIG. 7 (see FIGS. 1-3 as appropriate).

  In step S701, the policy control server 3 instructs the PCEF 26 to specify the policy rule name and change the commonly set parameters. Specifically, the policy control server 3 refers to the subscriber profile repository 4 and creates the policy rule name shown in FIG. 2, the parameter to be changed, the value, the common setting, and the individual setting, and the policy rule name. Then, the changed one or more condition sets are included in the instruction and transmitted to the PCEF 26.

  In step S <b> 702, the policy rule definition unit 221 determines the type of parameter to be changed based on an instruction from the policy control server 3. Specifically, the policy rule definition unit 221 determines whether a parameter to be changed is a common setting or an individual setting by looking at a flag. In this processing flow example, it is assumed that the common setting is determined. Specifically, the policy rule definition unit 221 includes one or more condition sets including a condition set included in the instruction and policy rule information to which the policy rule name already stored in the policy rule definition DB 241 is attached. And a condition set to be changed is determined based on a common setting flag included in each condition set, and it is determined that there is a change in the condition set indicating that the condition set is commonly set for all application destinations.

  In step S703, the policy rule definition unit 221 updates the policy rule information 243 of the received policy rule name based on an instruction from the policy control server 3. Then, the policy rule definition unit 221 stores the changed policy rule information 243 in the policy rule definition DB 241.

  In step S704, the policy rule definition unit 221 instructs the policy rule application destination processing unit 222 to search for a policy rule application destination. Specifically, the policy rule definition unit 221 transmits the policy rule name in which the policy rule information 243 is updated.

  In step S705, the policy rule application destination processing unit 222 refers to the policy rule application destination DB 242 illustrated in FIG. 3 using the received policy rule name, and extracts an application destination associated with the policy rule name.

  In step S706, the policy rule application destination processing unit 222 transmits the policy rule name and the application destination extracted in step S705 to the policy rule setting unit 223.

  In step S707, the policy rule setting unit 223 refers to the policy rule definition DB 241 to obtain the policy rule information 243 of the policy rule name associated with the received application destination, and has already been set for the application destination. The policy rule information 243 is changed to the acquired policy rule information 243.

  As described above, in the common setting parameter change, all application destinations can be changed all at once, so that the processing amount related to the policy rule change can be reduced as compared with the comparative example. In the case of changing the parameters of the common setting, FIG. 7 has been described with the example of the processing flow similar to the case of selecting the immediate reflection shown in FIG. 5, but the case of selecting the reflection at the time of resetting shown in FIG. A similar processing flow example may be used.

  Next, an example of a processing flow for changing the policy rule individual setting parameter will be described with reference to FIG. 8 (see FIGS. 1-3 as appropriate).

  In step S801, the policy control server 3 instructs the PCEF 26 to specify the policy rule name and change the individually set parameters. Specifically, the policy control server 3 refers to the subscriber profile repository 4 and creates the policy rule name shown in FIG. 2, the parameter to be changed, the value, the common setting, and the individual setting, and the policy rule name. Then, the changed one or more condition sets are included in the instruction and transmitted to the PCEF 26.

  In step S <b> 802, the policy rule definition unit 221 determines the type of parameter to be changed based on an instruction from the policy control server 3. Specifically, the policy rule definition unit 221 determines whether a parameter to be changed is a common setting or an individual setting by looking at a flag. In this processing flow example, it is assumed that it is determined to be an individual setting. Specifically, when the policy rule definition unit 221 acquires the policy rule name and one or more condition sets included in the instruction to change the policy rule information by specifying the policy rule name, the policy rule definition DB 241 Compared with one or more condition sets of policy rule information with the name of the policy rule already stored in the list, the condition set to be changed is based on the individually set flag included in each condition set. It is determined that the change is only the condition set indicating that it is individually set for the application destination.

  In step S <b> 803, the policy rule definition unit 221 updates the policy rule information 243 of the received policy rule name based on an instruction from the policy control server 3. The policy rule definition unit 221 stores the updated policy rule information 243 in the policy rule definition DB 241.

  In step S804, the policy control server 3 instructs the PCEF 26 to newly specify policy rule settings. Specifically, the policy control server 3 newly transmits the policy rule name of the policy rule information, individual setting parameters (one or more condition sets having individual setting flags), and application destinations.

  In step S805, the policy rule definition unit 221 instructs the policy rule setting unit 223 to specify the policy rule name of the policy rule information, individual setting parameters (one or more condition sets having individual setting flags), and application destinations. Is sent anew.

  In step S806, the policy rule setting unit 223 receives the policy rule name of the policy rule information, the individual setting parameter (one or more condition sets having the individual setting flag), and the application destination, and stores them in the policy rule definition DB 241. One or a plurality of condition sets in the policy rule information 243 with the policy rule name already stored is searched, and a part or all of the searched condition sets are received as one of the received individual setting flags. Or update with multiple condition sets. When the policy rule setting unit 223 updates a part of the searched condition set, the policy condition setting unit 223 uses default values (values originally set) for the remaining condition sets.

  In step S807, the policy rule setting unit 223 instructs the policy rule application destination processing unit 222 to register the policy rule application destination.

  In step S808, the policy rule application destination processing unit 222 updates the policy rule application destination DB 242. Specifically, the policy rule application destination processing unit 222 updates the policy rule application DB 242 by associating the policy rule information 243 changed by the policy rule setting unit 223 with the application destination (identification information of the communication device) ( Remember. This update process means that the policy rule has been set in the policy rule setting unit 223.

  An example of changing an individual setting parameter is to set the upper limit of the amount of traffic that can be used in the current month as a default value with the individual setting parameter, and to a specific application destination where an event trigger such as billing has occurred. Can be used to change from the default value. Therefore, in the case of changing the parameter of the individual setting, the description has been given using the example of the processing flow when the reflection at the time of resetting that reflects the event trigger is selected.

(Second Embodiment)
In the first embodiment, an example of a processing flow when the policy control server 3 is used has been described. In the second embodiment, an example of a processing flow when a policy rule is set using the external operation device 5 will be described.

  The external operation device 5 designates a policy rule name for the PCEF 26 using the Pre-defined Policy Rules setting, and validates the policy rule to be applied. That is, it is assumed that the policy rule information 243 of the policy rule definition DB 241 shown in FIG. 2 is directly stored via a terminal (not shown) operated by the network operator. Then, the external operation device 5 transmits the policy rule name to be applied to the PCEF 26 to validate the policy rule.

  Since the processing flow example in the second embodiment is substantially the same as the processing flow examples shown in FIGS. 4 to 8 in the first embodiment, the drawings are omitted and only the description is given.

  When a policy rule is newly set as shown in FIG. 4, the external operation device 5 executes processing for transmitting the policy rule name and its application destination instead of steps S401 to S403. And the process after step S404 is the same.

  When changing the policy rule as shown in FIG. 5 (in the case of immediate reflection), the external operation device 5 executes a process of transmitting the policy rule name to be redefined instead of steps S501 to S502. And the process after step S503 is the same.

  When the policy rule is changed as shown in FIG. 6 (in the case of reflection at the time of resetting), the external operation device 5 executes a process of transmitting the policy rule name to be redefined instead of steps S601 to S602. To do. And the process after step S603 is the same.

  When changing the policy rule common setting parameter as shown in FIG. 7, the external operation device 5 executes a process of transmitting the policy rule name and the common setting instead of step S <b> 701. And the process after step S702 is the same.

  When changing the policy rule individual setting parameters as shown in FIG. 8, the external operation device 5 executes a process of transmitting the policy rule name and the individual settings instead of step S801. And the process after step S802 is the same.

As described above, the PCEF 26 of the communication policy rule changing system 1 according to the first embodiment and the second embodiment includes the policy rule definition DB 241 that stores the policy rule information 243 shown in FIG. The policy rule information 243 associates a parameter indicating a template indicating a condition to be applied, a value substituted for the template, and a flag indicating common setting or individual setting. In the case of common setting, the policy rule information 243 is set in common with a plurality of subscribers (may be all subscribers) as application destinations. In the case of individual setting, the policy rule information 243 is individually set. Further, the PCEF 26 stores a policy rule application destination DB 242 in which a plurality of application destinations are associated with a policy rule name of one policy rule information 243. As described above, the PCEF 26 can perform common settings for one policy rule information 243 and can manage a plurality of application destinations in association with each other. As a result, it is possible to reduce the processing amount related to the change of the policy rule as compared with the comparative example shown in FIGS. 9 (a) and 9 (b).
Moreover, since the PCEF 26 can easily change the parameters of the policy rule information 243 by specifying the policy rule name as in the processing flow examples shown in FIGS. 5 to 8, the policy rule can be changed. The flexibility when doing so can be improved.

1 Communication policy rule change system 2 IP network relay device 3 Policy control server (PCRF)
4 Subscriber Profile Repository (SPR)
5 External Operation Device 7 Communication Data 21 Processing Unit 22 Policy Processing Unit 23 Communication Data Transfer Unit 24 Storage Unit 25 Communication Unit 26 PCEF
221 Policy rule definition unit 222 Policy rule application destination processing unit 223 Policy rule setting unit 241 Policy rule definition DB (policy rule definition information)
242 Policy rule application DB (policy rule application information)

Claims (6)

Policy rule conditions, values to be assigned to the conditions, common settings indicating that the conditions are commonly set for all application destinations, and individual settings indicating that the conditions are individually set for a single application destination Policy rule definition information for storing policy rule information with policy rule names assigned to one of the associated condition sets or a plurality of sets of the condition sets, and the policy rule name and the policy rule name are attached. A storage unit that stores policy rule application destination information that is stored in association with an application destination of the policy rule information; and
A policy rule that generates policy rule information with the policy rule name when the policy rule name and one or more condition sets are acquired, and stores the generated policy rule information in the policy rule definition information A definition part;
When the policy rule name attached to the generated policy rule information and its application destination are received from the policy rule definition unit, the policy rule definition information is referred to and the policy rule information attached with the policy rule name is obtained. A policy rule setting unit for setting the acquired policy rule information to the application destination;
A policy rule application destination processing unit that stores the policy rule name and application destination in association with the policy rule application destination information when the policy rule name and application destination of the set policy rule information are received from the policy rule setting unit; ,
A communication policy rule changing system comprising: When the policy rule definition unit obtains the policy rule name and one or more condition sets included in the instruction to redefine the policy rule information, the policy rule definition unit is already stored in the policy rule definition information. The one or more condition sets of policy rule information to which a policy rule name is attached are updated with the acquired one or more condition sets and stored in the policy rule definition information. The communication policy rule changing system according to 1. When the policy rule application destination processing unit obtains the policy rule name included in the application destination search instruction from the policy rule definition unit, the policy rule application destination processing unit refers to the policy rule application destination information to obtain the policy rule name. Extract the associated application destination, send the policy rule name and the extracted application destination to the policy rule setting unit,
The policy rule setting unit refers to the policy rule definition information, obtains policy rule information with a policy rule name received from the policy rule application destination processing unit, and applies the policy rule information to the received application destination. The communication policy rule changing system according to claim 2, wherein When the policy rule definition unit acquires the policy rule name and one or more condition sets included in an instruction to change the policy rule information by specifying the policy rule name, the policy rule definition The condition set to be changed by comparing with one or a plurality of the condition sets of the policy rule information to which the policy rule name already stored in the information is attached is the common setting included in each of the condition sets. Based on the flag, when it is determined that there is a change in the condition set indicating that it is commonly set for all application destinations, the one or more condition sets that have been compared are Update with a plurality of the condition sets, store in the policy rule definition information,
When the policy rule application destination processing unit obtains the policy rule name included in the application destination search instruction from the policy rule definition unit, the policy rule application destination processing unit refers to the policy rule application destination information to obtain the policy rule name. Extract the associated application destination, send the policy rule name and the extracted application destination to the policy rule setting unit,
The policy rule setting unit refers to the policy rule definition information, obtains policy rule information with a policy rule name received from the policy rule application destination processing unit, and applies the policy rule information to the received application destination. The communication policy rule changing system according to claim 1, wherein When the policy rule definition unit acquires the policy rule name and one or more condition sets included in an instruction to change the policy rule information by specifying the policy rule name, the policy rule definition The individual setting in which each of the condition sets to be changed is compared with one or more of the condition sets of policy rule information to which the policy rule name already stored in the information is attached is included in each of the condition sets If it is determined that the change is only the condition set indicating that it is individually set for a single application destination based on the flag of the Update with multiple condition sets, store in the policy rule definition information,
When the policy rule setting unit receives the policy rule name of the policy rule information, the one or more condition sets having the individual setting flag and the application destination from the policy rule definition unit, One or more condition sets of policy rule information with the policy rule name already stored in the policy rule definition information are searched, and a part or all of the searched condition sets are received. 2. The communication policy rule according to claim 1, wherein the communication policy rule is updated with one or a plurality of the condition sets having the individually set flag, and the updated policy rule information is set in the received application destination. Change system. A communication policy rule changing method of a communication policy rule changing system for setting a policy rule,
The communication policy rule changing system is:
Policy rule conditions, values to be assigned to the conditions, common settings indicating that the conditions are commonly set for all application destinations, and individual settings indicating that the conditions are individually set for a single application destination Policy rule definition information for storing policy rule information with policy rule names assigned to one of the associated condition sets or a plurality of sets of the condition sets, and the policy rule name and the policy rule name are attached. A policy rule application destination information that stores the policy rule information application destination in association with each other, and a storage unit that stores the policy rule application information, and a processing unit.
The processor is
A policy rule that generates policy rule information with the policy rule name when the policy rule name and one or more condition sets are acquired, and stores the generated policy rule information in the policy rule definition information Definition steps;
When the policy rule name attached to the generated policy rule information and its application destination are received as the output of the policy rule definition step, the policy rule with the policy rule name attached is referred to the policy rule definition information. Policy rule setting step for acquiring information and setting the acquired policy rule information to the application destination;
When the policy rule name and the application destination of the set policy rule information are received as the output of the policy rule setting step, the policy rule application destination that associates the policy rule name and the application destination and stores them in the policy rule application destination information Processing steps;
To execute a communication policy rule.

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