WO2007137522A1

WO2007137522A1 - A policy and charging control method, system and device in roaming scenarios

Info

Publication number: WO2007137522A1
Application number: PCT/CN2007/070073
Authority: WO
Inventors: Chengzhen Sun; Huadong Hu; Xiaoqin Duan
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2006-06-01
Filing date: 2007-06-01
Publication date: 2007-12-06
Also published as: CN101047989A; CN100563388C

Abstract

A policy and charging control method in roaming scenarios is provided. The method includes the following steps: AF obtains UE service information and sends said service information to PCRF in home network; PCRF in home network generates policy and charging rules information based upon said service information and sends said information to PCRF in visit network; PCRF in visit network sets policy and charging rules based upon information send by PCRF in home network and sends the policy and charging rules to PCEF in visit network. The policy and charging control of push mode in roaming scenarios is also provided.

Description

Strategy and charging control method, system and device in user roaming state

The present invention relates to the field of wireless communications, and more particularly to a policy and charging control method, system and apparatus in a user roaming state. Background of the invention

In the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), the implementation of Internet Protocol (IP) Flow Based Charging (FBC) is discussed. Since the granularity of IP-based charging is much smaller than that based on PDP context-based charging, it can provide operators or service providers with more abundant charging means.

According to the current 3GPP functional partitioning of the FBC, the TPF carries the IP data stream. When the IP bearer is established or the bearer is modified (the QoS is renegotiated), the TPF can send the charging rule request to the CRF through the Gx interface. The CRF is based on the TPF. The information carried in the charging rule request message is selected and returned to the TPF by selecting an appropriate charging rule.

The CRF can provide an Event trigger to the TPF to notify the TPF that a new charging rule needs to be requested from the CRF when certain events occur. For example, the CRF requires the TPF to request a new CRF when certain bearer modification events occur. Billing rules. The event triggers defined in the current specification that can cause the TPF to re-request the charging rules include SGSN change, QoS change, RAT type change, and TFT change; In addition, the CRF can determine the selected charging rule according to the input information of the TPF. The CRF can also accept the input information of the AF or OCS to determine the selected charging rule. For example, the AF notifies the CRF of what service the current user is using, so that the CRF selects the charging rule corresponding to the service.

Corresponding to the GPRS network, the TPF is a GGSN, and the AF is a service gateway in the PDN. Or a business server, CRF is a new logical entity. The function of the TPF is the charging rule execution point, and the CRF is the control point of the charging rule. For the Rel6, a session-based policy control scheme (SBLP) and an SDF (Service Data Flow)-based charging scheme (FBC) have been provided, and the two schemes have certain functional overlap (for example, the FBC can already provide some kind of Degree of policy control function). At the same time, the information transmitted by the reference point interface used by the two mechanisms also has a large repetition. Therefore, this repetition increases the complexity of the system and reduces the efficiency of the system. In addition, this mechanism of separately distributing policy and charging information also increases the delay of system operations (such as bearer establishment).

In order to improve the efficiency of the system, reduce the operation, and reduce the delay, it is necessary to consider the integration of policy control and charging control. At the same time, this fusion is also possible. The mechanism after the integration is PCC.

In the new Rel7 PCC, these two functional solutions are completely integrated into a new functional architecture. This combination facilitates better provisioning of an optimized real-time interoperability system in the GGSN (and other access network GWs). PCC provides a more general operating platform for the implementation of more new applications. In the PCC, the Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) contains the functions of the PDF in the SBLP and the CRF in the FBC to provide QoS authorization information and charging rules.

In order to ensure the competitiveness of the 3GPP system in the future, the work of an access technology evolution is being carried out within the 3GPP organization. In particular, in order to enhance the ability of 3GPP systems to handle rapidly growing IP data services, the use of packet technology within 3GPP systems requires further enhancement. The core network of the wireless evolution network mainly includes three logical function modules: a mobility management module (MME), a user plane entity (UPE), and an inter-access system inter-area anchor (Inter AS Anchor), wherein the MME is a mobility management module, corresponding to The control plane part of the SGSN in the current UMTS system; the UPE is the user plane entity, corresponding to the data plane part of the current UMSN system SGSN and GGSN; Inter AS Anchor acts as the inter-access system House anchor, where the function and presence of each interface is still not finalized, and

Whether the three functional modules of MME, UPE, and Inter AS Anchor are combined in one entity is also undetermined.

It can be seen that in the evolved network architecture, PCC is also required for policy control and charging operations. However, the current location of the PCEF has not been determined and may be on the MME/UPE entity or on the Inter-AS Anchor. Regardless of how the location of the PCEF changes, the current PCC architecture is essentially unchanged. In the traditional PCC framework, after receiving the service information from the AF, the PCRF performs an inspection operation on it and saves it until the PCRF receives the policy and charging control rule request from the PCEF, and the PCRF performs the corresponding information according to the relevant information. Policy and billing control rules are developed. This is a pull mode, that is, the PCEF needs to actively request the charging rules from the PCRF.

However, the current specification does not specify how the network performs Push mode PCC control when the user is in a roaming state to implement the policy and charging control process for the UE. Summary of the invention

In view of this, the main object of the present invention is to provide a policy and charging control method in a user roaming state, so as to implement a Push mode policy and charging control when the user is in a roaming state.

Another main object of the embodiments of the present invention is to provide a policy and charging control system in a user roaming state to implement policy and charging control for a UE in a user roaming state.

The embodiment of the present invention further provides a PCRF of the user's home network, so as to push the information required to establish the visited network side policy and the charging control rule to the PCRF of the user visited network.

The embodiment of the present invention further provides a PCRF for the user to visit the network, and generates and sends a policy and charging to the PCEF of the visited network according to the information required to formulate the visited network side policy and the charging control rule sent by the PCRF of the user home network. Control rules. To achieve the above objective, the technical solution of the embodiment of the present invention is implemented as follows: A policy and a charging control method in a user roaming state, including:

Application function AF sends the service information of the user equipment UE to the policy and charging rule function of the user home network PCRF;

The PCRF of the user's home network generates the information required to formulate the visited network side policy and the charging control rule according to the service information, and sends the information to the visited network PCRF;

The PCRF of the visited network formulates the visited network side policy and the charging control rule according to the information sent by the PCRF of the user home network, and sends the visited network side policy and the charging control rule to the visited network. The fee performs the function PCEF.

A policy and charging control system in a user roaming state, comprising: an AF, a PCEF of a user's visited network, a PCRF of the user's visited network, and a PCRF of the user's home network;

The AF, configured to send the service information of the UE in the network to the PCRF of the home network;

The PCRF of the home network is configured to generate, according to the received service information, information required to formulate a visited network side policy and a charging control rule, and send the information required to formulate the visited network side policy and the charging control rule. a PCRF to the visited network;

The PCRF of the visited network is configured to formulate a visited network side policy and a charging control rule according to the information sent by the PCRF of the home network, and send the visited network side policy and charging control rule to the Visit the PCEF of the network;

The PCEF of the visited network is configured to receive a visited network side policy and a charging control rule sent by the PCRF of the visited network.

a PCRF of a user home network, including an AF interface unit, a control unit, and a PCRF interface unit;

The AF interface unit is configured to receive service information of the UE that is sent by the AF, and send the information to the control unit; The control unit is configured to generate, according to the service information sent by the AF interface unit, information required to establish a visited network side policy and a charging control rule, and send the generated information to the PCRF interface unit;

The PCRF interface unit sends the information received from the control unit to the PCRF of the user visiting the network.

A PCRF for a user to visit a network, including a PCRF interface unit, a control unit, and a PCEF interface unit;

The PCRF interface unit is configured to receive information required by the PCRF sent by the user home network to formulate a visited network side policy and a charging control rule, and send the information to the control unit;

The control unit is configured to: according to the information received by the PCRF interface unit, formulate a visited network side policy and a charging control rule, and send the visited network side policy and charging control rule to the PCEF interface unit;

The PCEF interface unit is configured to send the received visited network side policy and charging control rule to the PCEF of the user visited network.

It can be seen from the above technical solution that, in the embodiment of the present invention, the AF obtains the service information of the user equipment UE, and sends the service information to the PCRF of the user home network, and the PCRF of the user home network generates according to the service information. Determining the information required to visit the network side policy and the charging control rule, and sending the information required to make the visited network side policy and the charging control rule to the PCRF of the visited network; then, the PCRF of the visited network is based on the user's home network. The information sent by the PCRF formulates the visited network side policy and the charging control rule, and sends the visited network side policy and the charging control rule to the PCEF of the visited network. Therefore, the present invention implements the policy and charging control of the Push mode when the user is in a roaming situation. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

1 is a schematic flow chart of a policy and charging control method in a user roaming state according to the present invention.

2 is a schematic diagram showing an exemplary structure of a policy and charging control system in a user roaming state according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a schematic flow chart showing a policy and a charging control method in a user roaming state according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a schematic flow chart showing a policy and charging control method in a user roaming state according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic flow chart showing a policy and charging control method in a user roaming state according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a schematic flow chart showing a policy and charging control method in a user roaming state according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

7 is a schematic flow chart of a policy and charging control method in a user roaming state according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic flow chart showing a policy and charging control method in a user roaming state according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic flow chart showing a policy and a charging control method in a user roaming state according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 10 is a detailed structural diagram of a policy and charging control system in a user roaming state according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention. Mode for carrying out the invention

The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the drawings and specific embodiments. 1 is a schematic flow chart of a policy and charging control method in a user roaming state according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 1, the method includes:

Step 101: The AF acquires service information of the UE, and sends the service information to a PCRF ( Home PCRF ) of the user home network;

Step 102: The PCRF of the user home network generates, according to the received service information, information required to formulate the visited network side policy and the charging control rule, and sends the information to the visited network PCRF;

The service information usually includes a service flow and its description information. At this time, the PCRF of the user home network generates a policy for determining the visited network side according to the service flow identified in the service information and/or the network itself triggering event and/or user subscription information. Information required for billing control rules.

The information required for the network-side policy and the charging control rule may be one or any combination of the following information: the original service information obtained from the AF, and the service information modified by the PCRF of the home network. The policy and charging rules formulated by the PCRF of the home network, part of the policies and charging rules formulated by the PCRF of the home network (for example, only the policy rules, or only the charging rules, or only the authorized QoS information), the home network All or part of the user subscription information acquired by the PCRF from the SPR, and the network access user home network node identifier is visited. The local network node identifier of the visited network access user may specifically be an IP address or a network node number.

Step 103: The PCRF of the visited network formulates a visited network side policy and a charging control rule according to the information sent by the PCRF of the user home network, and sends the visited network side policy and charging control rule to the visited network. PCEF ( Visit PCEF ).

Here, when the PCRF of the visited network formulates the visited network side policy and the charging control rule, in addition to the information sent according to the PCRF of the home network, further information may be further determined according to other information, for example, a roaming protocol and a visited carrier configuration information. , formulate strategies and plans Fee control rules.

Further, if some or all of the policies and charging control rules are already included in the information sent by the PCRF of the home network, the PCRF of the visited network needs to re-form or supplement/modify or completely accept the policies according to the network situation and other information. Billing control rules. If the information sent by the PCRF of the home network does not include any policy and charging control rules, the PCRF of the visited network needs to generate the final policy and charging control rules based on the relevant information. Here, the related information includes: information sent by the PCRF of the home network, local policy configuration information, and roaming protocol.

2 is a schematic diagram showing an exemplary structure of a policy and charging control system in a user roaming state according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the system includes: AF, PCEF of the user's visited network, PCRF of the user's visited network, and PCRF of the user's home network.

In the system, the AF is used to send the service information of the UE in the network to the PCRF of the home network.

The PCRF of the home network is configured to generate, according to the received service information, information required to formulate a visited network side policy and a charging control rule, and send the information required to formulate the visited network side policy and the charging control rule to the visit. PCRF of the network.

The PCRF of the visited network is configured to formulate a visited network side policy and a charging control rule according to the information sent by the home network PCRF, and send the visited network side policy and charging control rule to the PCEF of the visited network.

The PCEF of the visited network is used to receive the visited network side policy and the charging control rule sent by the PCRF of the visited network.

The embodiment of the present invention further provides a PCRF of the user home network and a PCRF of the user visited network, which can be applied to the system shown in FIG. 2 above.

The PCRF of the user home network includes an AF interface unit, a control unit, and a PCRF interface unit. In the PCRF of the home network of the user, the AF interface unit is configured to receive service information of the UE that is sent by the AF, and send the information to the control unit. The control unit is configured to generate, according to the service information sent by the AF interface unit, information required to formulate a visited network side policy and a charging control rule, and send the generated information to the PCRF interface unit. The PCRF interface unit sends the information received from the control unit to the PCRF of the user visited network.

The PCRF of the user visited network provided by the embodiment of the present invention includes a PCRF interface unit, a control unit, and a PCEF interface unit.

In the PCRF of the user visited network, the PCRF interface unit is configured to receive information required by the PCRF sent by the user's home network to formulate the visited network side policy and the charging control rule, and send the information to the control unit. The control unit is configured to: according to the information received by the PCRF interface unit, formulate a visited network side policy and a charging control rule, and send the visited network side policy and the charging control rule to the PCEF interface unit. The PCEF interface unit is configured to send the received visited network side policy and charging control rule to the PCEF of the user visited network.

In the above methods, systems and devices, the PCEF of the visited network may be located on the UPE of the visited network, or on the MME/UPE, or on the Inter AS Anchor, or on other network entities. In the information required for the network-side policy and the charging control rule, the home network node identifier of the visited network access user may be carried, and the home network node identifier of the network access user may be an IP address, a network node number, or Other forms.

Preferably, it is also necessary to formulate policies and charging control rules of the user home network side. The following describes the preferred process of formulating the policy and charging control rules of the user's home network. Following the above process, after step 103, the PCRF (Home PCRF) of the home network generates a home network side policy and a charging control rule according to the service information, and sends the home network side policy and charging control rule to The PCEF (Home PCEF) of the user's home network. Similarly, the PCEF of the user's home network can be located in the home network of the user. On the UPE or MME/UPE, or on the Inter AS Anchor, or on other network entities.

Correspondingly, the PCEF of the home network of the user may be further included in the system shown in FIG. 2, and the PCRF of the home network in the system is further configured to generate a home network side policy and charging control according to the received service information. And sending the home network side policy and the charging control rule to the PCEF of the home network; the PCEF of the home network is configured to receive the home network side policy and the charging control rule.

In the above process and system, the PCEF of the visited network may initiate a bearer with the PCEF of the user home network, and may also initiate a bearer with the PCEF of the visited network by the PCEF of the user home network.

A first embodiment of the present invention is described below. In the first embodiment, a PCEF of a visited network initiates a bearer with a PCEF of a user home network. Fig. 3 is a schematic flow chart showing a policy and charging control method in a user roaming state according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 3, the method includes:

Step 301: The AF acquires the service information of the UE, where the service information is preferably related to the session parameter negotiation of the communication peer, and the service information is sent to the PCRF of the user home network.

Step 302: The PCRF of the home network of the user stores the received service-related information as a basis for subsequent policy and charging control rules, and returns an acknowledgement message to the AF.

Step 303: The PCRF of the user home network generates information required for formulating a policy and a charging control rule according to the service flow or the network self-triggering event identified in the service information provided by the AF, where the generated information includes the service information provided by the AF and The information about the user's subscription, etc., if there is no subscription information related to the user in the PCRF of the home network, it will be obtained from the SPR through the Sp interface. The generated information required to formulate policies and charging control rules may be one or any combination of the following: Unobtained from AF Service information, modified by the PCRF of the home network, the home network

The policy and charging rules formulated by the PCRF, the partial policies and charging rules formulated by the PCRF of the home network (for example, only the policy rules, or only the charging rules, or only the authorized QoS information), the PCRF of the home network from the SPR Obtain all or part of the user subscription information, and visit the network access user home network node identifier. Subsequently, the PCRF of the user's home network pushes the information required to formulate the policy and charging control rules to the corresponding visited network PCRF where the UE roams according to the roaming network where the user is located.

Step 304: The visited network where the UE roams The PCRF receives the corresponding information as a basis for formulating the policy and the charging control rule, and returns an acknowledgement message to the PCRF of the user home network.

Step 305: The PCRF of the visited network formulates the visited network side policy and the charging control rule according to the related information provided by the PCRF of the user home network and the network configuration and/or the roaming protocol of the visited network, and formulates the visited network side policy and charging. The control rule is pushed to the visited network PCEF where the UE roams;

Or the PCRF of the visited network formulates the visited network side policy and the charging control rule according to the related information provided by the PCRF of the user home network and the network configuration and/or the roaming protocol of the visited network, and notifies the visiting network PCEF where the UE roaming requests to visit the network side. Policy and charging control rules, the visited network PCEF where the UE roams requests the policy and charging control rules from the PCRF of the visited network, and the PCRF of the visited network returns the visited network side policy and the charging control rule.

When formulating the policy and charging control rules on the network side, if the information sent by the PCRF of the home network already includes some or all of the policies and charging control rules, the PCRF of the visited network needs to be based on the network and other information. Re-enact or supplement/modify or fully accept these policies and charging control rules. If the information sent by the PCRF of the home network does not include any policy and charging control rules, then The PCRF of the visited network needs to generate the final policy and charging control rules based on the relevant information. Step 306: The PCRF of the user home network formulates a user home network side policy and charging control rule, and pushes the formulated user home network side policy and charging control rule to the PCEF of the home network of the visited user of the visited network; or the user belongs to The PCRF of the network formulates the user's home network side policy and charging control rules, and notifies the user of the home network PCEF to request the user's home network side policy and charging control rules, and the user home network PCEF requests the policy and charging control rules from the user home network's PCRF. The PCRF of the user home network returns the user home network side policy and charging control rules.

Here, step 306 can be performed immediately after step 302 or 303, and the step and step 303 can be in any order.

Step 307: Visiting the network PCEF performs bearer establishment with the UE.

Step 308: Visiting the network The PCEF requests to establish a bearer with the PCEF of the user's home network.

Step 309: The PCEF of the user home network returns a bearer establishment response to the visited network PCEF, and completes the establishment.

Step 310: The UE performs a session with the communication peer, and the PCEF of the user home network and the visited network PCEF respectively perform corresponding policy and charging control.

When the PCEF of the visited network initiates a bearer with the PCEF of the user's home network, the PCEF of the visited network may initiate a bearer setup request to the UE, or the UE may initiate a bearer setup request to the PCEF of the visited network. 4 is a schematic flow chart showing a policy and a charging control method in a user roaming state according to a second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 4, the method includes:

Step 401: The AF acquires the service information of the UE, where the service information is preferably related to the session parameter negotiation of the communication peer, and the service information is sent to the PCRF of the user home network. Step 402: The PCRF of the home network of the user stores the received service-related information as a basis for subsequent policy and charging control rules, and returns an acknowledgement message to the AF.

Step 403: The PCRF of the user home network generates information required for formulating the policy and the charging control rule according to the service flow or the network self-triggering event identified in the service information provided by the AF, and the generated basis includes the service information provided by the AF and the user. If the user does not have the subscription information related to the user in the PCRF of the home network, it will be obtained from the SPR through the Sp interface. Subsequently, the PCRF of the user's home network pushes the information required to formulate the policy and charging control rules to the corresponding visited network PCRF where the UE is roaming according to the roaming network where the user is located.

Step 404: The visited network where the UE roams the PCRF to receive the corresponding information, as a basis for formulating the policy and the charging control rule, and returning the confirmation message to the PCRF of the user home network.

Step 405: The visited network PCRF formulates the visited network side policy and the charging control rule according to the related information provided by the PCRF of the user home network and the network configuration and/or the roaming protocol of the visited network, and formulates the visited network side policy and charging control. The rule is pushed to the visited network PCEF where the UE roams;

Here, the PCEF of the visited network may be located on the MME of the visited network, or UPE or INTER AS ANCHOR.

Step 406: The PCRF of the user home network formulates a user home network side policy and Charge control rules, and push the formulated user home network side policy and charging control rules to the PCEF of the home network of the visited user of the visited network;

Or the PCRF of the user home network formulates the user home network side policy and the charging control rule, and notifies the user of the home network PCEF to request the user home network side policy and charging control rule, and the PCR policy request policy of the user home network PCEF to the user home network The fee control rule, the PCRF of the user home network returns the user home network side policy and the charging control rule.

Step 407: The PCEF of the visited network initiates a bearer setup request to the UE.

Step 408: The UE returns a bearer setup response to the PCEF of the visited network, and completes bearer setup.

Step 409: The PCEF requesting to visit the network establishes bearer establishment with the PCEF of the user home network.

Similarly, the PCEF of the subscriber's home network can be located on the MME, or UPE or INTER AS ANCHOR.

Step 410: The PCEF of the user home network returns a bearer setup response to the PCEF of the visited network, and completes the bearer establishment.

Step 411: The UE performs a session with the communication peer, and the PCEF of the user home network and the PCEF of the visited network respectively perform policy and charging control.

In the present invention, when the PCEF of the visited network initiates a bearer setup with the PCEF of the user's home network, the UE may also initiate a bearer setup request to the PCEF of the visited network. FIG. 5 is a schematic flow chart showing a policy and a charging control method in a user roaming state according to a third embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 4, the method includes:

Step 501: The AF acquires the service information of the UE, where the service information is preferably related to the session parameter negotiation of the communication peer, and the service information is sent to the PCRF of the user home network. Step 502: The PCRF of the user home network stores the received service-related information as a basis for subsequent policy and charging control rules, and returns an acknowledgement message to the AF.

Step 503: The PCRF of the user home network generates information required for formulating the policy and the charging control rule according to the service flow or the network self-triggering event identified in the service information provided by the AF, and the generated basis includes the service information provided by the AF and the user. If the user does not have the subscription information related to the user in the PCRF of the home network, it will be obtained from the SPR through the Sp interface. Subsequently, the PCRF of the user's home network pushes the information required to formulate the policy and charging control rules to the corresponding visited network PCRF where the UE roams according to the roaming network where the user is located.

Step 504: The visited network where the UE roams the PCRF receives the corresponding information as a basis for formulating the policy and the charging control rule, and returns an acknowledgement message to the PCRF of the user home network.

Step 505: The PCRF of the visited network formulates the visited network side policy and the charging control rule according to the related information provided by the PCRF of the user home network and the network configuration and/or the roaming protocol of the visited network, and formulates the visited network side policy and charging. The control rule is pushed to the visited network PCEF where the UE roams;

Or the PCRF of the visited network formulates the visited network side policy and the charging control rule according to the related information provided by the PCRF of the user home network and the network configuration and/or the roaming protocol of the visited network, and notifies the visiting network PCEF where the UE roaming requests to visit the network side. Policy and charging control rules, the visited network PCEF where the UE roams requests the policy and charging control rules from the PCRF of the visited network, and the PCRF of the visited network returns the visited network side policy and the charging control rule. Or UPE or INTER AS ANCHOR.

Step 506: The PCRF of the user home network formulates a user home network side policy and Charge control rules, and push the defined user home network side policy and charging control rules to the user network PCEF accessed by the visited network;

Step 507: The PCEF of the visited network initiates a bearer establishment requirement to the UE.

Step 508: After receiving the bearer setup requirement, the UE initiates a bearer setup request to the PCEF of the visited network.

Step 509: The PCEF of the visited network returns a bearer setup response to the UE, and completes the bearer establishment.

Step 510: The PCEF requesting to visit the network establishes bearer establishment with the PCEF of the user home network.

Step 511: The PCEF of the user home network returns a bearer setup response to the PCEF of the visited network, and completes the bearer establishment.

Step 512: The UE performs a session with the communication peer, the PCEF of the user home network, and the execution policy and charging control of the visited network PCEF.

Similarly, the PCEF of the subscriber's home network may also be located on the MME, or UPE or INTER AS ANCHOR of the subscriber's home network.

Various exemplary embodiments have been described above for initiating a PCEF setup bearer with a user home network from a PCEF of a visited network. Similarly, the present invention can also initiate a bearer setup with the PCEF of the visited network by the PCEF of the user's home network.

FIG. 6 is a schematic flowchart diagram of a policy and charging control method in a user roaming state according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In the fourth embodiment, by the user's home network The PCEF initiates a bearer with the PCEF of the visited network. As shown in FIG. 6, the method includes: Step 601: The AF acquires service information of the UE, where the service information is preferably related to the session parameter negotiation of the communication peer, and the service information is sent to the PCRF of the user home network.

Step 602: The PCRF of the home network of the user stores the received service-related information as a basis for subsequent policy and charging control rules, and returns an acknowledgement message to the AF.

Step 603: The PCRF of the user home network generates information required for formulating the policy and the charging control rule according to the service flow or the network self-triggering event identified in the service information provided by the AF, and the generated basis includes the service information provided by the AF and the user. If the user does not have the subscription information related to the user in the PCRF of the home network, it will be obtained from the SPR through the Sp interface. Subsequently, the PCRF of the user's home network pushes the information required to formulate the policy and charging control rules to the corresponding visited network PCRF where the UE is roaming according to the roaming network where the user is located.

Step 604: The visited network where the UE roams the PCRF receives the corresponding information as a basis for formulating the policy and the charging control rule, and returns an acknowledgement message to the PCRF of the user home network.

Step 605: The PCRF of the visited network formulates the visited network side policy and the charging control rule according to the related information provided by the PCRF of the user home network and the network configuration and/or the roaming protocol of the visited network, and formulates the visited network side policy and charging. The control rule is pushed to the visited network PCEF where the UE roams;

Or the PCRF of the visited network formulates the visited network side policy and the charging control rule according to the related information provided by the PCRF of the user home network and the network configuration and/or the roaming protocol of the visited network, and notifies the visiting network PCEF where the UE roaming requests to visit the network side. Policy and charging control rules, the visited network PCEF where the UE roams requests the policy and charging control rules from the PCRF of the visited network, and the PCRF of the visited network returns to the visited network side. Policy and billing control rules.

Step 606: The PCRF of the user's home network formulates the user's home network side policy and the charging control rule, and pushes the established user home network side policy and charging control rule to the PCEF of the visited user's home network.

Step 607: After the user home network PCEF receives the user home network side policy and the fee control rule, the PCEF requests to establish a bearer with the PCEF of the visited network.

Here, step 606 can be performed immediately after step 602 or 603, which can be in any order.

Step 608: The PCEF of the visited network performs bearer establishment with the UE.

Step 609: The PCEF of the visited network returns a bearer establishment response to the user home network PCEF, and completes the bearer establishment.

Step 610: The UE performs a session with the communication peer, and the PCEF of the user home network and the visited network PCEF respectively perform policy and charging control.

In the process shown in FIG. 6, when the PCEF of the home network of the user initiates the establishment of a bearer with the PCEF of the visited network, the PCEF of the visited network may initiate a bearer establishment request to the UE. FIG. 7 is a schematic flow chart showing a policy and a fee control method in a user roaming state according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 7, the method includes:

Step 701: The AF acquires the service information of the UE, where the service information is preferably related to the session parameter negotiation of the communication peer, and the service information is sent to the PCRF of the user home network. Step 702: The PCRF of the home network of the user stores the received service-related information as a basis for subsequent policy and charging control rules, and returns an acknowledgement message to the AF.

Step 703: The PCRF of the user home network generates information required for formulating the policy and the charging control rule according to the service flow or the network self-triggering event identified in the service information provided by the AF, and the generated basis includes the service information provided by the AF and the user. If the user does not have the subscription information related to the user in the PCRF of the home network, it will be obtained from the SPR through the Sp interface. Subsequently, the PCRF of the user's home network pushes the information required to formulate the policy and charging control rules to the corresponding visited network PCRF where the UE roams according to the roaming network where the user is located.

Step 704: The visited network where the UE roams the PCRF receives the corresponding information as a basis for formulating the policy and the charging control rule, and returns an acknowledgement message to the PCRF of the user home network.

Step 705: The PCRF of the visited network formulates the visited network side policy and the charging control rule according to the related information provided by the PCRF of the user home network and the network configuration and/or roaming protocol of the visited network, and formulates the visited network side policy and charging. The control rule is pushed to the visited network PCEF where the UE roams;

Step 706: The PCRF of the user home network formulates a user home network side policy and charging control rule, and pushes the formulated user home network side policy and charging control rule to the PCEF of the home network of the visited user of the visited network; Or the PCRF of the user home network formulates the user home network side policy and the charging control rule, and notifies the user of the home network PCEF to request the user home network side policy and charging control rule, and the PCR policy request policy of the user home network PCEF to the user home network The fee control rule, the PCRF of the user home network returns the user home network side policy and the charging control rule.

Step 707: After receiving the user home network side policy and the charging control rule, the PCEF of the user home network requests to establish a bearer establishment with the PCEF of the visited network.

Step 708: The PCEF of the visited network initiates a bearer setup request to the UE.

Step 709: The UE returns a bearer setup response to the PCEF of the visited network, and completes bearer setup.

Step 710: The PCEF of the visited network returns a bearer setup response to the PCEF of the home network of the user, and completes the bearer establishment.

Step 711: The UE performs a session with the communication peer, and the PCEF of the user home network and the PCEF of the visited network respectively perform policy and charging control.

In the process shown in FIG. 6, when the PCEF of the user home network initiates a PCEF setup with the visited network, the UE may also initiate a bearer setup request to the PCEF of the visited network. FIG. 8 is a schematic flow chart showing a policy and a charging control method in a user roaming state according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 8, the method includes: Step 801: The AF acquires service information of the UE, where the service information is preferably related to the session parameter negotiation of the communication peer, and the service information is sent to the PCRF of the user home network.

Step 802: The PCRF of the home network of the user stores the received service-related information as a basis for subsequent policy and charging control rules, and returns an acknowledgement message to the AF.

Step 803: The PCRF of the user home network generates a policy and a charging control rule according to the service flow or the network self-trigger event identified in the service information provided by the AF. The required information is generated based on the service information provided by the AF and the information related to the user's subscription. If the user does not have the subscription information related to the user in the PCRF of the home network, it will be obtained from the SPR through the Sp interface. Subsequently, the PCRF of the user's home network pushes the information required to formulate the policy and charging control rules to the corresponding visited network PCRF where the UE roams according to the roaming network where the user is located.

Step 804: The visited network where the UE roams the PCRF receives the corresponding information as a basis for formulating the policy and the charging control rule, and returns an acknowledgement message to the PCRF of the user home network.

Step 805: The PCRF of the visited network formulates the visited network side policy and the charging control rule according to the related information provided by the PCRF of the user home network and the network configuration and/or the roaming protocol of the visited network, and formulates the visited network side policy and charging. The control rule is pushed to the visited network PCEF where the UE roams;

Step 806: The PCRF of the user home network formulates a user home network side policy and a charging control rule, and pushes the formulated user home network side policy and charging control rule to the PCEF of the home network of the visited user of the visited network;

Or the PCRF of the user home network formulates the user home network side policy and the charging control rule, and notifies the user of the home network PCEF to request the user home network side policy and charging control rule, and the PCR policy request policy of the user home network PCEF to the user home network Charge control rule, the PCRF of the user's home network returns the user's home network side policy and billing Control rules.

Step 807: After receiving the policy and charging control rule, the PCEF of the home network of the user requests to establish a bearer with the PCEF of the visited network.

Step 808: The PCEF of the visited network initiates a bearer setup requirement to the UE.

Step 809: After receiving the bearer setup requirement, the UE initiates a bearer setup request to the PCEF of the visited network.

Step 810: The PCEF of the visited network returns a bearer setup response to the UE, and completes the bearer establishment.

Step 811: The PCEF of the visited network returns a bearer setup response to the PCEF of the home network of the user, and completes the establishment of the bearer.

Step 812: The UE performs a session with the communication peer, and the PCEF of the user home network and the PCEF of the visited network respectively perform policy and charging control.

Similarly, the PCEF of the visited network may be located on the MME, UPE, and INTER AS ANCHOR of the visited network, and the PCEF of the home network may also be located on the MME, UPE, and INTER AS ANCHOR of the home network.

The seventh embodiment of the present invention is described below. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an exemplary flow of a policy and charging control method in a user roaming state according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 9, the method includes:

Step 901: The AF acquires the service information of the UE, where the service information is preferably related to the session parameter negotiation of the communication peer, and the service information is sent to the PCRF of the user home network.

Step 902: The PCRF of the home network of the user stores the received service-related information as a basis for subsequent policy and charging control rules, and returns an acknowledgement message to the AF.

Step 903: The PCRF of the user home network generates a policy and a charging control rule according to the service flow or the network self-trigger event identified in the service information provided by the AF. The required information, which is generated based on the business information provided by the AF and the information related to the user's contract. If there is no subscription information related to the user in the PCRF of the home network, the SPR interface is obtained from the SPR;

Then, the PCRF of the user's home network pushes the information required to formulate the policy and charging control rules to the corresponding visited network PCRF where the UE roams according to the roaming network where the user is located; the visited network PCRF where the UE roams receives the corresponding information, as a follow-up strategy And the basis of the charging control rule, and returning an acknowledgment message to the PCRF of the user home network; or the PCRF of the user home network notifying the visited network PCRF user service request, and the user visited the network PCRF to request the network side policy and the PCRF of the user home network The information required by the fee control rule, the PCRF of the home network returns the information required to access the network side policy and the charging control rule.

Step 804: The PCRF of the visited network formulates the visited network side policy and the charging control rule according to the related information provided by the PCRF of the user home network and the network configuration and/or the roaming protocol of the visited network, and formulates the visited network side policy and charging. The control rule is pushed to the visited network PCEF where the UE roams;

Step 905: The PCRF of the home network of the user formulates a home network side policy and a charging control rule, and pushes the formulated home network side policy and the charging control rule to the PCEF of the home network accessed by the visited network.

Or the PCRF of the home network of the user formulates the home network side policy and the charging control rule. And notifying the user that the home network PCEF requests the home network side policy and the charging control rule, the user home network PCEF requests the policy and the charging control rule from the PCRF of the user home network, and the PCRF of the user home network returns the home network side policy and charging. Control rules.

Step 906: Visiting the network PCEF performs bearer establishment with the UE.

Step 907: Visiting the network PCEF establishes a bearer with the PCEF of the user home network. Here, the method for establishing a bearer by visiting the network PCEF and the PCEF of the user home network may refer to any one of Embodiments 1 to 6.

Step 908: The UE performs service interaction with the communication peer end, and the PCEF of the home network and the visited network PCEF respectively perform corresponding policy and charging control.

When the PCEF of the visited network initiates the establishment of a bearer with the UE, the PCEF of the visited network may initiate a bearer setup request to the UE, or the UE may initiate a bearer setup request to the PCEF of the visited network.

Figure 10 is a detailed structural diagram of a policy and charging control system in a user roaming state according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention. This system is a specific embodiment of the system shown in Figure 2. It can be used to implement the method flow of the above first to seventh embodiments. As shown in Figure 10, the system includes: AF, the PCEF of the user's visited network, the PCRF of the user's visited network, the PCRF of the user's home network, and the PCEF of the user's home network.

The PCRF of the home network is configured to generate, according to the received service information, information required to formulate a visited network side policy and a charging control rule, and send the information required to formulate the visited network side policy and the charging control rule to the visit. The PCRF of the network is further configured to generate a home network side policy and a charging control rule according to the received service information, and send the home network side policy and the charging control rule to the PCEF of the home network.

Visiting the PCRF of the network for transmitting the information according to the PCRF of the home network The network side policy and the charging control rule are formulated, and the visited network side policy and the charging control rule are sent to the PCEF of the visited network.

The visited PCEF is used to receive the visited network side policy and the charging control rule sent by the PCRF of the visited network, and establish a bearer with the PCEF and the UE of the home network respectively, and execute the policy according to the received visited network side policy and the charging control rule. And billing control.

The PCEF of the home network is configured to receive the home network side policy and the charging control rule, and establish a bearer with the PCEF of the visited network, and perform policy and charging control according to the received home network side policy and the charging control rule.

In the above process, the method for the network to initiate policy charging control in the case of roaming is clarified, which is very beneficial to improve the inter-network capability and the efficiency of service negotiation.

The above is only the preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Any modifications, equivalents, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and scope of the present invention are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

Claim

A policy and charging control method in a user roaming state, characterized in that the method comprises:

The method for charging and controlling the user in a roaming state according to claim 1, wherein after the AF sends the service information of the UE to the PCRF of the user's home network, the method further includes:

The PCRF of the user home network generates a home network side policy and a charging control rule according to the service information, and sends the home network side policy and charging control rule to the PCEF of the user home network.

3. The policy and charging control method in a user roaming state according to claim 2, wherein the PCEF of the visited network and the PCEF of the home network respectively receive the visited network side policy and charging control rule and After the home network side policy and the charging control rule, the method further includes:

The PCEF of the visited network establishes a bearer with the PCEF of the home network of the user, and the PCEF of the visited network establishes a bearer with the UE.

4. The policy and charging control method in a user roaming state according to claim 3, wherein:

The PCEF of the visited network establishes a bearer with the UE as: PCEF of the visited network to the UE Sending a bearer setup request, the UE returns a bearer setup response to the PCEF of the visited network, and completes the bearer establishment of the PCEF and the UE of the visited network;

The PCEF of the visited network establishes a bearer with the PCEF of the home network of the user: The PCEF of the visited network sends a bearer setup request to the PCEF of the home network of the user, and the PCEF of the user home network returns a bearer setup response to the PCEF of the visited network, and completes the visited network. The PCEF and the PCEF of the user's home network are built in 7 ports.

5. The policy and charging control method in a user roaming state according to claim 3, wherein:

The PCEF of the visited network establishes a bearer with the UE as follows: The PCEF of the visited network sends a bearer setup request to the UE, and the UE sends a bearer setup request to the PCEF of the visited network according to the bearer setup requirement, and the PCEF of the visited network returns a bearer setup response to the UE. , completing the bearer establishment of the PCEF and the UE of the visited network;

The PCEF of the visited network establishes a bearer with the PCEF of the home network of the user: The PCEF of the visited network sends a bearer setup request to the PCEF of the home network of the user, and the PCEF of the user home network returns a bearer setup response to the PCEF of the visited network, and completes the visited network. The PCEF and the PCEF of the user's home network are set up.

The policy and charging control method in the roaming state of the user according to claim 3, wherein the PCEF of the visited network establishes a bearer with the PCEF of the home network of the user, and the PCEF of the visited network establishes a bearer with the UE as:

The PCEF of the user home network sends a bearer setup request to the PCEF of the visited network, and the PCEF of the visited network sends a bearer setup request to the UE;

The UE returns a bearer setup response to the PCEF of the visited network, and completes the bearer setup of the PCEF of the UE and the visited network. The PCEF of the visited network returns a bearer setup response to the PCEF of the home network of the user, and completes the bearer of the PCEF of the home network and the PCEF of the visited network. set up.

7. The policy and charging control method in a user roaming state according to claim 3, The PCEF of the visited network establishes a bearer with the PCEF of the home network of the user, and the PCEF of the visited network establishes a bearer with the UE as:

The PCEF of the user's home network sends a bearer setup request to the PCEF of the visited network. The PCEF of the visited network sends a bearer setup request to the UE, and the UE sends a bearer setup request to the PCEF of the visited network according to the bearer setup requirement, and the PCEF of the visited network is forwarded. The UE returns a bearer setup response, and completes bearer establishment of the PCEF and the UE of the visited network;

The PCEF of the visited network returns a bearer setup response to the PCEF of the user home network, and completes the establishment of the PCEF of the visited network and the PCEF bearer of the user home network.

The policy and charging control method in a user roaming state according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the information required for formulating the visited network side policy and the charging control rule includes the following one. Or any combination: the service information obtained from the AF, the service information modified by the PCRF of the home network, all or part of the policy and charging rules formulated by the PCRF of the home network, all or part of the users acquired by the PCRF of the home network from the SPR Signing information, visiting the network access user home network node identifier.

The policy and charging control method in the roaming state of the user according to claim 8, wherein the visited home network node identifier comprises: an IP address or a network node number.

The policy and the fee control method in the roaming state of the user according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the service information includes a service flow;

Step A: The PCRF of the user home network generates, according to the service information, information required to formulate a visited network side policy and a charging control rule, including:

The PCRF of the user's home network generates the information required to formulate the network side policy and the charging control rule according to the service flow and/or the network self-triggering event and/or the user subscription information identified in the service information.

11. The policy and charging controller in the roaming state of the user according to claim 10 The method is characterized in that the user subscription information is obtained from the SPR by the Sp interface.

The policy and charging control method in a user roaming state according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the PCRF of the visited network is further determined according to a network configuration and/or a roaming protocol of the visited network. Visit the network side policy and charging control rules.

The policy and charging control method in the roaming state of the user according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the PCEF of the visited network is located at the Inter AS Anchor of the user interface anchor between the access systems. Or located on the user plane entity UPE or on the mobility management module MME.

The policy and charging control method in a user roaming state according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the PCEF of the user home network is located on the Inter AS Anchor or on the UPE, or Located on the MME.

The policy and charging control method in a user roaming state according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the PCRF of the user home network formulates a visited network side policy and a charging control rule. The PCRF sent to the visited network is:

The PCRF of the user's home network actively pushes the information required to visit the network side policy and charging control rules to the PCRF of the visited network, or

The PCRF of the user's home network notifies the network PCRF user service request. After receiving the user service request, the visited network PCRF requests the PCRF request of the user home network to determine the information required to access the network side policy and the charging control rule, and then the home network. The PCRF returns the information required to formulate the visited network side policy and the charging control rule to the visited network PCRF.

16. A policy and charging control system in a user roaming state, the system comprising: an AF, a PCEF of a user visited network, a PCRF of a visited network of the user, and a PCRF of the user's home network;

The AF, configured to send service information of a UE in a network to a PCRF of the home network; The PCRF of the home network is configured to generate, according to the received service information, information required to formulate a visited network side policy and a charging control rule, and send the information required to formulate the visited network side policy and the charging control rule. a PCRF to the visited network;

17. The policy and charging control system in a user roaming state according to claim 16, wherein the system further comprises a PCEF of the user's home network;

The PCRF of the home network is further configured to generate a home network side policy and a charging control rule according to the received service information, and send the home network side policy and charging control rule to the PCEF of the home network;

The PCEF of the home network is configured to receive a home network side policy and a charging control rule.

18. The policy and charging control system in a user roaming state according to claim 17, wherein:

The PCEF of the visited network is further configured to establish a bearer with the PCEF of the home network, and establish a bearer with the UE; and further, execute the policy and charging control according to the received visited network side policy and the charging control rule;

The PCEF of the home network is configured to establish a bearer with the PCEF of the visited network, and perform policy and charging control according to the received home network side policy and charging control rule.

19. A PCRF of a user home network, wherein the PCRF comprises an AF interface unit, a control unit, and a PCRF interface unit;

20. A PCRF for a user to visit a network, wherein the PCRF comprises a PCRF interface unit, a control unit, and a PCEF interface unit;