WO2009056063A1

WO2009056063A1 - Information query method, device and system in pcc architecture

Info

Publication number: WO2009056063A1
Application number: PCT/CN2008/072818
Authority: WO
Inventors: Shiyong Tan; Wei Wang
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2007-10-26
Filing date: 2008-10-24
Publication date: 2009-05-07
Also published as: CN101420338A; CN101420338B

Abstract

An information query method in PCC architecture includes: an information query indication sent by an information querier is received by an information provider; the information which needs to be queried currently indicated by the information query indication is queried; the information retrieved currently which corresponds to the information needing to be queried currently is sent to the information querier. An information query system in PCC architecture is also provided. The information querier in the present invention can obtain the information needing to be queried in time and perform corresponding other operations according to the current information of an event obtained in time.

Description

Information query method, device and system in PCC architecture

Technical field

The present invention relates to the field of service quality control and charging technologies, and in particular to policy and charging control (PCC, Policy and

Charging Control) Information query method, device and system in the architecture. Background art

Communication networks are undergoing a history of evolution from traditional Circuit Switched (CS) networks to IP-based Packet Switched (PS) networks. In the meantime, in order to provide carrier-class services for users in an evolved network, it is necessary to solve the problem of end-to-end quality of service (QoS). At the same time, in order to protect the interests of operators, the evolved network is required to be capable of charging for non-books and service data flows and QoS levels.

Based on the development needs of the evolved network, the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) defines the PCC architecture. Based on the PCC architecture, the evolved network can perform QoS control and charging statistics for different detected service data flows. .

Referring to Figure 1, Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the PCC architecture. The following mainly discusses the Policy Control and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) entity, Policy and Charging Enforcement Function (PCEF) entity, and the user subscription database (SPR, Subscription Profile). Repository) The AF (Application Function) entity, the Rx interface between AF and PCRF, and the Gx interface between PCEF and PCRF.

The PCRF mainly formulates PCC rules according to factors such as an operator policy, restrictions on user access to the network, user subscription data, and service information of the service currently being performed by the user. The PCC rules usually include a detection rule of the service data flow, a QoS control rule corresponding to the service data flow, and a charging rule based on the service data flow, and the like;

PCEF mainly implements PCC rules formulated by PCRF, such as detecting and measuring service data flows according to PCC rules, guaranteeing service QoS, user plane traffic processing and session management of trigger control plane, etc.; PCEF can be set at the gateway ( GW, Gateway);

SPR mainly provides user contracting data for formulating PCC rules to the PCRF;

The AF mainly provides the application layer service information dynamically to the PCRF, and the PCRF can dynamically generate or modify the corresponding PCC rule according to the service information.

The PCEF and the PCRF implement communication based on the Gx interface, for example, the PCRF is a PCC rule, and the interface can be used. The PCEF is queried for information required to formulate PCC rules, such as the UE's preferred bearer control mode, bearer identifier, IP-Connected Access Network (IP-CAN, IP-Connectivity Access Network), QoS information for bearer requests, etc.; PCRF can pass The interface issues the established PCC rules to the PCEF.

Referring to FIG. 2, FIG. 2 is a flow chart of message interaction between PCEF and PCRF based on existing Gx, and the process may include the following steps:

Step 201: The PCEF/GW receives an IP-CAN session establishment request message from the access network.

Step 202: The PCEF sends a CCR (Credit-Control-Request) message to the PCRF to request the PCRF to send a PCC rule, where the CCR message includes the UE identifier and the IP address. And other information.

Step 203: The PCRF formulates a PCC rule according to the information included in the received CCR message, the restriction of the user accessing the network, the operator policy, the user subscription data, the service information performed by the current user, and the event triggering (Event) -Trigger) list.

The Event-Trigger list lists the information that the PCRF expects to query. That is, when an event in the list occurs, the PCRF expects the PCEF to feed back the event information that occurred to the PCRF.

Step 204: The PCRF sends a CCA (Calculator-Control-Answer) message to the PCEF, which includes the generated PCC rule, and sends an Event-Trigger list to the PCEF.

Step 205: The PCEF loads the PCC rule and starts detecting events in the Event-Trigger list.

Step 206: The PCEF sends an IP-CAN session establishment response message to the access network.

Step 207: The PCEF detects the trigger event according to the Event-Trigger list delivered by the PCRF.

Step 208: After detecting an event in the Event-Trigger list, the PCEF sends a CCR request to the PCRF, reports an event that triggers the request, and provides information related to the event to the PCRF.

Step 209: The PCRF re-forms the PCC rule according to the event that occurs, and can re-determine the Event-Trigger list.

Step 210: The PCRF sends a CCA response to the PCEF.

Step 211: The PCRF actively sends a PCC rule and an Event-Trigger list to the PCEF by using a Re-Auth-Request (RAR) message.

Step 212: When receiving the RAR message sent by the PCRF, the PCEF loads the PCC rule in the message, stores the Event-Trigger list, and responds to the RAA (Re-Auth-Answer) message.

The foregoing process of Figure 2 includes the existing information query mode between the PCEF and the PCRF. The information may include various information that can be transmitted between the PCEF and the PCRF through a message, such as a PCC rule requested by the PCEF to the PCRF, and the PCRF requests the PCEF. Various event occurrence status and event related information, PCC regulations issued by PCRF to PCEF according to the triggered event Then wait.

The PCRF and the PCEF are based on the CCR and CCA message pairs, and the information that the peer end expects to obtain is transmitted. For example, the PCEF can report the information used by the PCRF to the PCC rule in the CCR message. After the PCRF receives the CCR message, if the PCRF receives the CCR message, If the reported information is incomplete, it will respond to the error code in the CCA message returned to the PCEF in a timely manner, indicating that the PCEF report information is incomplete, and can clearly indicate which AVPs need to report the PCEF but not report it.

Referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 1 , the AF and the PCRF communicate based on the Rx interface, and the AF can deliver the service information of the application layer to the PCRF based on the Rx interface.

Referring to FIG. 3, FIG. 3 is a flowchart of message interaction between the AF and the PCRF based on the existing Rx, and the process may include the following steps:

Step 301: The AF receives an internal or external trigger to establish a new AF session, and obtains media information of the AF session.

Step 302: The AF defines service information.

Step 303: The AF provides service information to the PCRF through an AAR message. The information includes a session type, a media description, a charging-related parameter, a source destination IP address, a subscription ID, a priority, an emergency service identifier, and the like, and can send an AF-specific event-specific trigger list to the PCRF. At the time of the event, the PCRF is requested to notify the AF.

Step 304: The PCRF stores the service information received from the AF.

Step 305 to step 306, the PCRF needs to subscribe to relevant information, such as user subscription information, and send a subscription information request to the SPR. After receiving the PCRF request, the SPR sends a subscription information response to the PCRF, and returns related information.

Step 307: The PCRF performs session binding on the session between the UE and the AF, and the session between the UE and the PCEF to identify the associated established IP-CAN session.

Step 308: After the session is successfully bound, the PCRF returns an AAA message to the AF as a response.

Step 309: The PCRF interacts with the PCEF.

Step 310: The PCRF performs event detection according to the Sprint cif ic_Action sent by the AF.

Step 311: After detecting the event, the PCRF sends an RAR request to the AF, where the RAR message is configured with description information of an event that causes the request, and the event information may be provided in the description information.

The event description information may be carried by a Specific-Action AVP in the RAR message.

Step 312: The AF performs corresponding processing according to the event related information reported by the PCRF, for example, re-determining the Specific-Action list.

Step 313: The AF sends an RAA to the PCRF to provide updated service information.

The above-mentioned process of FIG. 3 includes the existing information query mode between the AF and the PCRF, and the information may include various information that can be transmitted through the message between the AF and the PCRF, such as the service information reported by the AF to the PCRF. The AIF and AAA message pairs are used between the PCRF and the AF to transmit the information that the peer expects to acquire.

In the above process shown in FIG. 2, the CCR message or the CCA message can provide relevant information to the message receiver. Therefore, in fact, the CCR and CCA message pairs are not dedicated to the information that can be queried according to the information query end, and the information is queried. Provide information query mechanism for related information. Similarly, in the flow shown in FIG. 3, both the AAR message and the AAA message can also provide relevant information to the message receiver. Therefore, the AAR and AAA message pairs are not dedicated to the information that can be requested according to the information query end. Provide information query mechanism for relevant information to the information query terminal. In some application scenarios, based on CCR and CCA message pairs, or AAR and AAA message pairs, or RAR and RAA message pairs, it is difficult to provide the query side with the information that the information query end expects to obtain in time.

The existing event triggering mechanism provides a scheme for the related information to be provided to the requesting party by the responder after receiving the event triggering list sent by the requesting party, such as the Sepcific-Action list and the Event-Trigger list. If the PCRF sends an Event-Trigger list to the PCEF, the PCEF returns relevant information to the PCRF after detecting the relevant event. Similarly, the AF requests the PCRF to provide event related information to the AF when the event occurs in the list by issuing a Sprint cific-Action list to the PCRF.

However, due to the existing event triggering mechanism, the responder needs to provide event-related information to the requesting party after detecting the occurrence of the event. If the PCEF detects the SGSN location change event indicated in the event trigger list, it will send the changed SGSN location information to the PCRF. If the PCRF sends an event trigger list to the PCEF before or after the SGSN location change, the PCRF is difficult to know. The location information of the SGSN that was not changed at that time. Therefore, due to the event triggering mechanism sent by the requesting party, it is difficult for the responding party to provide the requesting party with event related information of interest to the requesting party in time.

Further, the prior art does not provide a better solution for information query between functional entities in the PCC structure. Summary of the invention

In view of this, the embodiment of the present invention provides an information query method in a PCC structure, so that the information providing end can provide information to the information query end to request the query by the information query end.

A method for querying information in a PCC structure, comprising:

The information providing end receives the information query indication sent by the information querying end;

Querying the information query indicates that information of the current query is needed;

And sending the currently queried information that needs the current query to the information querying end.

The embodiment of the invention provides an information providing apparatus in a PCC structure, and provides information to the information querying end to request information query by the information querying end. An information providing apparatus in a PCC structure, comprising: a first receiving unit, a querying unit, and a first sending unit; wherein

The first receiving unit receives an information query indication sent by the information query end;

The query unit queries the information query to indicate information that needs to be currently queried;

The first sending unit sends the currently queried information that needs the current query to the information querying end. An information querying device in a PCC structure, comprising: a second sending unit and a second receiving unit, wherein the second sending unit sends an information query indication to the information providing end;

The second receiving unit receives the current query information query returned by the information providing end to indicate information that needs to be currently queried.

An embodiment of the present invention further provides an information query system in a PCC structure, including:

An information providing device in a PCC structure and an information query device in a PCC structure;

The information providing apparatus in the PCC structure includes: a first receiving unit, a querying unit, and a first sending unit; wherein

The first sending unit sends the currently queried information that needs the current query to the information querying end. The information querying device in the PCC structure includes: a third sending unit and a third receiving unit, where The third sending unit sends an information query indication to the information providing end;

The third receiving unit receives the current query information query returned by the information providing end to indicate information that needs to be currently queried.

In summary, the technical solution provided by the embodiment of the present invention, after the information providing end receives the information query indication sent by the information query end, the query information query indicates that the current query information is needed, and the query result is sent to the information in time. The query end enables the information querying end to obtain the information to be queried in time, so that the information querying end performs other operations according to the information acquired in time. DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of an existing PCC architecture;

2 is a flow chart of message interaction between PCEF and PCRF based on existing Gx;

Figure 3 is a flow chart of the interaction between the AF and the PCRF based on the existing Rx;

4 is a flowchart of an information query method in a PCC structure according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an information query method in another PCC structure according to an embodiment of the present invention; 6 is a schematic structural diagram of an information inquiry apparatus in a PCC structure according to an embodiment of the present invention;

7 is a schematic structural diagram of an information inquiry apparatus in another PCC structure according to an embodiment of the present invention;

8 is a flow chart of information query between PCEF and PCRF in Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

9 is a flow chart of information query between PCEF and PCRF in Embodiment 2 of the present invention;

10 is a flow chart of information query between PCEF and PCRF in Embodiment 3 of the present invention;

11 is a flow chart of information query between AF and PCRF in Embodiment 4 of the present invention;

12 is a flow chart of information query between AF and PCRF in Embodiment 5 of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a flow chart of information inquiry between AF and PCRF in Embodiment 6 of the present invention. detailed description

The technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present invention are further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The embodiments of the present invention provide a solution for information query between functional entities in a PCC structure. Referring to FIG. 4, FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a method for querying information in a PCC structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. The process may include the following steps: Step 401: The information providing end receives an information query indication sent by the information query end.

Step 402: The information provider queries the information query to indicate that the current query information is needed.

Step 403: The information providing end sends the currently queried information that needs the current query to the information querying end. Correspondingly, referring to FIG. 5, FIG. 5 is a flowchart of querying information by the information querying end in the embodiment of the present invention, and the process may include the following steps:

Step 501: The information query end sends an information query indication to the information providing end.

Step 502: The information querying end receives the information returned by the information providing end, where the information is the current query information indicating that the current query information is needed.

In the embodiment of the present invention, an information query technical solution provided by an embodiment of the present invention is described by taking an information query between three functional entities, such as AF, PCRF, and PCEF, in the PCC structure as an example.

In the embodiment of the present invention, for the information query between the AF and the PCRF, the AF may be the information query end, and correspondingly, the PCRF is the information providing end; if the AF is the information providing end, the PCRF is the information query end correspondingly. The information query interaction between the AF and the PCRF may be based on the request message and the response message, and the information query interaction may be performed based on the RAR and RAA message pairs, or the AAR and AAA message pairs. For the information query between the PCEF and the PCRF, the PCEF may be the information query end, and correspondingly, the PCRF is the information providing end; if the PCEF is the information providing end, the PCRF is the information query end correspondingly. The PCRF and the PCRF can also perform information query interaction based on the request message and the response message, and can perform information query interaction based on the RAR and RAA message pair, or the CCR and CCA message pair.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the information querying end may send an inquiry message to the information providing end, and issue an information query indication. One query message may contain one or more information query indications. After receiving the query message, the information provider may carry the current query information indication information that needs to be currently queried to the information query end by using the report message. For convenience of description, in the present application, the information query currently referred to as the current query indicates that the currently queried information is the currently queried information.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the query message carrying the information query indication or the report message carrying the query result is not limited to a specific message type. For example, the query message may be a request type request message such as RAR or the like, or may be a response type response message such as CCA or the like; similarly, the report message may be a request type request message, or a response type response message.

In addition, in the embodiment of the present invention, if the query message is the first request message, the report message may be a response message corresponding to the first request message, or may be a second request message that is re-initiated; similarly, if the query message is The first response message, the report message may be other request messages.

In the embodiment of the present invention, there are two specific methods for information query.

Practice 1: Improve the existing event trigger mechanism. In the embodiment of the present invention, the requesting party that issues the event triggering list is the information querying end, and the response room that detects the event and reports the event related information is the information providing end. In the embodiment of the present invention, after receiving the event trigger list, the information providing end does not need to wait for the trigger event to occur in the list, but directly executes the query after receiving the event trigger list, and triggers the event related information in the query. After that, the trigger event related information is sent to the information query end in time. Therefore, the information querying end can be informed of the trigger event related information in time. The improvement of the existing event triggering mechanism may further include: when the information querying end sends the information query indication, the information querying end is used to instruct the information providing end to return the current query to the information querying end if receiving the information query indication Instruction for information. This instruction can be indicated by a new instruction AVP in a query message.

Based on the improvement of the first method in the embodiment of the present invention, the information providing end can execute the query in time after receiving the event triggering list sent by the information querying end, and report the query result to the information querying end in time. The improvement of the event trigger list in the embodiment of the present invention improves the function of the existing event trigger list, that is, the trigger event listed in the event trigger list, which not only indicates that the information providing end sends the information to the information providing end after detecting the trigger event. The information about the triggering event is reported, and the information providing end can immediately perform the query after receiving the event triggering list, and report the information that is currently queried to the information querying end. Therefore, the triggering event in the event triggering list can further serve as the information. The query indication is used to instruct the information provider to query the information that needs the current query. For example, the PCRF can send the event trigger list to the PCEF, and instruct the PCEF to query the current SGSN location information, and report the currently queried information to the PCRF, so that the PCRF can obtain the location information of the SGSN.

In addition, the improvement of the pair of existing event triggering mechanisms according to the embodiment of the present invention may reconfigure the event triggering list according to actual needs, add an information query indication of the information to be queried in the event triggering list, and the information providing end receives the event. After the list is triggered, the information that is currently queried is reported to the information query end. Practice 2: Interface extension. The information query parameter item is set in the interface message, and the information query parameter indicates the information query indication or the query result, and the interface message is a query message or a report message. In the embodiment of the present invention, the information query parameter is an Information-Query AVP of an enumerated type. The second practice is to extend the existing Rx and Gx interfaces. Based on the extended Rx, AF and PCRF can query information. Based on the extended Gx interface, PCRF and PEF can query information.

In the second embodiment of the present invention, the information querying end configures the information query indication in the information query AVP of the query message, and sends the query message to the information providing end, wherein a plurality of information query AVPs can be expanded in one query message, correspondingly The information querying end can configure multiple information query indications in each information query AVP. After receiving the query message carrying the information query AVP, the information providing end queries the information query indication to require the current query information, and the information that is currently queried is carried to the information query end by the information query AVP in the report message.

In the second method of the embodiment of the present invention, the group type AVP may also be extended in the interface message, and each sub-AVP in the group type AVP is used to indicate the information query indication or the query result.

In the second method of the embodiment of the present invention, the query failure (Query-Fai led) AVP may also be extended in the interface message, and the AVP may be used to indicate the reason for the query failure.

In the second method of the embodiment of the present invention, if the query message carries multiple information query indications, after receiving the query message, the information providing end may return a corresponding response to the information query end according to the query result.

If the information provider queries all information query indications that the current query needs information, the query result may be returned to the information query end, and a response indicating that the query is successful is returned; if the information provider does not query all the information query indications, the current query information is needed. , returns a response indicating that the query failed.

Or, if only the partial information query indicates that the information needs to be currently queried, the information that is currently queried may be returned to the information query end, and a response indicating that the query fails is returned, and the response may further indicate that the partial query fails;

Alternatively, the information providing end does not query all the information query indications or the partial information query indicates that the current query information is required, and the information providing end serves as the information querying end, and sends a query message to other information providing ends, requesting to query the remaining information query indications to require current Query information. If the other information providing end can query all the remaining information query indications that the current query information is needed, the information querying end may query the remaining information query indicating that the current query information needs to be returned to the information query end; if other information providing ends can only If the information query indicates that the information needs to be the current query, the information provider returns the currently queried information to the information query end, and returns a response indicating that the query fails, and the response may further indicate that the partial query fails.

It should be noted that, in the foregoing method, if the information query indicated in the event trigger list indicates that the corresponding event is not configured by the original event trigger list, the interface message needs to be extended accordingly, in the interface message. The information query AVP is added to facilitate the information provider to carry the query result to the information query terminal through the information query AVP. Correspondingly, an embodiment of the present invention further provides an information providing apparatus in a PCC structure. Referring to FIG. 6, FIG. 6 is a schematic structural diagram of the apparatus, where the apparatus may include: a first receiving unit 601, a querying unit 602, and a first sending unit 603;

The first receiving unit 601 receives an information query indication sent by the information query end;

The query unit 602 queries the information query to indicate that the current query information is needed;

The first sending unit 603 sends the currently queried information that needs the current query to the information querying end. The query unit 602 can include: a second sending unit 6021 and a second receiving unit 6022;

The second sending unit 6021 sends a query request to the other information providing end, and requests the other information providing end to query the information query indication, and the remaining information query indicates that the current query information is needed;

The second receiving unit 6022 receives all the remaining information query indications that are currently queried by the other information providing end, or part of the remaining information query indications that information needs to be currently queried, or receives the information returned by the other information providing end A response indicating that the query failed.

The first sending unit 603 further sends a response indicating that the query is successful, or a response indicating that the query fails.

Correspondingly, the embodiment of the present invention further provides an information query device in another PCC structure. Referring to FIG. 7, FIG. 7 is a schematic structural diagram of the device, and the device may include: a third sending unit 701 and a third receiving unit. 702. The third sending unit 701 sends an information query indication to the information providing end.

The third receiving unit 702 receives the current query information returned by the information providing end to query the information that needs to be currently queried.

The third receiving unit 702 further receives a response sent by the information providing end indicating that the query is successful, or a response indicating that the query fails.

The application of the technical solution provided by the embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to specific embodiments.

The embodiment of the present invention further provides an information inquiry system in a PCC structure, which comprises the information providing device in the PCC structure and the information query device in the PCC structure.

Embodiment 1:

In the first embodiment, the user needs to initiate an emergency service for some reason. After receiving the service request sent by the UE, the AF needs to obtain the location information of the UE. The AF sends a query message to the PCRF. After receiving the query message, the PCRF sends a query message to the PCEF based on the Gx interface with the PCEF, and sends an event trigger list, and the event trigger list includes the location event of the UE that is not set by the existing event trigger list.

Referring to FIG. 8, FIG. 8 is a flow chart of information query between PCEF and PCRF in the first embodiment, and the process may include the following steps:

Step 801: The PCRF sends a RAR message to the PCEF, and sends an Event-Trigger list. The Event-Trigger list includes the location event of the UE.

Step 802: After receiving the RAR message of the PCRF, the PCEF sends an RAA message to the PCRF.

Step 803: The PCEF queries the information about the current query, including the location information of the UE, and sends the query result to the PCRF through the newly sent CCR message.

The CCR message carries the query result, such as the current location of the UE.

In the first embodiment, the RAA message is not extended. Correspondingly, the PCEF cannot carry the query result through the RAA message in step 802.

In the actual application, if the RM message contains the AVP of the related information, the current location of the UE may be reported to the PCRF through the RAA message, and the CCR message is not re-initiated.

In addition, if the PCEF fails to find the current information of other events, then wait for the next time other events are triggered, then

The PCRF reports the event related information.

Step 804, the PCEF continues to detect the event.

Step 805: When an event of the specified query in the Event-Trigger list occurs, the PCEF sends a CCR message to the PCRF.

This step 805 is similar to the existing process, that is, after detecting the triggered event, the PCEF reports the event related information to the PCRF.

Step 806: The PCRF re-forms the PCC rule and/or re-determines the Event-Trigger list according to the information reported by the PCEF.

Step 807: The PCRF sends a CCA message to the PCEF, where the message carries the re-defined PCC rule and/or the updated Event-Trigger list, and the process ends.

Subsequently, the PCRF reports the current location information of the queried UE to the AF, and the AF continues to provide related services for the UE. Based on the improvement of the existing event triggering mechanism, in the first embodiment, after receiving the query message, the PCEF can query the current location information of the UE in time, so that the PCRF can obtain the current location information of the UE in time to meet the requirements of the actual application. .

Embodiment 2:

In the second embodiment, the PCRF sends an event trigger list to the PCEF due to the request of the PCEF. Referring to FIG. 9, FIG. 9 is a flow chart of information query between PCEF and PCRF in the second embodiment, and the process may include the following steps:

Step 901: The PCEF sends a CCR request message to the PCRF.

The CCR request message is used to obtain PCC rules from the PCRF.

Step 902: The PCRF formulates a PCC rule according to the network address information of the user included in the received CCR message, the restriction of the user access network, the operator policy, the user subscription data, the service information performed by the current user, and the like, and determines the Event. -Trigger list. Step 903: The PCRF sends a CCA message to the PCEF, where the message carries a PCC rule and an Event-Trigger list, and the message carries the command AVP.

In an actual application, if necessary, a new event may be set in the Event-Trigger list, such as the location of the UE, for information query indication.

Step 904: After receiving the CCA message of the PCRF, the PCEF promptly queries the information query indication in the event triggering list according to the instruction AVP, and sends the query result to the PCRF through the CCR message.

In the actual application, if the PCEF does not query the information query indication that the current query information is required, the CCR message that is the response may be sent to the PCRF for the time being, and the event related information is reported to the PCRF after waiting for the event to be detected; If the information of the current query is required to be queried, the information that is currently queried may be reported, and the information that is required to be queried may be queried and reported after waiting for the trigger event to be detected.

Step 905: The PCRF sends a CCA message to the PCEF, where the message includes a re-established PCC rule and/or an updated Event-Trigger list, and the process ends.

Based on the improvement of the existing event triggering mechanism, in the second embodiment, after receiving the query message, the PCEF promptly queries and reports the currently queried information according to the command AVP carried therein, so that the PCRF obtains relevant information in time.

Embodiment 3:

In the third embodiment, the PCRF needs to query the PCEF for information when the bearer changes or some other triggers. In the third embodiment, the information query interaction between the PCRF and the PCEF is performed based on the extended Gx interface message.

Referring to FIG. 10, FIG. 10 is a flow chart of information query between PCEF and PCRF in the third embodiment, and the process may include the following steps:

Step 1001: The PCRF receives an internal or external trigger, and learns that it needs to obtain information from the PCEF.

Step 1002: The PCRF sends a RAR message including an Information-Query AVP to the PCEF.

In step 1002, the PCRF indicates the information query indication by using the Information-Query AVP in the RAR message. The RAR of the Information-Query AVP may be a group type AVP, which may indicate multiple information query indications.

This RAR message can be used as a query message.

Step 1003: After the PCEF receives the RAR message from the PCEF, the query information query indicates that the current query information is needed. If the query is available, step 1004 is performed. Otherwise, step 1005 is performed.

Step 1004: The PCEF sends an RAA message to the PCRF, and the query result is brought to the PCRF by using the extended Information-Query AVP in the message, and the process ends.

The RAA message can be used as a report message.

In an actual application, if the Information-Query AVP of the query message in the above step 1002 is a group type AVP, the Information-Query AVP reported in the step 1004 is a group type AVP, which may indicate the current query. Information.

Step 1005: The PCEF sends an RAA message to the PCRF, where the message carries the Query-Failed A VP, and the process ends.

Based on the extension of the interface message, in the third embodiment, the information can be queried between the PCEF and the PCRF, and the query result is returned in time by the PCEF, so that the PCRF can obtain relevant information in time.

Embodiment 4:

In the fourth embodiment, the AF needs to query the PCRF for information when applying information or some other trigger. In the fourth embodiment, based on the Rx interface with the PCRF, the query message is sent to the PCRF, and the event trigger list is sent.

Referring to FIG. 11, FIG. 11 is a flow chart of information query between AF and PCRF in the fourth embodiment, and the process may include the following steps:

Step 1101: The AF receives an internal or external trigger and needs to obtain information from the PCRF.

Step 1102: The AF sends an AAR message to the PCRF, and sends a Specific-Action list.

Each event in the list serves as an information query indication, indicating that the PCRF needs information of the current query. In actual applications, events that are not in the list can be added to the Specific-Action list.

Step 1103: The PCRF parses the received AAR message, queries the information that needs the current query, and identifies the related IP-CAN session.

Step 1104: The PCRF sends an AAA message to the AF, and reports the query result, where the query result can be configured to be set in the AAA message.

In the actual application, if the PCRF fails to find the information query indication that the current query information is needed, the AAA message may not be sent temporarily. After the trigger event is detected, the event related information is queried, and the event related information is reported to the PCRF. If the PCRF queries the partial information query to indicate the information that needs to be queried, the information that is queried by the part is reported first, and the information that needs to be queried is waited until the trigger event is detected, and then the query result is reported and reported.

Step 1105, the PCRF starts detecting the event.

Step 1106: The PCRF detects an event, and the PCRF sends a RAR message to the AF.

The RAR message carries the detected event and the event related information that is queried.

In practical applications, the PCRF can query event-related information in the Specific-Action list through other means, such as querying the PCEF for event-related information.

Step 1107: After receiving the RAR message sent by the PCRF, the AF sends an RAA message to the PCRF, where the message may include an updated Specific-Action list.

The above steps 1105 and 1106 can be similar to the existing process, that is, the PCRF detects an event, and after the event is triggered, reports the event and the queried event related information. Based on the improvement of the triggering mechanism of the existing event, in the fourth embodiment, after receiving the query message, the PCRF can query the information that needs to be queried in time, so that the AF can obtain relevant information in time.

Embodiment 5:

In response to the first embodiment, in the fifth embodiment, the AF requests the location information of the UE from the PCRF due to the emergency service requirement of the UE. The PCRF obtains the location information of the UE by querying the PCEF. In the fifth embodiment, the information query interaction is performed between the PCRF and the AF based on the extended Rx interface message.

Referring to FIG. 12, FIG. 12 is a flow chart of information query between AF and PCRF in the fifth embodiment, and the process may include the following steps:

Step 1201: The AF receives an internal or external trigger, and learns that it needs to obtain information from the PCRF.

Step 1202: The AF sends an AAR message including an Information-Query AVP to the PCRF.

The i3⁄4 Information-Query AVP can be a group type AVP, and contains multiple sub-Information-Query AVPs for indicating multiple information query indications.

Step 1203: The PCRF parses the information query indication information that needs to be currently queried, performs a query, and identifies a related IP-CAN session.

Step 1204: The PCRF sends an AAA message to the AF, and the query result is carried to the AF by using the group type Information-Query AVP. If the query result is that all the information query indications that are found need the information of the current query, the process may end. If all the information query indications need the information of the current query, or only the partial information is queried, if the location information of the UE is not included, step 1205 is performed.

Step 1205, the PCRF further queries the PCEF.

In step 1205, the information query between the PCRF and the PCEF can be referred to the above embodiments 1 to 3.

Step 1206: The PCEF queries the partial information query to indicate the information that needs to be currently queried, and the PCRF requests the current information of some events in all the events of the query, or queries all the information query indications that the current query needs information, and then performs step 1207; otherwise, performs Step 1209.

Step 1207: After receiving the query result returned by the PCEF, the PCRF reports the query result to the AF through the RAR message. Step 1208: After receiving the RAR message sent by the PCRF, the AF returns an RAA message to the PCRF, and the process ends. Step 1209: The PCEF fails to query any information query indicating that the current query information is needed.

Step 1210: The PCRF carries a new Query-Failed AVP in the RAR message, and sends a response indicating that the query fails to the AF, and further indicates the reason for the query failure in the Query-Failed AVP.

Step 1211: After receiving the RAR message sent by the PCRF, the AF sends an RAA message to the PCRF, and the process ends. In the fifth embodiment, the AF indirectly queries the PCEF through the PCRF to query the information indicating that the current query is needed, and the information query interaction with the PCRF is performed by extending the Rx interface message, and the required information is obtained from the PCRF in time. Example 6:

In the sixth embodiment, the extended Fx interface is used to implement the PCRF to query the information of the AF. Referring to FIG. 13, FIG. 13 is a flow chart of information query between AF and PCRF in the sixth embodiment, and the process may include the following steps:

Step 1301: The PCRF sends an RAR message including an Information-Query AVP to the AF.

The i3⁄4 Information-Query AVP ί is intended to query the information.

Step 1302: After receiving the RAR message sent by the PCRF, the AF parses the information that needs to be queried, and performs an inquiry. If the AF can be queried, the AFA message is sent to the PCRF, and the Information-Query AVP in the RAA message is used. The query result is brought to the PCRF, and the process can be ended. If the current information of the event is not queried, step 1303 is performed.

Step 1303: The AF does not report the query result temporarily, and queries the other network entities outside the PCC architecture for the current information of the other path query event.

Step 1304: The AF obtains the information that needs the current query from other paths, sends an AAR message to the PCRF, and sends the query result to the PCRF through the Information-Query AVP in the AAR message, and the process may end, if the AF fails to be used from other The method obtains the information that needs the current query, and performs step 1305.

Step 1305: The AF sends an AAR message to the PCRF, where the Query-Failed AVP is used to indicate that the query fails. Step 1306: After receiving the AAR message sent by the AF, the PCRF sends an MA response message to the AF, and the process ends. In summary, the technical solution provided by the embodiment of the present invention, after the information providing end receives the information query indication sent by the information query end, the query information query indicates that the current query information is needed, and the query result is sent to the information in time. The query end enables the information querying end to obtain the information to be queried in time, so that the information querying end performs other operations according to the information acquired in time.

In addition, in the embodiment of the present invention, by extending the Rx interface between the AF and the PCRF, the AF and the PCRF can perform information query interaction. By extending the Gx interface between the PCEF and the PCRF, the PCEF and the PCRF can be performed. Information query interaction. The information querying end sends an information query indication to the information providing end through the extended Rx interface, and the information providing end can also provide the queried information to the information querying end in time based on the extended interface. One of ordinary skill in the art can understand that all or part of the process of implementing the above embodiments can be completed by a computer program to instruct related hardware, and the program can be stored in one or more computer readable storage media. The program, when executed, may include the flow of an embodiment of the methods as described above. The storage medium may be a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a read-only memory (ROM), or a random access memory (RAM).

The above are only the preferred embodiments of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalents, improvements, etc., which are within the spirit and scope of the present invention, should be included in the scope of the present invention. Inside.

Claims

Claim

1. A policy and charging control method for querying information in a PCC structure, characterized in that it comprises:

The method according to claim 1, wherein the information providing end receiving the information query indication sent by the information querying end comprises:

The information providing end receives the query message sent by the information querying end, and the query message includes one or more of the information query indications.

The method according to claim 2, wherein the information query indication is set in an event trigger list carried by the query message.

The method according to claim 3, wherein, before the sending the currently queried information of the current query to the information query end, the method further includes:

And receiving, by the information querying end, an instruction for indicating, if the information query indication is received, returning the information that is currently queried to the information querying end.

The method according to claim 2, wherein the information query indication is set in a preset information query parameter carried by the query request.

The method according to claim 2, wherein the querying the information query indicates that the information required for the current query comprises:

Query all information query indications that need to query the current information;

The sending the information that needs to be the current query to the information querying end includes:

All the information queries currently queried indicate that the information required for the current query is sent to the information query end.

In the query of all information query indications, part of the information query indicates that the information currently needed to be queried is required;

The part of the information query that is currently queried indicates that the information required for the current query is sent to the information query end.

The method according to claim 6, wherein the querying the information query indicates that the information required for the current query comprises:

In the query of all information query indications, part of the information query indicates that the information currently needed to be queried is required; After the querying the information query indicates that the current query information is required, the method further includes: the information providing end sending a query request to another information providing end, requesting the other information providing end to query the information query indication, and the rest The information query indicates the information that needs to be currently queried.

The method according to claim 8, wherein after the information providing end sends the query request to the other information providing end, the method further includes:

Receiving, by the other information provider, all the remaining information query queries that are currently queried to indicate that the current query information is needed; or,

Receiving a response returned by the other information provider indicating that the query failed.

The method according to claim 9, wherein the sending the currently queried information that needs the current query to the information query end comprises:

Sending all the remaining information queries currently queried to indicate that the information required for the current query is sent to the information query.

The method according to claim 8, wherein the querying the information query indicates that the information required for the current query comprises:

After the querying the information query indication that the information of the current query is needed, the method further includes:

Receiving, by the other information provider, all of the remaining information query indications in the current query that are returned by the other information provider, the information indicating that the current query is needed;

And sending, to the information querying end, the information that the current information is inquired by the part of the information query indications that are currently queried.

The method according to claim 7 or 11, wherein after the querying the information query indicates that the information of the current query is needed, the method further includes:

The information providing end sends a response indicating that the query fails to the information query end.

An information providing apparatus in a PCC structure, comprising: a first receiving unit, a querying unit, and a first sending unit; wherein

The first sending unit sends the currently queried information that needs the current query to the information querying end.

The device according to claim 13, wherein the query unit comprises:

a second transmitting unit and a second receiving unit; The second sending unit sends a query request to the other information providing end, and requests the other information providing end to query the information query indication, and the remaining information query indicates that the current query information is needed;

The second receiving unit receives all the remaining information query indications that are currently queried by the other information providing end, or part of the remaining information query indications that information needs to be currently queried, or receives a representation returned by the other information providing end Query failed response.

15. Apparatus according to claim 13 or claim 14 wherein:

The first sending unit further sends a response indicating that the query is successful, or a response indicating that the query fails.

An information query device in a PCC structure, comprising: a third sending unit and a third receiving unit, wherein

The third sending unit sends an information query indication to the information providing end;

The device according to claim 16, wherein the third receiving unit further receives a response sent by the information providing end indicating that the query is successful, or a response indicating that the query fails.

18. An information query system in a PCC structure, comprising: