WO2014090342A1 - Procédé de fourniture d'un accès au contenu d'un serveur dans un réseau de communication - Google Patents

Procédé de fourniture d'un accès au contenu d'un serveur dans un réseau de communication Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2014090342A1
WO2014090342A1 PCT/EP2012/075640 EP2012075640W WO2014090342A1 WO 2014090342 A1 WO2014090342 A1 WO 2014090342A1 EP 2012075640 W EP2012075640 W EP 2012075640W WO 2014090342 A1 WO2014090342 A1 WO 2014090342A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
content
server
user equipment
access
start time
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/EP2012/075640
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Miguel Angel Garcia Martin
Pablo Martinez De La Cruz
Original Assignee
Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (Publ)
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (Publ) filed Critical Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (Publ)
Priority to PCT/EP2012/075640 priority Critical patent/WO2014090342A1/fr
Publication of WO2014090342A1 publication Critical patent/WO2014090342A1/fr

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L67/00—Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications
    • H04L67/50—Network services
    • H04L67/60—Scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests, e.g. requests for application data transmissions using the analysis and optimisation of the required network resources
    • H04L67/62—Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests

Definitions

  • the present invention disclosure pertains to the area of Packet Core in a mobile or fixed network.
  • the invention is related to the scenario where users download content that is stored in third-party servers for later consumption.
  • the technique proposed by the invention may be implemented as a method, a computer program product, a device or a network system.
  • OTT Over the Top
  • a typical example of content download is media or application libraries. Users of these libraries may download content in the form of applications, music or films.
  • this content to be downloaded might be large in size like, for example, a movie file, whose size may reach a few gigabytes. If a user decides to start the download of this movie during a time when the network is highly used (or even saturated), there can be a number of consequences. The users may experience very long download times. Other users of the network, not necessarily wanting to access and/or download content may also get a detriment in their communications. Further the third party servers might also get overloaded and not be able to handle all the requests for downloads resulting in a low quality of service and experience for their users.
  • a method for providing access to a content of a server to a user equipment in a communications network is proposed.
  • the user equipment requests access to the content of the server.
  • the server obtains a set of parameters based on an access policy of said content and determines a first and at least one further start time that the content is available for access by the user equipment. This determination is done based on the set of parameters that the server has obtained.
  • the server then sends a response to the user equipment indicating the first and the at least one further start time.
  • the user equipment selects one of the first or the at least one further start time depending on when the user wants to access the content. Following that the server access to said content to the user equipment at the selected start time.
  • a system comprising a server and a user equipment in a communication network for providing access to a content of the server to the user equipment.
  • the user equipment requests access to the content of the server.
  • the server is adapted to obtain a set of parameters based on an access policy of the content.
  • the server is further adapted to determine a first and at least one further start time when the content is available for access by the user equipment based on the set of parameters.
  • the server is yet further adapted to send to the user equipment a response indicating the first and the at least one further start time.
  • the user equipment is adapted to select one of the first or the at least one further start time when the user wants to access the content of the server.
  • an access control device for providing access to a content of a server to a user equipment in a communications network.
  • the user equipment requests access to the content of the server.
  • the access control device comprises a first interface which is adapted to obtain a set of parameters based on an access policy of the content.
  • the device also comprises a processor which is adapted to determine a first and at least one further start time when the content is available for access by the user equipment based on the set of parameters received by the interface.
  • the processor is also adapted to send a response indicating the first and the at least one further start time to the user equipment.
  • the device further comprises a second interface which is adapted to receive a response from the user equipment.
  • This response comprises a selection of the first or the at least one further start time when the user wants to access the content.
  • the second interface is also adapted to provide access to the content to the user equipment at the selected start time.
  • Fig. 1 shows the general architecture of the invention in the form of a communication system
  • Fig. 2 shows a first embodiment of a method of implementing the invention.
  • Fig. 3 shows a first embodiment of a method of implementing the invention.
  • Fig. 4 shows a first embodiment of a method of implementing the invention.
  • Fig. 5 shows a device implementing the invention.
  • An Application server 102 operated by an OTT Service Provider.
  • An application server is a server, located in the OTT service provider network, which is able to receive requests from the UE or terminal 108. These requests indicate the content to be downloaded by the UE. The server is able to produce responses, to serve and offer the requested content to UE.
  • This Application Server implements an application-specific communication protocol that allows the UE to select content to be downloaded over the name PMA-1 interface.
  • the PMA-1 interface lies between the application client in the UE and the Application Server 102. This interface is application dependent.
  • the PCRF 104 is the node designated in real-time to determine policy rules in the communication network.
  • the Application Server 102 parses the preferred download policy that applies to the requested content and user, and enables an application-level dialog with the user over the PMA-1 interface.
  • preferred download policy we can consider a set of rules created by the operator, that determine the preferred download time slots for a given content (or type of content) and a given user. These rules can be also considered as parameters which are defined by the policy itself and these parameters can be the type of content, the size of content etc.
  • the preferred download policy can be considered as an access policy as it determines the actual access options for the content.
  • the voucher server is a server, located in the operator's network, which is responsible for monetizing vouchers for extra services, such as a download in a peek hour.
  • the Voucher Server 106 may implement an interface PMA-3 to the Application Server, so that the Voucher Server can authorize the Application Server to start the download of the requested content once the user buys a voucher.
  • This interface is optional, and it is present if, for example, Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML) is the technology used to authorize the download of content.
  • SAML Security Assertion Markup Language
  • the authorization may come in the format of new policies downloaded (or pushed) from the PMA-2 interface.
  • the UE or device implements a logical interface code-named PMA-4 to the Voucher server 106. This allows users to buy a voucher that, once presented to the
  • Application Server enables the download of the content at the current time.
  • the Voucher Server 106 also implements a logical interface code-named PMA-5 towards the PCRF. This interface is used to communicate to the PCRF that the user has successfully bought a voucher for immediate download. The PCRF will use this information to modify its policy and charging control policies, push them to the Packet Data Network Gateway (P-GW)/ Gateway GPRS support node GGSN over the Gx interface.
  • P-GW Packet Data Network Gateway
  • Gx interface is the off-line policy interface between the GGSN and the PCRF. It is used for provisioning service data flow based on charging rules.
  • the PCRF can also create new utilization policies and push them to the Application Server 102 over the PMA-2 interface, in which case, the PMA-3 is not needed.
  • the PMA-3 is not needed.
  • the PMA-2 interface lies between the Application Server 102 in the OTT Service Provider and the PCRF of the Operator.
  • REST Representational State Transfer
  • JSON JavaScript Object Notation
  • TLS Transport Layer Security
  • Application Layer for the Transport Layer using asymmetric cryptography for key exchange, symmetric encryption for confidentiality, and message authentication codes for message integrity.
  • the aforementioned interface provides two operations: Download policy request and Batch download policies request.
  • the Download policy request operation is issued by the Application Server in order to request preferred download policies from the PCRF. These policies are applicable to the subscriber requesting to download a specific content.
  • the Application Server makes an HTTP POST request to the PCRF, with a Request- URI following this format:
  • ⁇ subscriber_id> is a subscriber identifier that is known to both parties (such as the subscriber's MSISDN).
  • the body of the HTTP request contains an object encoded using JSON.
  • This object provides details on the type of content that the user is requesting to download. These details include, but are not limited to size, media type, format, location and others and can be considered the parameters as mentioned above.
  • the (+) indicates a cardinality of one or more.
  • the PCRF answers the request with a Download policy response.
  • the response comes in the HTTP response, and includes an object encoded using JSON. This object provides information of the authorized download windows for the different download items.
  • the (+) indicates a cardinality of one or more and the ( * ) indicates a cardinality of zero or more.
  • the Application Server 102 asks the PCRF 104 for downloading preferred download policies for an application user (and also an operator subscriber) identified by the MSISDN +34600101010, wishing to download a video content located at the URL http://server.com/video.mpg, which has a size of 800 megabytes.
  • the Download policy request operation looks like the one below:
  • the download policy response operation may look like the one below:
  • timeStart “Wed, 29 Aug 2012 01 :00:00 GMT”
  • timeEnd “Wed, 29 Aug 2012 03:59:59 GMT”
  • periodicity “none”
  • timeStart “Wed, 29 Aug 2012 07:00:00 GMT”
  • timeEnd “Wed, 29 Aug 2012 08:59:59 GMT”
  • periodicity “weekly”
  • the Batch download policy request operation is issued by the Application Server in order to request a number of preferred download policies that are applicable to one or more users and one or more services controlled by the same OTT Service
  • the Application Server fetches these policies prior to receiving user requests, so that user requests are not delayed for downloading the user-specific policy in real time.
  • these policies may be large in nature, for example, if the policies are quite different from subscriber to subscriber. It is expected that service providers will evaluate whether they want to invoke the batch download policies operation or the download policy operation (user-specific) depending on their needs.
  • the Application Server 102 makes an HTTP POST request to the PCRF, with a Request-URI following this format:
  • the body of the HTTP request contains an object encoded using JSON, according to the following structure:
  • the (+) indicates a cardinality of one or more.
  • the PCRF 104 answers the request with a batch download policy response.
  • the response comes in the HTTP response, and includes an object encoded using JSON. This object provides a number of policies that are applicable to one or more services and one or more users.
  • JSON structure The object structure is shown below: JSON structure. Batch download policy response
  • the (+) indicates a cardinality of one or more; the ( * ) indicates a cardinality of zero or more.
  • the Download policy request operation looks like the one below:
  • PCRF offers a single preferred download policy that applies to two subscribers when they try to download content identified with a given content type, format, a minimum size, and a maximum size.
  • the policy contains the same two preferred download time slots that were shown in previous examples.
  • the PMA-3 interface lies between the Voucher Server and the Application Server. It is used when the Voucher Server has accepted a payment for a voucher.
  • Voucher Server then pushes a modification of the preferred download policies, so that the Application Server can authorize the requested download.
  • This interface is also implemented using HTTP, REST, JSON, with the addition of Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML) to handle the authorization and referral.
  • SAML Security Assertion Markup Language
  • the HTTP POST request from the Voucher Server to the Application Server contains a JSON body that contains an identifier of the transaction that is now authorized.
  • the PMA-4 interface lies between the Application Server and the Application Client in the device. This interface allows users to buy a voucher that, once presented to the Application Server, enables the download of the content at the current time.
  • the interface is based on HTTP, REST, and SAML.
  • the PMA-5 interface lies between the Voucher Server and the PCRF and is used to communicate to the PCRF that the user has successfully bought a voucher for immediate download.
  • the interface is based on HTTP, REST, and SAML.
  • Figure 2 shows a first embodiment of a method of implementing the invention.
  • the user requests to download 201 some content that is candidate to be downloaded at a later time.
  • the Application Server first downloads preferred download policies from the PCRF that are applicable to this user and the requested service 202-203.
  • the Application Server stores the received preferred download policies (for future usage) and evaluates them 204. Alternatively this evaluation may be performed by the PCRF.
  • the Application Server does not authorize the download to take place. Instead, the Application creates a response 206 that presents the user 207-208 with two options. Either to buy a voucher for enabling immediate download or to schedule the download at any time falling within one of the next preferred download time slots.
  • a first time could be the time when the immediate download would be possible. At least one more time would be a time when the download would be possible during one of the next preferred download time slots. It can be assumed that the user selects 209 to schedule the download at the beginning of the next preferred time slot.
  • the response is sent from the UE to the Application Server 210.
  • the Application Server uses the previously cached preferred download policies applicable to this user and service, and then verifies a second time 21 1 if the time selected by the user falls within a preferred time slot. In this case, the user selected to schedule the download of the content at the beginning of the next preferred download time slot.
  • steps 301 to 308 in this second embodiment are the same as steps 201 to 208 in the first embodiment.
  • the difference lies in the user's selection.
  • the user chooses to download the requested content immediately for a price 30. This requires the user to buy a voucher from the operator network.
  • the user communicates his or her selection to the Application Server 310.
  • the Application Server then prepares the referral of the user toward the Voucher Server. This requires the Application Server to initialize the security and other parameters of the referral 31 1 .
  • the Application Server sends a response to the UE with a redirection to the Voucher Server 312, the redirection also including the parameters required by the Voucher Server for processing the payment.
  • These parameters may include the URL of the Voucher Server, the type and size of the requested content, an identification of the Application Server, user identification, security parameters
  • a nonce e.g., a nonce, a transaction identifier
  • the UE then sends a request to buy an "immediate download voucher" to the
  • the Voucher Server 313. This request includes all the initialization parameters received from the Application Server.
  • the Voucher Server requests the user to accept the payment of the voucher to download the content 314.
  • the UE communicates the acceptance of the payment 316 to the Application Server.
  • the Voucher server contacts the online charging system or offline charging system for authorizing and accruing the cost of the voucher into the users account (this step is not show in the figure).
  • the Application Server then contacts the PCRF 317-318 to request a modification in the existing PCC rules, so that the GGSN/P-GW will allow the download of the content to take place. This triggers the PCRF to install new PCC rules 319-320 in the GGSN/P-GW to allow the download when it will take place in the near feature.
  • the Voucher Server also contacts the Application Server in order to send updated Preferred Download Policies 321 -323.
  • This new set of policies includes at least a new Preferred Download Time Slot that starts at the current time.
  • the Application Server updates the Preferred Download Policies for this user for future usage 322.
  • the Voucher Server creates a reply to the original request 313, including a referral to the Application Server, security parameters, the content to be downloaded, the user, the service, etc., and sends it 324 to the UE.
  • the UE Upon reception of this response 324, the UE invokes the received URL in the referral in order to request the download of the content 325.
  • the Application Server evaluates the Preferred Download Policies 326 once more, and in this case, the current time falls into the new Preferred Download Time Slot 327. Therefore, the Application Server decides to serve the requested content 328. This is communicated to the UE 329.
  • the content download may be attached to this response or may be sent separately.
  • Figure 4 shows a third embodiment of a method of implementing the invention.
  • the user requests the download of the content 401 , and the Application Server downloads 402-403 Preferred Download Policies from the PCRF, which are evaluated 404.
  • the time at which this request is received in the Application Server lies within one of the Preferred download time slots 405. Therefore, the Application Server authorizes the download 406 and serves the requested content in real time 407.
  • the Application Server may fetch preferred download policies in a batch mode, applying to a plurality of users and a plurality of services.
  • the preferred download policies are downloaded from a standalone node in the network, not necessarily co-located or being part of the PCRF.
  • Figure 5 shows a device 500 implementing the invention.
  • the device is an access control device and is adapted to provide access to a content of a server to a user equipment or device in a communications network.
  • the device 500 requests access to the content which is stored in the server. This request can be received by the interface 502.
  • the access control device obtains a set of parameters based on an access policy of said content. This policy can be generated from a PCRF node or another similar node in the network.
  • These parameters and optionally the access policy are sent from the interface 502 to the processor 504.
  • the processor 504 based on the set of parameters received by the interface, can determine a first and at least one further start time when said content is available for access by the user equipment.
  • a response indicating the first and the at least one further start time is sent by the processor 504 to the user equipment over interface 506.
  • This interface 506 is also adapted to receive a response from the user equipment.
  • This response comprises the selection of the first or the at least one further start time when said user wants to access said content and to provide access to said content to the user equipment at the selected start time.
  • the response can be sent back to the processor which can further forward it to the server for providing access to the content to the user equipment.
  • the access control device of Figure 5 can also be implemented as part of a server or which can be in the form of an application server.
  • the access control device may additionally comprise a server or an application server.
  • the access control device of Figure 5 may comprise a database for storing the content to be offered for download and consumption to users and also a memory for storing the times that this content may be available for access and download by the user equipment or device. These embodiments are not shown in Figure 5.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Information Transfer Between Computers (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne un procédé de fourniture d'un accès au contenu d'un serveur (102) à un équipement utilisateur (108) dans un réseau de communication. L'équipement utilisateur (108) demande d'accéder au contenu du serveur. Le serveur (102) obtient (203) un ensemble de paramètres ayant pour base une politique d'accès audit contenu et détermine (206) un premier instant de départ et au moins un autre instant de départ auxquels le contenu est disponible pour un accès par l'équipement utilisateur (108). Cette détermination est effectuée sur la base de l'ensemble de paramètres que le serveur a obtenus. Le serveur envoie ensuite une réponse (207) à l'équipement utilisateur indiquant le premier instant et ledit autre instant de départ. L'équipement utilisateur (108) sélectionne ensuite l'un du premier instant de départ et dudit autre instant de départ en fonction de l'instant où l'utilisateur souhaite accéder au contenu. Après cela, le serveur (102) autorise l'équipement utilisateur (108) à accéder à l'instant de départ sélectionné.
PCT/EP2012/075640 2012-12-14 2012-12-14 Procédé de fourniture d'un accès au contenu d'un serveur dans un réseau de communication WO2014090342A1 (fr)

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PCT/EP2012/075640 WO2014090342A1 (fr) 2012-12-14 2012-12-14 Procédé de fourniture d'un accès au contenu d'un serveur dans un réseau de communication

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PCT/EP2012/075640 WO2014090342A1 (fr) 2012-12-14 2012-12-14 Procédé de fourniture d'un accès au contenu d'un serveur dans un réseau de communication

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Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10341239B2 (en) 2015-05-21 2019-07-02 Qualcomm Incorporated Efficient policy enforcement for downlink traffic using network access tokens—control-plane approach

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20010037256A1 (en) * 2000-03-29 2001-11-01 Hiroyuki Yazawa Content data delivery system and content data delivery method
US20030045273A1 (en) * 2001-08-31 2003-03-06 Seppo Pyhalammi Mobile content delivery system
US20120257560A1 (en) * 2011-04-07 2012-10-11 Sudharshan Srinivasan Cellular data bandwidth optimization using social networking concepts

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20010037256A1 (en) * 2000-03-29 2001-11-01 Hiroyuki Yazawa Content data delivery system and content data delivery method
US20030045273A1 (en) * 2001-08-31 2003-03-06 Seppo Pyhalammi Mobile content delivery system
US20120257560A1 (en) * 2011-04-07 2012-10-11 Sudharshan Srinivasan Cellular data bandwidth optimization using social networking concepts

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10341239B2 (en) 2015-05-21 2019-07-02 Qualcomm Incorporated Efficient policy enforcement for downlink traffic using network access tokens—control-plane approach
US11290382B2 (en) 2015-05-21 2022-03-29 Qualcomm Incorporated Efficient policy enforcement for downlink traffic using network access tokens—control-plane approach

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