WO2016062061A1

WO2016062061A1 - Method and device for synchronizing policy rule between network elements

Info

Publication number: WO2016062061A1
Application number: PCT/CN2015/078392
Authority: WO
Inventors: 姜志诚; 陈刚; 王长春; 赵莉
Original assignee: 中兴通讯股份有限公司
Priority date: 2014-10-24
Filing date: 2015-05-06
Publication date: 2016-04-28
Also published as: CN105591783B; CN105591783A

Abstract

A method and device for synchronizing a policy rule between network elements. The method for synchronizing a policy rule comprises: after receiving a retransmitted CCR message and making PCC policies, adding, by a PCRF, information about all the made PCC policies into a CCA, and indicating in the CCA that the information issued this time is the information about all the PCC policies in a current IP-CAN session; and sending, by the PCRF, the CCA to a neighboring network element. By means of the technical solution of the present application, when asynchronous policies occur between a PCRF and a neighboring network element due to the instability of a network environment or other abnormal reasons, the states of policies, in particular some policies which have been deleted from a PCRF network element, are recovered as quickly as possible in the subsequent message interaction process, thereby guaranteeing the policy information synchronization between network elements.

Description

Method and device for synchronizing strategy rules between network elements

Technical field

The embodiments of the present invention relate to the field of communications, and in particular, to a method and a device for synchronizing policy rules between network elements.

Background technique

As the Policy and Charging Control (PCC) architecture evolves, the PCC architecture includes several functional entities as shown in Figure 1: Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF). And the PCEF (Policy and Control Enforcement Function), Bearer Binding and Event Reporting Function (BBERF), Traffic Detection Function (TDF), Application Function (AF, Application) Function), User Profile Repository (SPR), Offline Charging System (OFCS), Online Charging System (OCS).

In Figure 1, the PCRF is responsible for the formulation of the policy and accounting rules. The PCC policy and the accounting rules are sent to the PCEF through the Gx interface. The PCEF installs and executes the PCC policy, and reports related events. Fee information. The PCRF sends the QoS (Quality of Service) rules to the BBERF through the Gxx interface. The BBERF does not exchange accounting information with the accounting system. It is only responsible for reporting bearer bindings and related events. The PCRF sends the service information to be monitored to the TDF through the Sd interface. The TDF performs service monitoring and reports it to the PCRF. The AF provides service information to the PCRF through the Rx interface. The SPR saves the service information that the user subscribes to. The PCRF can query the SPR for the service information subscribed by the user through the Sp interface. The OCS reports policy counter status information related to user consumption to the PCRF through the Sy interface. The PCEF sends the online charging information to the OCS through the Gy interface for online charging statistics, and sends the offline charging information to the OFCS through the Gz interface. The TDF sends the service-based online charging information to the OCS through the Gyn interface, and sends the service-based offline charging information to the OFCS through the Gz n interface.

The IP-Connected Access Network (IP-CAN) session between the PCEF and the PCRF maintains a connection state with each other. The PCEF sends a setup, update, and release IP-CAN session to the PCRF through a CCR (Credit-Control-Request) message. Instructions. The PCRF formulates a PCC policy based on the service-related information provided by the AF, the bearer-related information reported by the PCEF, and the service information subscribed by the user in the SPR, and re-authorizes the request (RAR, Re-Auth-Request) or credit control response (CCA, Credit). The -Control-Answer message is sent to the PCEF, and the policy information includes QoS and accounting information.

At this time, if the PCEF network element is not received due to network instability or other factors, the policy information sent by the PCRF cannot be successfully obtained in the PCEF. Installed on the implementation.

If the PCRF is delivered by using the RAR request message, it can also confirm whether the PCEF successfully updates (deletes) the policy information by using a Re-Auth-Answer response (RAA).

If the PCRF is delivered by the CCA response message, there is no necessary acknowledgment mechanism to confirm whether the PCEF successfully updates (deleted) the policy information, and the PCRF may not be aware of the packet loss of these CCAs. In addition, when the PCRF processes the subsequent CCR update request, the PCRF cannot send the policy information carried in the previous CCA to the PCEF again. For example, a policy deletion indication sent by the last CCA, the PCRF is After the policy is deleted in the CCA response, the policy does not exist. After the PCRF sends the policy, the policy will not be deleted again.

The principle that the Gx interface policy is delivered is the incremental update mode. When the PCEF does not receive the indication of the policy deletion, the PCEF does not actively update the policy.

This will result in one of the following states:

Certain policies under certain IP-CAN sessions have been deleted on the PCRF, are still in the execution state on the PCEF, and may not be updated until the IP-CAN session goes offline. This will cause inconsistency in PCC rule data between network elements. The PCC rule data is generally used to provide QoS guarantees or restrictions for the user to use certain services. When the PCC rules are inconsistent between the network elements, the policies formulated by the PCRF cannot be executed faithfully, which may affect the normal use of certain service functions by the user.

This problem also occurs between the PCRF and the BBERF network element, causing inconsistency in the QOS rules; it occurs between the PCRF and the TDF network element, causing inconsistency in the ADC rules.

In this way, the status of the policy cannot be restored in the subsequent message exchange process, especially the policies that have been deleted on the PCRF network element, which may cause the policy information between the network elements to be out of synchronization.

Summary of the invention

In order to solve the above technical problem, the embodiments of the present invention provide a method and a device for synchronizing policy rules between network elements, which can ensure that the control policies of the PCRF and the neighboring network elements are consistent, thereby ensuring synchronization of policy information between network elements.

In order to solve the above technical problem, the present invention discloses a method for synchronizing policy rules between network elements, including:

Since the PCRF and the adjacent network element are based on the DIAMETER protocol, the DIAMETER protocol stack has a basic function. After the request is sent, if the response message is not received, the request message is retransmitted, and a "T" is set in the DIAMETER message header. Marker bit.

Based on this function, when the policy control and charging rule function entity PCRF receives the retransmitted credit control request CCR message and formulates the policy and charging control PCC policy, all the PCC policy information that is formulated is added to the credit control response CCA. And indicating, in the CCA, that all the PCC policy information in the current IP connection access network IPCAN session is delivered;

The PCRF sends the CCA to the neighboring network element.

Optionally, the method further includes:

Receiving, by the neighboring network element, the CCA, according to the indication in the CCA, that the PCRF sends all PCC policy information in the current IP-CAN session in the CCA, and then the current IP-CAN session is All policies are updated to all PCC policies in the CCA.

Optionally, the PCRF indicates, in the CCA, that all PCC policy information that is delivered in the current IP-CAN session is:

The PCRF configures the value of the new field in the CCA as a set value to indicate that all PCC policy information in the current IP-CAN session is delivered this time.

Optionally, the neighboring network element includes at least a policy and charging execution function entity PCEF, and/or a bearer binding and event reporting function entity BBERF, and/or a traffic detection function entity TDF.

The device of the present invention further discloses a device for synchronizing policy rules between network elements, including:

The message generating unit is configured to: after receiving the retransmitted CCR message and formulating a PCC policy, add all the PCC policy information that is formulated to the CCA, and indicate in the CCA that the current IP-CAN session is delivered. All PCC policy information;

And a sending unit, configured to send the CCA to the neighboring network element.

Optionally, the message generating unit is configured to configure a new field in the CCA as a set value to indicate that all PCC policy information in the current IP-CAN session is delivered this time.

Optionally, the above device is placed on the PCRF.

The parsing judging unit is configured to: when the CCA is received, parse the indication in the CCA, and determine whether the PCRF sends the PCC policy information in the current IP-CAN session in the CCA;

a policy update unit, configured to: when the parsing judging unit determines that all the PCC policy information in the current IP-CAN session is sent by the PCRF in the CCA, update all policies in the current IP-CAN session to the Describe all PCC strategies in CCA.

Optionally, the parsing judging unit is configured to parse the value of the newly added field in the CCA, and when the value of the newly added field is a set value, determine that the PCRF is in the CCA. All PCC policy information within the current IP-CAN session is sent.

Optionally, the above device is placed on the PCEF, and/or BBERF, and/or TDF.

With the technical solution of the present application, when the network environment is unstable or other abnormal causes cause the policy to be out of synchronization between the PCRF and the neighboring network element, the state of the policy is restored as soon as possible in the subsequent message interaction process, in particular, some are already in the PCRF network. The policy is deleted on the element, thus ensuring the synchronization of the policy information between the network elements.

BRIEF abstract

The drawings described herein are intended to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are intended to be a part of the invention. In the drawing:

1 is a schematic diagram of a conventional PCC logical architecture;

2 is a schematic flowchart of a synchronization rule between a PCRF and a PCEF according to an embodiment of the present invention;

3 is a schematic flowchart of a synchronization rule between a PCRF and a BBERF according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic flowchart of a synchronization rule between a PCRF and a TDF according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Preferred embodiment of the invention

The embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that, in the case of no conflict, the features in the embodiments and the embodiments in the present application may be arbitrarily combined with each other.

Example 1

The embodiment of the present invention proposes that, based on the new policy confirmation mechanism, the PCRF can carry all the policies in an IP-CAN session to the CCA message and send it to the CCA message as soon as possible. Adjacent NEs, such as PCEF, carry a new field to indicate that the full rule under the current session is delivered this time.

Based on the above idea, the embodiment provides a method for synchronizing policy rules between network elements, including:

After the PCRF receives the retransmitted CCR message and formulates the PCC policy, the PCRF adds all the PCC policy information that is formulated to the CCA, and indicates in the CCA that all PCC policies in the current IP-CAN session are delivered this time. information;

The PCRF sends the CCA to the neighboring network element.

The adjacent network elements involved in the present invention may include FCEF, and/or BBERF, and/or TDF.

Preferably, the PCRF may add a field to the existing CCA, and configure the new field as a set value to indicate that all PCC policy information in the current IP-CAN session is delivered this time. For example, the newly added field may be defined as an Attribute Value Pairs (AVP), and the value of the flag AVP indicates that all PCC policy information in the current IP-CAN session is delivered this time. Specifically, a certain value of the tag AVP may be preset to indicate that all PCC policy information in the current IP-CAN session is delivered this time.

In addition, the foregoing method may further include the operation of the neighboring network element, that is, when the neighboring network element receives the CCA, it may be determined according to the indication in the CCA that all the PCCs in the current IP-CAN session are sent by the PCRF in the CCA. The policy information updates all policies in the current IP-CAN session to all PCC policies in the CCA. It should be noted that the policy that is installed locally on the neighboring NE, but not included in the PCRF release, should be treated as a policy removal.

The specific application of the above method will be further described in detail below with reference mainly to FIG. Figure 2 shows the implementation process of the synchronization policy rule between the PCRF and the neighboring network element PCEF, including:

Step 201: The PCEF sends an IP-CAN session establishment indication message to the PCRF, where the user identifier is carried, the PCRF obtains the subscription information of the user from the SPR, and performs a rule decision, and sends a session establishment response message to the PCEF, and the PCRF and the PCEF complete the creation of the IP- CAN session and save IP-CAN session information and user information on the PCRF.

Step 202: The PCEF triggers a CCR request policy update based on a bearer event change or the like.

Step 203: The PCRF receives the CCR request, determines that it is a non-retransmission CCR message, and formulates a PCC policy (update or delete) based on the local information, the service related information provided by the AF, the bearer information reported by the PCEF, and the service information subscribed by the user in the SPR. );

Step 204: The PCRF encodes the CCA response, and only carries the changed policy, and may carry the AVP indication as an incremental rule, or may not include the indication AVP, and the default is to issue an incremental rule.

Step 205: The PCRF replies with a CCA response.

Step 206: The PCEF does not receive the CCA response due to the network or the like, retransmits the CCR request, and marks the DIAMETER header "T".

Step 207: The PCEF sends a retransmission CCR request.

Step 208: The PCRF parses the CCR message header and determines to retransmit the request.

Step 209: The PCRF formulates a PCC policy (update or delete) based on local information, service related information provided by the AF, bearer information reported by the PCEF, and service information subscribed by the user in the SPR.

Step 210: The PCRF encodes the CCA response, and all the policies in the current session are sent in the CCA, and the flag AVP indicates that the full-rule rule is delivered, that is, all the PCCs in the current IP-CAN session are indicated to be delivered this time. Strategy information.

Step 211: The PCRF replies with a CCA response.

Step 212: After receiving the CCA, the PCEF detects that the marked AVP indication is a full-quantity rule, that is, indicates that all the PCC policy information in the current IPCAN session is delivered, and all policies in the current session are updated, and the policy is not delivered in the CCA. Should be done delete processing.

FIG. 3 shows a specific implementation process of a synchronization policy rule between a PCRF and a neighboring network element BBERF. In this process, when the PCRF receives the policy update request of the BBERF, it checks the non-retransmitted CCR message, and after the QOS rule is formulated, the policy is delivered in the manner of the incremental delivery. When the BBERF does not receive the CCA response, the CCR request is retransmitted. When the PCRF receives the retransmission CCR of BBERF When the QOS rule is formulated, the full policy is issued and the AVP instruction is carried.

FIG. 4 shows a specific implementation process of a synchronization policy rule between a PCRF and a neighboring network element TDF. In this process, when the PCRF receives the policy update request of the TDF, it checks the non-retransmitted CCR message, and after the ADC rule is formulated, the policy is delivered in the manner of the incremental delivery. When the TDF does not receive a CCA response, the CCR request is retransmitted. When the PCRF receives the retransmission CCR of the TDF, after the ADC rule is formulated, the full policy is delivered and the AVP indication is carried.

It should be noted that the implementation process of FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 is substantially the same as that of FIG. 2, and is easily understood by those skilled in the art, and will not be described in detail herein.

Preferably, in the above method, the CCA message of the Gx/Gxx/Sd interface may be extended, and an enumeration AVP is added in the command layer to indicate whether the policy rule update under the session is an incremental update or a full update. In addition, if the AVP is not carried in the CCA message, it can be incrementally updated by default.

Specifically, the Gx interface AVP definition can refer to Table 1 below.

Table 1

As shown in Table 1, the enumeration values are:

INCREMENTAL_Mode (0): Indicates that the rule is delivered in incremental mode and defaults to the value.

COMPLETE_MODE(1): Indicates that the rule is delivered in full mode.

The location of this AVP in the CCA message is shown in bold font as follows:

<CC-Answer>::=<Diameter Header: 272, PXY>

<Session-Id>

{Auth-Application-Id}

{Origin-Host}

{Origin-Realm}

[Result-Code]

[Experimental-Result]

{CC-Request-Type}

{CC-Request-Number}

......

*[Charging-Rule-Remove]

*[Charging-Rule-Install]

[Charging-Rule-Mode]

......

Specifically, the Gxx interface AVP definition can refer to Table 2 below.

Table 2

As shown in Table 2, the enumeration value is interfaced with Gx.

The location of this AVP in the CCA message is shown in bold font as follows:

<CC-Answer>::=<Diameter Header: 272, PXY>

<Session-Id>

{Auth-Application-Id}

{Origin-Host}

{Origin-Realm}

[Result-Code]

[Experimental-Result]

{CC-Request-Type}

{CC-Request-Number}

......

*[Qos-Rule-Remvoe]

*[Qos-Rule-Install]

[Qos-Rule-Mode]

......

Specifically, the Sd interface AVP definition can refer to Table 3 below.

table 3

As shown in Table 3, the enumeration value is interfaced with Gx.

The location of this AVP in the CCA message is shown in bold font as follows:

<CC-Answer>::=<Diameter Header: 272, PXY>

<Session-Id>

{Auth-Application-Id}

{Origin-Host}

{Origin-Realm}

[Result-Code]

[Experimental-Result]

{CC-Request-Type}

{CC-Request-Number}

......

*[ADC-Rule-Remove]

*[ADC-Rule-Install]

[ADC-Rule-Mode]

......

Example 2

This embodiment provides a device for synchronizing policy rules between network elements, which can be placed on a PCRF. It includes at least the following units:

The message generating unit is configured to add all the PCC policy information that is formulated to the CCA after the PCRF receives the retransmitted CCR message and formulates the PCC policy, and indicates in the CCA that the current IP-CAN session is delivered. All PCC policy information within;

Preferably, the value of the tag AVP in the existing CCA may be used to indicate that all the PCC policy information in the current IPCAN session is delivered this time, that is, the value of the tag AVP of the CCA is configured to a predetermined value to indicate the current delivery. Is all PCC policy information in the current IPCAN session.

The sending unit is configured to send the CCA to the neighboring network element.

Example 3

This embodiment provides an apparatus for synchronizing policy rules between network elements, including the following units.

The parsing judging unit is configured to parse the indication in the CCA when the CCA is received, and determine whether the PCRF sends the CCC policy information in the current IPCAN session in the CCA;

Specifically, the parsing judging unit parses the CCA, and obtains the value of the flag AVP therein. If the value of the obtained tag AVP is the set value, it is determined that the PCRF delivers all the PCC policy information in the current IPCAN session in the CCA.

a policy update unit, configured to update all policies in the current IPCAN session to all the CCAs in the current IPCAN session after the parsing judging unit determines that the PCRF delivers all PCC policy information in the current IPCAN session in the CCA. PCC strategy.

In practical applications, the above devices can be placed on PCEF, BBERF or TDF.

It should be noted that, in the device configuration work of the foregoing Embodiments 2 and 3, the technical solution of the foregoing Embodiment 1 can be implemented. Therefore, the detailed working process of the devices in Embodiments 2 and 3 can be referred to the corresponding content of Embodiment 1 above. I will not repeat them here.

As can be seen from the foregoing embodiment, the present application instructs and delivers all rules in the current IPCAN session by the PCRF at a specific time, so that the PCEF can update the locally executed rule to the state synchronized with the PCRF network element. This scheme is specified by a specific AVP, and does not cause frequent and unnecessary synchronization of rules between network elements, and does not impose excessive burden on the network; and utilizes the interaction process between existing network elements, and the implementation is simple. Efficient.

One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that all or a portion of the steps described above can be accomplished by a program that instructs the associated hardware, such as a read-only memory, a magnetic or optical disk, and the like. Alternatively, all or part of the steps of the above embodiments may also be implemented using one or more integrated circuits. Correspondingly, each module/unit in the foregoing embodiment may be implemented in the form of hardware or in the form of a software function module. This application is not limited to any specific combination of hardware and software.

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

Industrial applicability

The method and device for synchronizing policy rules between network elements according to the embodiments of the present invention include: after the PCRF receives the retransmitted CCR message and formulates the PCC policy, all the PCC policy information that is formulated is added to the CCA, and is in the CCA. Indicates that all the PCC policy information in the current IP-CAN session is delivered this time; the PCRF sends the CCA to the neighboring network element. With the technical solution of the present application, when the network environment is unstable or other abnormal causes cause the policy to be out of synchronization between the PCRF and the neighboring network element, the state of the policy is restored as soon as possible in the subsequent message interaction process, in particular, some are already in the PCRF network. The policy is deleted on the element, thus ensuring the synchronization of the policy information between the network elements.

Claims

A method for synchronizing policy rules between network elements, comprising:

After the policy control and charging rule function entity PCRF receives the retransmitted credit control request CCR message and formulates the policy and charging control PCC policy, all the PCC policy information that is formulated is added to the credit control response CCA, and The CCA indicates that all the PCC policy information in the IP-CAN session of the current IP connection access network is delivered.

The PCRF sends the CCA to the neighboring network element.
The method of claim 1 further comprising:

Receiving, by the neighboring network element, the CCA, according to the indication in the CCA, that the PCRF sends all PCC policy information in the current IP-CAN session in the CCA, and then the current IP-CAN session is All policies are updated to all PCC policies in the CCA.
The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the indicating in the CCA that all the PCC policy information in the current IP-CAN session is delivered is:

The PCRF configures the value of the new field in the CCA as a set value to indicate that all PCC policy information in the current IP-CAN session is delivered this time.
Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that

The contiguous network element includes at least a policy and charging enforcement function entity PCEF, and/or a bearer binding and event reporting function entity BBERF, and/or a traffic detection function entity TDF.
A device for synchronizing policy rules between network elements, comprising:

The message generating unit is configured to: after receiving the retransmitted CCR message and formulating a PCC policy, add all the PCC policy information that is formulated to the CCA, and indicate in the CCA that the current IP-CAN session is delivered. All PCC policy information;

And a sending unit, configured to send the CCA to the neighboring network element.
The device according to claim 5, wherein the message generating unit is specifically configured to configure a new field in the CCA as a set value to indicate that the current IP-CAN session is delivered this time. All PCC policy information within.
Device according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the device is placed in a PCRF on.
A device for synchronizing policy rules between network elements, comprising:

The parsing judging unit is configured to: when the CCA is received, parse the indication in the CCA, and determine whether the PCRF sends the PCC policy information in the current IP-CAN session in the CCA;

The policy update unit is configured to update all the policies in the current IPCAN session to the CCA when the parsing judging unit determines that all the PCC policy information in the current IP-CAN session is sent by the PCRF in the CCA. All PCC strategies in .
The device according to claim 8, wherein the parsing judging unit is configured to parse the value of the newly added field in the CCA, and determine that the value of the newly added field is a set value. The PCRF delivers in the CCA all the PCC policy information in the current IP-CAN session.
Device according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the device is placed on a PCEF, and/or BBERF, and/or TDF.