WO2016074224A1

WO2016074224A1 - Method and apparatus for selecting policy and charging rules function

Info

Publication number: WO2016074224A1
Application number: PCT/CN2014/091129
Authority: WO
Inventors: 吴义壮; 时晓岩; 张万强
Original assignee: 华为技术有限公司
Priority date: 2014-11-14
Filing date: 2014-11-14
Publication date: 2016-05-19
Also published as: CN107251483A

Abstract

A method and apparatus for selecting a policy and charging rules function (PCRF). The method comprises: a core network device acquires an IP address of a first PCRF, wherein the first PCRF is a PCRF serving a first user equipment, and the first user equipment is a user equipment that first accesses a network among multiple user equipments in a group; the core network device receives second identification information, the second identification information being identification information of a second user equipment; the core network device determines that the second user equipment is a user equipment in the group according to the second identification information or third identification information, the third identification information being identification information used for identifying the group; and the core network device triggers a session setup process with the first PCRF for the second user equipment according to the IP address of the first PCRF. By means of the method, different user equipments in the same group can use the same PCRF that provides services for the user equipments.

Description

Method and device for selecting policy and charging rule function

Technical field

The present invention relates to the field of communications technologies, and in particular, to a method and apparatus for selecting a policy and charging rule function.

Background technique

Machine Type Communications (MTC) refers to network communication between one or more network elements without human intervention, such as traffic control and management, remote meter reading, remote monitoring, mobile payment, Location tracking, and applications such as medical monitoring. In an MTC application, a plurality of terminals having the same MTC application, the same location, or belonging to the same organization form a whole, referred to as a group, a group, or a group. The network operator or user can manage or control the group as a whole. For example, the remote meter reading of the power industry can group all the electricity meters in a city into one group, and the network operator or the power industry user can group the group. As a whole, mobility management optimization, access management or policy control.

The Policy and Charging Rule Function (PCRF) entity in the Policy Control and Charging (PCC) architecture includes policy control decisions and functions based on traffic data flow charging control. The Policy and Charging Enforcement Function (PCEF) entity includes detection of service data flows, policy enforcement, and flow-based charging. The PCRF entity provides PCEF entities with service data flow detection, gating, Quality of Service (QoS) based network control, and traffic data flow based traffic control. In the prior art, a Diameter Routing Agent (DRA) entity selects a PCRF entity according to the identification information of the user. When different user equipments of the same group access the network, the DRA may select different PCRF entities for different user equipments. For a group in an MTC application, network operator or user can manage or control multiple terminals or user equipments in a group to save management costs. However, in the prior art, it is impossible to belong to the same group. Different users choose to the same PCRF entity, therefore, The network operator or user cannot perform unified management or control on multiple terminals or user equipments in the group.

Summary of the invention

The invention provides a method and a device for selecting a PCRF, which can save network operator or user management cost.

The first aspect provides a policy and charging rule function PCRF selection method, which is characterized in that: the core network device obtains an IP address of the first PCRF, wherein the first PCRF is for serving the first user equipment. a PCRF, the first user equipment is a user equipment of a first one of the plurality of user equipments included in the group; the core network device receives the second identification information, where the second identification information is the Determining, by the core network device, the second user equipment is a user equipment included in the group according to the second identifier information or the third identifier information, where the third identifier information And the core network device triggers a session establishment process with the first PCRF for the second user equipment according to the IP address of the first PCRF.

With reference to the first aspect, in a first possible implementation manner, after the core network device obtains the IP address of the first PCRF, the core network device, before receiving the second identifier information, further includes: the core network device storage Corresponding relationship between the IP address of the first PCRF and the third identifier information; the core network device triggering a session establishment process with the first PCRF for the second user equipment, including: the core network device Acquiring the IP address of the first PCRF according to the corresponding relationship, and triggering a session establishment process with the first PCRF for the second user equipment according to the IP address of the first PCRF.

With reference to the first aspect, the first possible implementation manner, in a second possible implementation, the core network device triggers a session establishment process with the first PCRF for the second user equipment, including: Determining, by the core network device, that the first PCRF serves the second user equipment according to the corresponding relationship; and, according to the IP address of the first PCRF, the second use The user equipment triggers a session establishment process with the first PCRF.

With reference to the first aspect, the first to the second possible implementation manners, in a third possible implementation, the core network device stores a correspondence between an IP address of the first PCRF and the third identifier information, The core network device determines, according to the first identifier information and the stored subscription information of the first user equipment, that the first user equipment is a user equipment in the group, and the core network equipment storage station Corresponding relationship between the IP address of the first PCRF and the third identifier information.

With reference to the first aspect, the first to the third possible implementation manners, in a fourth possible implementation manner, before the core network device stores the correspondence between the IP address of the first PCRF and the third identifier information, And the core network device receives the first identifier information and the third identifier information, where the first identifier information is used to identify the first user equipment; and the core network device stores an IP address of the first PCRF. Corresponding relationship with the third identifier information, the user information database device determining, according to the first identifier information and the third identifier information, that the first user equipment is a user equipment in the group, The core network device stores a correspondence between an IP address of the first PCRF and the third identifier information.

With reference to the first aspect, the first to fourth possible implementation manners, in a fifth possible implementation manner, the core network device is a user information database device; the core network device acquires an IP address of the first PCRF, including The user information database receives an IP address of the first PCRF sent by the first PCRF.

With reference to the first aspect, the first to the fifth possible implementation manners, in the sixth possible implementation manner, the acquiring, by the core network device, the IP address of the first PCRF, the core network device receiving the first identifier information And the core network device selects the first PCRF for the first user equipment identified by the first identifier information, and acquires an IP address of the first PCRF.

With reference to the first aspect, the first to the sixth possible implementation manners, in a seventh possible implementation manner, the core network device is a policy and charging execution function PCEF; and the core network device acquires an IP of the first PCRF The address includes: the policy and the charging execution function receiving an IP address of the first PCRF sent by the DRA device, where the first PCRF is the first The PCRF selected by the user device.

With reference to the first aspect, the first to the seventh possible implementation manners, in the eighth possible implementation manner, the core network device is a policy and charging execution function PCEF, and the core network device is the second user Before the device triggers the session establishment process with the first PCRF, the method further includes: the PCEF receiving an IP address of the second PCRF sent by the DRA device; the PCEF determining, according to the received third identifier information, the correspondence The first PCRF is configured to serve the second user equipment, where the correspondence is a correspondence between an IP address of the first PCRF and the third identifier information stored by the PCEF; The DRA device sends the IP address of the first PCRF, and the IP address of the first PCRF is used by the DRA device to update the IP address of the second PCRF to the IP address of the first PCRF.

With reference to the first aspect, the first to the eighth possible implementation manners, in the ninth possible implementation manner, when the core network device receives the second identification information, the core network device further receives the third And the core network device triggers a session establishment process with the first PCRF for the second user equipment according to the IP address of the first PCRF, where the core network device receives the Determining, by the third identifier information, the IP address of the first PCRF served by the second user equipment, and triggering the first user equipment with the first IP address according to the IP address of the first PCRF The session establishment process of the PCRF.

With reference to the first aspect, the first to the nine possible implementation manners, in the tenth possible implementation manner, the core network device triggers a session establishment process with the first PCRF for the second user equipment, including Transmitting, by the core network device, a message including an IP address of the first PCRF to the second PCRF, the second PCRF redirecting the second user equipment to the first PCRF; or the core The network device sends a message including the IP address of the first PCRF to the policy and charging execution function that is used by the second user equipment, and triggers a session establishment process with the first PCRF for the second user equipment; Or the core network device sends a session establishment request to the first PCRF according to the IP address of the first PCRF, and triggers a session establishment procedure with the first PCRF for the second user equipment.

With reference to the first aspect, the first to ten possible implementation manners, in an eleventh possible implementation manner, after the core network device triggers a session establishment process with the first PCRF, And the core network device determines that the second user equipment is detached; and the core network device deletes the correspondence between the third identifier information and the identifier information of all user equipments in the group. The second identification information.

With reference to the first aspect, the first to the eleven possible implementation manners, in the twelfth possible implementation, the core network device triggers a session establishment process with the first PCRF for the second user equipment After the core network device determines that all the user equipments in the group are detached, the corresponding relationship between the third identifier information and the IP address of the first PCRF is deleted; or the core network device And after receiving the request message for deleting the correspondence between the third identifier information and the IP address of the first PCRF, deleting the correspondence between the third identifier information and the IP address of the first PCRF.

With reference to the first aspect, the first to the twelfth possible implementation manners, in the thirteenth possible implementation manner, the determining that the second user equipment is a user equipment included in the group includes: The stored subscription information of the second user equipment and the received identification information of the second user equipment, determining that the second user equipment is a user equipment included in the group; or according to the third identifier Determining, by the information, that the second user equipment is a user equipment included in the group; or determining, according to the second identifier information and the third identifier information, that the second user equipment belongs to the group.

In a second aspect, a core network device is provided, comprising: a receiving unit, a sending unit, and a storage unit coupled to the processing unit, wherein: the processing unit is configured to acquire an IP address of the first PCRF, where The first PCRF is a PCRF serving the first user equipment, the first user equipment is a user equipment of a first one of the plurality of user equipments included in the group, and the receiving unit is configured to receive the first The second identifier information, wherein the second identifier information is the identifier information of the second user equipment, and the processing unit is further configured to determine the second user equipment according to the second identifier information or the third identifier information User equipment included in the group, where The third identifier information is identifier information for identifying the group; and triggering a session establishment procedure with the first PCRF for the second user equipment according to the IP address of the first PCRF.

With reference to the second aspect, in a first possible implementation, the storage unit is configured to store a correspondence between an IP address of the first PCRF and the third identifier information, where the processing unit is configured to press The method for establishing a session with the first PCRF is triggered by the second user equipment: obtaining an IP address of the first PCRF according to the correspondence, and according to the IP address of the first PCRF, The second user equipment triggers a session establishment procedure with the first PCRF.

With reference to the second aspect, the first possible implementation manner, in a second possible implementation manner, the processing unit is configured to trigger session establishment with the first PCRF for the second user equipment in the following manner a process of determining, by the first PCRF, the second user equipment to serve according to the corresponding relationship stored by the storage unit; and triggering, by the second user equipment, according to an IP address of the first PCRF The session establishment process of the first PCRF.

With reference to the second aspect, the first to the second possible implementation manners, in a third possible implementation, the storage unit is further configured to: store the subscription information of the first user equipment; Determining, according to the first identifier information and the subscription information stored by the storage unit, that the first user equipment is a user equipment in the group, and the IP address of the first PCRF and the first The correspondence of the three identification information is stored to the storage unit.

With reference to the second aspect, the first to the third possible implementation manners, in a fourth possible implementation manner, the receiving unit is further configured to receive the first identifier information and the third identifier information, where the first identifier information And the processing unit is further configured to: determine, according to the first identifier information and the third identifier information that are received by the receiving unit, that the first user equipment is the group The user equipment in the storage, stores the correspondence between the IP address of the first PCRF and the third identifier information to the storage unit.

With reference to the second aspect, the first to fourth possible implementation manners, in a fifth possible implementation, the receiving unit is further configured to receive an IP of the first PCRF that is sent by the first PCRF An address; the IP address of the first PCRF acquired by the processing unit is received by the receiving unit.

With reference to the second aspect, the first to the fifth possible implementation manners, in the sixth possible implementation manner, the receiving unit is further configured to receive the first identifier information, where the processing unit is configured to obtain the following manner The IP address of the first PCRF: the first user equipment that is identified by the first identifier information received by the receiving unit, selects a first PCRF, and acquires an IP address of the first PCRF.

With reference to the second aspect, the first to the six possible implementations, in a seventh possible implementation, the receiving unit is further configured to receive an IP address of the first PCRF sent by the DRA device, where the a PCRF is a PCR entity selected by the DRA device for the first user equipment; an IP address of the first PCRF acquired by the processing unit is received by the receiving unit.

With reference to the second aspect, the first to the seventh possible implementation manners, in the eighth possible implementation, the receiving unit is further configured to: receive an IP address of a second PCRF sent by the DRA device; And determining, by the first PCRF, the second user equipment, according to the received third identifier information and the correspondence relationship, before the second user equipment triggers a session establishment process with the first PCRF, where And the corresponding relationship is a correspondence between the IP address of the first PCRF and the third identifier information, where the sending unit is configured to send an IP address of the first PCRF to the DRA device, where the The IP address of a PCRF is used by the DRA device to update the IP address of the second PCRF to the IP address of the first PCRF.

With reference to the second aspect, the first to the eighth possible implementation manners, in the ninth possible implementation manner, when the receiving unit receives the second identifier information, the third identifier information is further received; the processing unit is configured to And triggering, by the second user equipment, a session establishment process with the first PCRF, as follows: determining, according to the third identifier information and the correspondence relationship received by the receiving unit, that the second user equipment is served An IP address of a PCRF, and triggering a session establishment process with the first PCRF for the second user equipment according to the IP address of the first PCRF, where the corresponding relationship is stored in the storage unit The IP address of the first PCRF and the first The correspondence between the three identification information.

With reference to the second aspect, the first to the nine possible implementations, in a tenth possible implementation, the processing unit is configured to trigger the second user equipment with the first PCRF in the following manner a session establishment process: the processing unit sends an IP address of the first PCRF to the second PCRF by using the sending unit, and triggers the second PCRF to redirect the second user equipment to the first PCRF Or the processing unit sends the IP address of the first PCRF to the PCEF serving the second user equipment by the sending unit, and triggers a session with the first PCRF for the second user equipment Establishing a process; or the processing unit sends a session establishment request to the first PCRF through the sending unit according to the IP address of the first PCRF, and triggers a session with the first PCRF for the second user equipment Establish a process.

With reference to the second aspect, the first to the ten possible implementations, in an eleventh possible implementation, the processing unit is further configured to trigger a session with the first PCRF for the second user equipment After the process is established, the second user equipment is determined to be detached; and the second identifier information is deleted from the correspondence between the third identifier information and the identifier information of all user equipments in the group.

With reference to the second aspect, the first to the eleven possible implementation manners, in a twelfth possible implementation, the processing unit, after the second user equipment triggers a session establishment process with the first PCRF, After determining that all user equipments in the group are detached, deleting the correspondence between the third identifier information and the IP address of the first PCRF; or receiving the deleting the third identifier information and the After the request message of the correspondence between the IP addresses of the first PCRFs, the correspondence between the third identifier information and the IP address of the first PCRF is deleted.

With reference to the second aspect, the first to the twelfth possible implementation manners, in the thirteenth possible implementation manner, the processing unit is configured to determine, according to the manner, that the second user equipment is in the group The user equipment included: determining, according to the stored subscription information of the second user equipment and the received identification information of the second user equipment, that the second user equipment is a user equipment included in the group; or Determining, according to the third identifier information, that the second user equipment is in the group The user equipment included; or determining, according to the second identifier information and the third identifier information, that the second user equipment belongs to the group.

In a third aspect, a method for selecting a policy and charging rule function PCRF is provided, which includes: receiving an IP address of a PCRF sent by a serving gateway, and first identifier information, where the first identifier information is used by For identifying the first user equipment, the first user equipment is a user equipment included in the group, and the IP address is configured by the home subscriber server HSS or the home location register HLR for all user equipments in the group. An IP address corresponding to the PCRF; and transmitting the IP address and the first identification information to a Diameter Routing Agent DRA device, the IP address being used to trigger the first user equipment to correspond to the IP address The session establishment process of the PCRF.

In a first possible implementation manner, the IP address of the PCRF is stored in the subscription information in the HSS or the HLR in association with the identification information of the group.

In a fourth aspect, a device for selecting a policy and charging rule function PCRF is provided, comprising: a receiving unit and a sending unit coupled to the processing unit: the receiving unit is configured to receive the PCRF sent by the serving gateway The IP address and the first identifier information, wherein the first identifier information is used to identify the first user equipment, the first user equipment is a user equipment included in the group, and the IP address is a home subscriber server HSS or attribution An IP address corresponding to a PCRF configured for all user equipments in the group stored in the location register HLR; and the sending unit, configured to send the IP address and the first identifier information to a Diameter Routing Agent DRA device The IP address is used to trigger a session establishment procedure of the PCRF corresponding to the IP address for the first user equipment.

In a fifth aspect, a method for selecting a policy and charging rule function PCRF is provided, which includes: receiving an IP address and first identification information of a PCRF sent by a policy and charging execution function PCEF, where The first identifier information is used to identify the first user equipment, where the first The user equipment is a user equipment included in the group, and the IP address is an IP address corresponding to a PCRF configured for all user equipments in the group stored in the home subscriber server HSS or the home location register HLR; and according to the PCRF The IP address triggers the process of establishing a connection between the policy and charging enforcement functions and the PCRF.

In a first possible implementation, the IP address of the PCRF is stored in the subscription information in the HSS or the HLR in association with the identification information of the group, where the identifier information is used to identify the group. Group identification information.

In a sixth aspect, a device for selecting a policy and charging rule function PCRF is provided, comprising: a receiving unit coupled to the processing unit: the receiving unit, configured to receive the policy and charging execution function PCEF The IP address of the PCRF and the first identifier information, where the first identifier information is used to identify the first user equipment, the first user equipment is a user equipment included in the group, and the IP address is a home subscriber server HSS Or the IP address corresponding to the PCRF configured in the home location register HLR for all the user equipments in the group; the processing unit, configured to trigger the policy and the charging execution function according to the IP address of the PCRF The PCRF establishes the process of the connection.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the core network device obtains the IP address of the first PCRF, the core network device receives the second identifier information, and the core network device determines the second user according to the second identifier information or the third identifier information. The device is a user equipment included in the group, and the core network device triggers a session establishment process with the first PCRF for the second user equipment according to the IP address of the first PCRF, thereby The network device determines that the second user equipment belongs to the group, and the core network device triggers the session establishment of the second user equipment with the first PCRF according to the IP address of the first PCRF, and therefore belongs to the same group. The same PCRF was selected for different user devices.

DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a system architecture diagram of PCRF selection according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a PCRF selection method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a structural diagram of a PCRF selection apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a signaling interaction diagram of a PCRF selection method based on a user information database according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a signaling interaction diagram of a proxy DRA-based PCRF selection method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a signaling interaction diagram of a PCRF selection method based on a redirected DRA according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a signaling interaction diagram of a PCEF-based PCRF selection method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a method for selecting a policy and charging rule function PCRF according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a device for selecting a policy and charging rule function PCRF according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a method for selecting a policy and charging rule function PCRF according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of a device for selecting a policy and charging rule function PCRF according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of obtaining an IP address of a group PCRF by a user equipment to an HSS according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of a PCRF selection method based on HSS and redirected DRA according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a PCRF selection method based on HSS and proxy DRA according to an embodiment of the present invention.

detailed description

The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a system architecture of an embodiment of the present invention. The system of the embodiment of the present invention mainly includes a policy and charging execution function, a PCRF entity, a DRA entity, a subscription attribute resource library device, or a user data resource library device.

The policy and charging enforcement functions have the detection of service data flows, policy enforcement, and flow-based charging functions. The policy and charging execution function may be a module located in the gateway, for example, a module in a Packet Data Network Gateway (PGW), or may be a separately deployed core network entity device. The function of the policy and the charging execution function includes executing the PCC policy delivered by the PCRF.

The PCRF mainly performs functions such as PCC decision and flow-based charging control. The PCRF can be a physical device deployed in the core network. The PCRF entity formulates a corresponding PCC policy according to the operator policy, the user subscription data, the current service information of the user, and local information. The user subscription data can be obtained from a subscription profile repository (SPR) or a user data repository (UDR). The current service information of the user can be obtained from the application function entity, and the local information can be obtained from the PCEF. . A PCC policy includes information such as detection rules of traffic data flows, gating states, QoS rules, and flow-based charging rules. The service data flow is a classified set of IP flows for completing a service such as voice communication, and the gating state is permission/inhibition of packet data transmission. The PCRF will eventually send the PCC policy to the PCEF, and the PCEF will execute the PCC policy.

DRA is divided into proxy DRA (Proxy DRA) and redirected DRA (Redirect DRA). For the proxy DRA, the session establishment message exchanged between the policy and the charging execution function (hereinafter referred to as PCEF/PGW) and the PCRF needs to pass through the proxy DRA. For the redirected DRA, the redirected DRA does not need to transmit the message between the policy and the charging execution function and the PCRF, and only needs to provide the PCRF information to the policy and charging execution function, for example, the IP address of the PCRF. The billing execution function is directly communicated with the PCRF based on the IP address of the PCRF.

The user information database stores the subscription information or attributes of the user, interacts with the PCRF through the Sp interface, and provides user subscription information or attributes to the PCRF. Optionally, the user information database is a Subscription Profile Repository (SPR) or a User Data Repository (UDR).

When the user equipment (UE) accesses the network, the UE sends an attach request to the base station, and the base station sends the attach request to the Mobility Management Entity (MME), and the MME sends a setup session request to the serving gateway (Serving Gateway). SGW), the SGW sends the setup session request to the PCEF/PGW, and the setup session request includes the UE identity. The PCEF/PGW then sends an IP-CAN session setup request containing the UE identity to the DRA. The DRA selects a PCRF for the UE to serve the UE according to the UE identity. The policy and charging execution function directly sends an IP-CAN session establishment request (corresponding to redirecting the DRA) to the PCRF according to the IP address of the PCRF selected by the DRA for the UE, or the policy and charging execution function sends an IP to the DRA. - CAN session request, the DRA selects the PCRF according to the UE identity of the session request, and sends the received IP-CAN session request message to the PCRF (in the case of the corresponding proxy DRA). After receiving the IP-CAN session establishment request, the PCRF acquires the attributes of the UE from the user information database, and then the PCRF sends an IP-CAN session establishment response to the policy and charging execution function. Through the above steps, the UE establishes a session connection with the network, selects a PCRF for the UE according to the UE identity, and executes the PCC policy of the PCRF by the policy and charging execution function.

When the user equipments belonging to the same group access the network, it is desirable for the user equipments belonging to the same group to be served by the same PCRF, so that different user equipments in the group can adopt the same policy or charging rule. Therefore, when different user equipments belonging to the same group use the same PCRF, the operator or device manager can manage the user equipment in the group more conveniently and effectively.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a method for selecting a PCRF according to an embodiment of the present invention.

21. The core network device obtains the IP address of the first PCRF. The first PCRF is a PCRF serving the first user equipment, and the first user equipment is a plurality of user equipments included in the group. The first user device to access the network.

The group described in the embodiment of the present invention may be that multiple user equipments having the same user attribute information are determined to belong to the same group, for example, user equipments having the same QoS are determined to be the same group; or, have the same The user equipments of the service type are determined to be the same group; or the user equipments accessing the unified access point are determined to be the same group. In this case, the identifier information used to identify the group to which the UE-1 belongs may be the user attribute information, for example, may be QoS, or a service type, or an access point name (APN), etc. .

For example, the group in the embodiment of the present invention may also be a group that is set up according to requirements, and the group is identified by a group identifier. In this case, the network device establishes the identifier and location of the user equipment in the group. The corresponding relationship between the group identifiers and the group to which the user equipment belongs can be determined according to the correspondence and the identifier of the user equipment. In this case, the identifier information used to identify the group to which the UE-1 belongs may be the group identifier.

For example, the group device in the embodiment of the present invention may further divide the user equipment of the same segment into a group, for example, divide the user equipment of the 18600 segment into a group. In this case, the use The identification information identifying the group to which the UE-1 belongs may be the same number segment.

For another example, the group in the embodiment of the present invention may further divide users of the same company into one group. In this case, the identifier information used to identify the group to which the UE-1 belongs may be the identifier information.

It should be noted that the group described in the embodiment of the present invention may be any group that is divided, and is not limited to the above cases.

Certainly, in the foregoing various situations, a group identifier may be set for the group, and the identifier information used to identify the group to which the UE-1 belongs may be the identifier information.

Optionally, the definition of the group in all embodiments of the present invention is the same as the embodiment.

Optionally, the same group may also be represented by a specific one or more bits in the identifier of the user equipment.

22. The core network device receives second identification information. The second identifier information is identifier information of the second user equipment. Optionally, in step 22, the core network device is further configured Receiving third identification information, where the third identification information is identification information used to identify the group.

The core network device determines, according to the second identifier information or the third identifier information, that the second user equipment is a user equipment included in the group. The third identifier information is identifier information used to identify the group. Optionally, if the step 22 only receives the second identifier information, in step 23, the core network device determines, according to the second identifier information and the subscription information of the second user equipment, that the second user equipment is the group The user equipment included, the subscription information is stored in a user information database. Optionally, the user information database includes an SPR or a UDR. If the third identifier information is received in the step 22, the core network device may determine, according to the third identifier information, that the second user equipment is the user equipment included in the group.

The core network device triggers a session establishment process with the first PCRF for the second user equipment according to the IP address of the first PCRF.

The core network device obtains the IP address of the first PCRF, and the core network device receives the second identifier information, where the core network device determines the second user equipment according to the second identifier information or the third identifier information. For the user equipment included in the group, the core network device triggers a session establishment process with the first PCRF for the second user equipment according to the IP address of the first PCRF, and thus, through the core network The device determines that the second user equipment belongs to the group, and the core network device triggers the session establishment of the second user equipment and the first PCRF according to the IP address of the first PCRF, and therefore, belongs to the same group. The same PCRF is selected for the user equipment.

In an optional embodiment, after the core network device obtains the IP address of the first PCRF, before the core network device receives the second identifier information, the method further includes: the core network device storing the IP address of the first PCRF Corresponding relationship between the address and the third identifier information; the core network device triggering a session establishment process with the first PCRF for the second user equipment, where the core network device obtains the location according to the correspondence relationship An IP address of the first PCRF, and triggering a session establishment flow with the first PCRF for the second user equipment according to the IP address of the first PCRF Cheng. In an optional embodiment, the IP address of the PCRF storing the group user equipment serving the first access network includes the IP of the PCRF of the group user equipment serving the first access network. The address is stored in association with the identification information of the group.

In an optional embodiment, the core network device triggers a session establishment process with the first PCRF for the second user equipment, where the core network device determines, according to the correspondence, that the a PCRF serving the second user equipment; and triggering a session establishment procedure with the first PCRF for the second user equipment according to the IP address of the first PCRF.

In an optional embodiment, the core network device stores the correspondence between the IP address of the first PCRF and the third identifier information, including: the core network device according to the first identifier information and the stored The subscription information of the first user equipment determines that the first user equipment is a user equipment in the group, and the core network equipment stores a correspondence between an IP address of the first PCRF and the third identifier information. . In an optional embodiment, after obtaining the IP address of the PCRF of the user equipment serving the access network, determining whether to store the IP address of the PCRF serving any one of the user equipments to which the user equipment belongs, if not And storing the IP address of the PCRF of the user equipment of the user equipment group, and determining that the user equipment is the user equipment of the first access network of the group, that is, the group user equipment of the first access network, Then storing the IP address of the PCRF of the group user equipment serving the first access network, and preferably storing the correspondence between the IP address of the PCRF and the third identifier. If the IP address of the PCRF of the user equipment of the group to which the user equipment belongs is stored, it is determined that the user equipment of the access network is not the user equipment of the first access network of the group to which the user equipment belongs, where In this case, it is not necessary to store the IP address of the PCRF of the user equipment serving the access network.

In an optional embodiment, before the core network device stores the correspondence between the IP address of the first PCRF and the third identifier information, the method further includes: the core network device receiving the first identifier information and the third Identification information, where the first identification information is used to identify the first user equipment. Optionally, the receiving, by the core network device, the first identifier information and the third identifier information may be received in the same step, or may be separately received in different steps. The core network device stores the first The mapping between the IP address of the PCRF and the third identifier information includes: determining, by the user information database device, that the first user equipment is in the group according to the first identifier information and the third identifier information The user equipment, the core network device stores a correspondence between an IP address of the first PCRF and the third identifier information. The user information database device may determine the identification information of the group to which the first user equipment belongs according to the first identifier information and the subscription information of the user equipment, and according to the third identifier information and the group to which the first user equipment belongs The identification information determines that the first user equipment is a user equipment in the group.

In an optional embodiment, the core network device is a user information database device, and the core network device acquires an IP address of the first PCRF, where the user information database receives the first The IP address of a PCRF.

In an optional embodiment, the acquiring, by the core network device, the IP address of the first PCRF, the core network device receiving the first identifier information, and the core network device identifying the first identifier information The first user equipment selects a first PCRF and acquires an IP address of the first PCRF.

In an optional embodiment, the core network device is a policy and charging execution function PCEF; the core network device acquires an IP address of the first PCRF, and the method includes: the policy and the charging execution function are sent by the DRA device. The IP address of the first PCRF, wherein the first PCRF is a PCRF selected by the DRA device for the first user equipment.

In an optional embodiment, the core network device is a policy and charging execution function PCEF, and the core network device, before the second user equipment triggers a session establishment process with the first PCRF, further includes: Receiving, by the PCEF, an IP address of a second PCRF sent by the DRA device, where the PCEF determines, according to the received third identifier information and the correspondence, that the first PCRF serves the second user equipment, where the Corresponding relationship is the correspondence between the IP address of the first PCRF and the third identifier information stored by the PCEF; the PCEF sends the IP address of the first PCRF to the DRA device, the first PCRF The IP address is used by the DRA device to update the IP address of the second PCRF to the IP address of the first PCRF.

In an optional embodiment, when the core network device receives the second identifier information, the core network device further receives the third identifier information, where the core network device is configured according to the IP address of the first PCRF. And the second user equipment triggers a session establishment process with the first PCRF, where the core network device determines, according to the received third identifier information and the corresponding relationship, that the second user equipment serves the first An IP address of the PCRF, and triggering a session establishment process with the first PCRF for the second user equipment according to the IP address of the first PCRF.

In an optional embodiment, the core network device triggers a session establishment process with the first PCRF for the second user equipment, where the core network device sends the second PCRF to the second PCRF. a message of an IP address of a PCRF, the second PCRF redirecting the second user equipment to the first PCRF; or the core network device performing a policy and charging for serving the second user equipment The function sends a message including the IP address of the first PCRF, triggering a session establishment procedure with the first PCRF for the second user equipment; or the core network device according to the IP address of the first PCRF The first PCRF sends a session establishment request, and triggers a session establishment process with the first PCRF for the second user equipment.

In an optional embodiment, the core network device, after the second user equipment triggers a session establishment process with the first PCRF, further includes: the core network device determining that the second user equipment is detached And deleting, by the core network device, the second identifier information from a correspondence between the third identifier information and the identifier information of all user equipments in the group.

In an optional embodiment, after the core network device triggers a session establishment process with the first PCRF, the core network device further includes: determining, by the core network device, all user devices in the group After the detachment, the corresponding relationship between the third identifier information and the IP address of the first PCRF is deleted; or the core network device receives the third identifier information and the IP address of the first PCRF. After the request message of the corresponding relationship, the correspondence between the third identifier information and the IP address of the first PCRF is deleted.

In an optional embodiment, the determining that the second user equipment is a user equipment included in the group includes: according to the stored subscription information of the second user equipment, and the received Determining, by the second user equipment, the user equipment that is included in the group, or determining, according to the third identifier information, that the second user equipment is the user equipment included in the group Or determining, according to the second identifier information and the third identifier information, that the second user equipment belongs to the group.

FIG. 3 is a core network device according to an embodiment of the present invention, where the core network device is used to perform the PCRF selection method in the embodiment of FIG. 2. This device includes a receiving unit 302, a transmitting unit 303, and a storage unit 304 coupled to the processing unit 301.

The processing unit 301 is configured to obtain an IP address of the first PCRF. The first PCRF is a PCRF serving the first user equipment, and the first user equipment is a user equipment that is the first one of the plurality of user equipments included in the group. The definition of the group in this embodiment is the same as that in the embodiment of FIG. 3 and will not be described again.

The receiving unit 302 is configured to receive second identifier information, where the second identifier information is identifier information of the second user equipment;

The processing unit 301 is further configured to determine, according to the second identifier information or the third identifier information, that the second user equipment is a user equipment that is included in the group, where the third identifier information is used for identifier Identification information of the group;

And according to the IP address of the first PCRF, triggering a session establishment process with the first PCRF for the second user equipment.

The core network device obtains the IP address of the first PCRF, and the core network device receives the second identifier information, where the core network device determines, according to the second identifier information or the third identifier information, that the second user equipment is the group a user equipment that is included in the group, the core network device triggers a session establishment process with the first PCRF for the second user equipment according to the IP address of the first PCRF, and thus, the core network device determines the The second user equipment belongs to the group, and the core network device triggers the session establishment of the second user equipment and the first PCRF according to the IP address of the first PCRF. Therefore, different user equipments belonging to the same group are selected. The same PCRF.

In an optional embodiment, the storage unit is configured to store an IP address of the first PCRF Corresponding relationship between the address and the third identifier information; the processing unit is configured to trigger a session establishment process with the first PCRF for the second user equipment as follows: acquiring the first according to the correspondence relationship An IP address of a PCRF, and triggering a session establishment process with the first PCRF for the second user equipment according to the IP address of the first PCRF.

In an optional embodiment, the processing unit is configured to trigger a session establishment process with the first PCRF for the second user equipment according to the following manner: determining, according to the correspondence stored by the storage unit, Serving the second user equipment by the first PCRF; and triggering a session establishment procedure with the first PCRF for the second user equipment according to the IP address of the first PCRF.

In an optional embodiment, the storage unit is further configured to: store the subscription information of the first user equipment; the processing unit is further configured to: according to the first identification information and the storage unit of the storage unit The signing information determines that the first user equipment is a user equipment in the group, and stores a correspondence between an IP address of the first PCRF and the third identifier information to the storage unit.

In an optional embodiment, the receiving unit is further configured to receive the first identifier information and the third identifier information, where the first identifier information is used to identify the first user equipment; Determining, according to the first identifier information and the third identifier information that are received by the receiving unit, that the first user equipment is a user equipment in the group, and the IP address of the first PCRF and the A correspondence relationship of the third identification information is stored to the storage unit.

In an optional embodiment, the receiving unit is further configured to: receive an IP address of the first PCRF sent by the first PCRF; the IP address of the first PCRF obtained by the processing unit is the Received by the receiving unit.

In an optional embodiment, the receiving unit is further configured to: receive the first identifier information; the processing unit is configured to acquire an IP address of the first PCRF in a manner that is received by the receiving unit The first user equipment that is identified by the first identifier information selects the first PCRF and acquires an IP address of the first PCRF.

In an optional embodiment, the receiving unit is further configured to receive the first sent by the DRA device. The IP address of the PCRF, wherein the first PCRF is a PCR entity selected by the DRA device for the first user equipment; the IP address of the first PCRF obtained by the processing unit is received by the receiving unit .

In an optional embodiment, the receiving unit is further configured to: receive an IP address of the second PCRF sent by the DRA device; the processing unit is further configured to trigger the first PCRF with the second user equipment Before the session establishment process, determining, by the first PCRF, the second user equipment, according to the received third identifier information and the correspondence, wherein the correspondence is an IP address of the first PCRF and the Corresponding relationship of the third identifier information; the sending unit, configured to send an IP address of the first PCRF to the DRA device, where an IP address of the first PCRF is used by the DRA device to use the second PCRF The IP address is updated to the IP address of the first PCRF.

In an optional embodiment, when the receiving unit receives the second identifier information, the third identifier information is further received; the processing unit is configured to trigger the first user equipment with the first PCRF as follows: a session establishment process: determining, according to the third identifier information and the correspondence relationship received by the receiving unit, an IP address of a first PCRF served by the second user equipment, and according to an IP address of the first PCRF, And triggering, by the second user equipment, a session establishment process with the first PCRF, where the corresponding relationship is a correspondence between an IP address of the first PCRF and the third identifier information stored in the storage unit. relationship.

In an optional embodiment, the processing unit is configured to trigger a session establishment process with the first PCRF for the second user equipment in the following manner: the processing unit sends the Transmitting, by the second PCRF, an IP address of the first PCRF, and triggering, by the second PCRF, a process of redirecting the second user equipment to the first PCRF; or The PCEF served by the second user equipment sends the IP address of the first PCRF, triggers a session establishment procedure with the first PCRF for the second user equipment, or the processing unit according to the IP address of the first PCRF And sending, by the sending unit, a session establishment request to the first PCRF, and triggering, by the second user equipment, a session establishment procedure with the first PCRF.

In an optional embodiment, the processing unit is further configured to: after the second user equipment triggers a session establishment process with the first PCRF, determine that the second user equipment is detached; The second identifier information is deleted from the correspondence between the third identifier information and the identifier information of all the user equipments in the group.

In an optional embodiment, the processing unit, after the second user equipment triggers a session establishment process with the first PCRF, deletes the first after determining that all user equipments in the group are detached. Corresponding relationship between the third identifier information and the IP address of the first PCRF; or deleting the third message after receiving the request message for deleting the correspondence between the third identifier information and the IP address of the first PCRF Correspondence between the identification information and the IP address of the first PCRF.

In an optional embodiment, the processing unit is configured to determine, according to the manner, that the second user equipment is a user equipment included in the group: according to the stored subscription information and the second user equipment Determining, by the identifier information of the second user equipment, the second user equipment is a user equipment included in the group; or determining, according to the third identifier information, that the second user equipment is the group The user equipment included in the network device; or determining, according to the second identifier information and the third identifier information, that the second user equipment belongs to the group.

In an alternative implementation, the processing unit 301 can be a processor. The processor may be specifically a baseband processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), a Field Programmable Gata Array (FPGA), or a Central Processing Unit (CPU). The receiving unit 302 can be a receiver, and the sending unit 303 can be a transmitter. The receiving unit 302 and the transmitting unit 303 can also be implemented by a transceiver. The receiver, transmitter and transceiver may be radio frequency circuits or comprise a combination of the processor and radio frequency circuits.

In an optional implementation, the apparatus provided in the embodiment of FIG. 3 may include a processor and a receiver, where the processor is configured to acquire an IP address of the first PCRF, where the first PCRF is a first user. The PCRF of the device service, where the first user equipment is the user equipment of the first one of the plurality of user equipments included in the group. The receiver is configured to receive second identification information, where The second identifier information is identifier information of the second user equipment. The processor is further configured to determine, according to the second identifier information or the third identifier information, that the second user equipment is a user equipment that is included in the group, where the third identifier information is used to identify the Identification information of the group; and triggering a session establishment process with the first PCRF for the second user equipment according to the IP address of the first PCRF

Some methods for implementing the above embodiments based on different network elements are provided below.

4 is a method for selecting a PCRF by a Subscriber Profile Repository (SPR) or a User Data Repository (UDR), and specifically includes the following steps.

401. When the user equipment UE-1 accesses the network, the policy and charging execution function 1 receives an attach request message regarding UE-1, wherein the attach request message includes an identifier of UE-1.

Optionally, the policy and charging execution function 1 may be a separately deployed PCEF entity, or may be a PCEF-enabled functional module deployed on another network entity, such as a PGW.

Optionally, the attach message may further include identifier information used to identify the group.

The identifier of UE-1 is used to identify UE-1. Optionally, the identifier of the UE-1 may be an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) or an IP address of the UE-1.

For example, the group described in the embodiment of the present invention may be that multiple user equipments having the same user attribute information are determined to belong to the same group, for example, user equipments having the same QoS are determined to be the same group; or The user equipments having the same service type are determined to be the same group; or the user equipments accessing the unified access point are determined to be the same group. In this case, the identifier information used to identify the group to which the UE-1 belongs may be the user attribute information, for example, may be QoS, or a service type, or an access point name (APN), etc. .

For example, the group in the embodiment of the present invention may also be a group that is set up according to requirements, and the group is identified by a group identifier. In this case, the network device establishes the label of the user equipment in the group. The corresponding relationship between the identifier and the group identifier is determined, and the group to which the user equipment belongs can be determined according to the correspondence and the identifier of the user equipment. In this case, the identifier information used to identify the group to which the UE-1 belongs may be the group identifier.

The identifier information used to identify the group to which the UE-1 belongs may be an identifier of the group, or attribute information of the group.

402. The Policy and Charging Enforcement Function 1 sends an IP-CAN Session Establishment Request message to the DRA. The DRA selects PCRF-1 for UE-1 according to the identity of UE-1. The DRA may send the IP-CAN Session Setup Request message to PCRF-1. The IP-CAN session establishment request message includes a UE-1 identifier.

The DRA may select PCRF-1 for the UE-1 according to the IP address of the IMSI or UE-1. For example, the DRA selects PCRF-1 for UE-1 based on the number segment of the IP address of UE-1.

Optionally, the IP-CAN session establishment request message further includes a group identifier of the group to which the UE-1 belongs.

403. PCRF-1 sends an attribute request message to the user information database. The attribute request message includes an IP address of the PCRF-1 and an identifier of the UE-1.

In this embodiment, the attribute request message includes the IP address of the PCRF-1 and the identifier of the UE-1, so that the user information database provides the attribute information of the UE-1 to the PCRF-1 according to the identifier of the UE-1.

Optionally, the attribute request message further includes identifier information of a group to which the UE-1 belongs.

404. After the user information database receives the profile request message sent by the PCRF-1, the user information database stores the IP address of the group PCRF. The user information database includes an SPR or a UDR.

Further, after receiving the attribute request message sent by the PCRF-1, the user information database determines that the user information database does not store the IP address of the PCRF serving any user equipment of the group. In this case, the UE-1 may be regarded as The first user of the group accesses the user equipment of the network, and the user information database stores the IP address of the PCRF-1.

Specifically, the user information database stores the correspondence between the identifier information used to identify the group to which the UE-1 belongs and the IP address of the PCRF-1. In this way, after the second user equipment of the group accesses the network, the user information database can determine the PCRF1 as the second user according to the correspondence and the identifier information used to identify the group to which the UE-1 belongs. PCRF for device services. For example, <identification information, IP address of PCRF-1> can be stored.

The identifier information may be obtained by using the identifier of the UE-1 in the attribute request message of step 403. Specifically, the subscription information includes the attribute information that can determine that the UE-1 is the user equipment in the group, because the subscription information of the user equipment is stored in the user information database. For example, the subscription information includes user identification allowed by the user, priority between the service, QoS, charging related information, user category, IP multimedia subsystem signaling priority, and at least one of the group identifiers. Attribute information. Therefore, the user information database may obtain the identification information for identifying the group to which the UE-1 belongs according to the identifier of the UE-1 and the subscription information of the UE-1. The subscription information is stored in the user information database after the user signs a service contract with the operator.

Optionally, the identifier information of the group may be further included in the attribute request message of step 403, where the user information database obtains the identifier information from the attribute request message.

405. The user information database sends a profile response message to the PCRF-1.

The attribute response message includes attribute information of the user equipment. Through this step, the PCRF-1 can obtain the attribute information of the user equipment, so that the PCRF-1 serves the user equipment. Optionally, the attribute information includes a service identifier (service ID) allowed by the user, priority between services, QoS, charging related information, user category, or IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) signaling. At least one of the priorities.

406. PCRF-1 stores attribute information.

407. PCRF-1 sends an IP-CAN session setup response to the Policy and Charging Enforcement Function 1.

408. When other user equipments UE-2 access the network, the policy and charging enforcement function 2 is selected to provide services for the UE-2, and the policy and charging enforcement function 2 receives the attachment request message of the UE-2.

The attach request message includes an identifier of the UE-2.

Optionally, the attach message may further include identifier information used to identify a group to which the UE-2 belongs.

Optionally, the policy and charging execution function 2 may be a separately deployed PCEF entity, or may be a PCEF-enabled functional module deployed on another device, such as a PGW.

Optionally, the policy and charging enforcement function 1 for UE-1 and the policy and charging enforcement function 2 for UE-2 may be the same policy and charging execution function.

409. PCEF-2/PGW-2 sends an IP-CAN Session Setup Request message to the DRA. The DRA selects PCRF-2 for UE-2 according to the identity of UE-2. The DRA may send the IP-CAN Session Setup Request message to PCRF-2. The IP-CAN session establishment request message includes a UE-2 identifier.

Optionally, the DRA may select the PCRF-2 for the UE-2 according to the identifier of the UE-2. For details, refer to the description of UE-1 above. .

Optionally, the IP-CAN session establishment request message further includes a group identifier of the group to which the UE-2 belongs.

410. PCRF-2 sends an attribute request message to the user information database.

The attribute request message includes an IP address of the PCRF-2 and an identifier of the UE-2. Optional The attribute request message further includes identification information of a group to which the UE-2 belongs.

411. The user information database determines that the UE-2 belongs to the group according to the identifier of the UE-2 and/or the identifier information used to identify the group to which the UE-2 belongs, and determines that the PCRF-1 serves the UE-2.

The user information database may determine that the UE-2 belongs to the group according to the identifier of the UE-2 included in the attribute request message sent by the PCRF-2 and the subscription information of the UE-2 stored in the user information database. The PCRF-1 corresponding to the IP address of the PCRF-1 is determined to be a UE-2 service.

Optionally, if the attribute request information sent by the PCRF-2 further includes the identifier information used to identify the group to which the UE-2 belongs, the user information database may determine the UE according to the identifier information. -2 belongs to the group. Further, the user information database determines that the PCRF-1 serves the UE-2 according to the stored correspondence information for identifying the identity information of the group to which the UE-1 belongs and the IP address of the PCRF-1.

412. The user information database sends an attribute response message to PCRF-2. The attribute response message includes an IP address of the PCRF-2.

Since the user information database determines that the UE-2 belongs to the group in step 411, the user information database includes the IP address of the PCRF-1 in the attribute response message sent to the PCRF-2.

Although in step 409, the DRA selects PCRF-2 for UE-2 according to the identity of UE-2, but through step 411, the user information database determines that PCRF-1 serves UE-2, ie UE-2 and UE-1. Both will be served by PCRF-1, therefore, the IP address of PCRF-1 is sent to PCRF-2 in step 412, facilitating PCRF-2 to redirect the UE-2 to PCRF-1. In this way, different user equipments UE-1 and UE-2 belonging to the same group are selected to the same PCRF-1.

Optionally, before the step 412, the user information database obtains the IP of the PCRF-1 according to the stored correspondence information for identifying the identity information of the group to which the UE-1 belongs and the IP address of the PCRF-1. After the address, the IP address of the PCRF-1 and the IP address of the PCRF-2 received in step 411 are determined to be the same. If not, the IP address of the PCRF-2 is sent to the PCRF-2 through the attribute response message. . If they are the same, the user information database may no longer perform the subsequent steps. Of course, determining the IP address of the PCRF-1 in the user information database In the case where the IP address of the PCRF-2 received in step 411 is the same, the subsequent steps may be continued, which is not limited in the embodiment of the present invention.

Of course, the user information database in the embodiment of the present invention may not perform the step of determining whether the IP address of the PCRF-1 and the IP address of the PCRF-2 received in step 411 are the same, but directly performing step 412.

413. After receiving the attribute response message containing the IP address of the PCRF-1, the PCRF-2 determines that the IP-2 CAN session of the UE-2 needs to be redirected to the PCRF-1.

After receiving the attribute response information sent by the user information database, the PCRF-2 finds that the attribute response information includes the IP address of the PCRF-1, and determines that the IP-2 CAN session of the UE-2 needs to be redirected to the PCRF- 1.

414. PCRF-2 sends a redirect message to the Policy and Charging Enforcement Function 2. The redirect message includes an IP address of the PCRF-1.

415. The policy and charging execution function 2 initiates an IP address update procedure of the PCRF-1 to the DRA after receiving the redirect message including the IP address of the PCRF-1. The DRA updates the PCRF-2 serving UE-2 to PCRF-1.

416. The Policy and Charging Execution Function 2 sends an IP-CAN Session Establishment Request to the PCRF-1 based on the IP address of the updated PCRF-1.

417. PCRF-1 sends an attribute request message to the user information database.

418. The user information database sends an attribute response message to the PCRF-1.

The attribute response includes user equipment attribute information of the UE-2.

419. The PCRF-1 sends an IP-CAN Session Setup Response message to the Policy and Charging Enforcement Function 2.

In an optional embodiment, the following steps may be further included:

420. When PCRF-1 determines that all user equipments in the group are detached, PCRF-1 sends a request message to delete the IP address of the PCRF-1 to the user information database.

The PCRF-1 may store the identifiers of all the user equipments belonging to the group and the correspondence information for identifying the identity information of the group. When a user device belonging to a group is attached to the PCRF, The PCRF saves the identity of the user equipment. After the PCRF-1 determines that a user equipment is detached, the PCRF-1 deletes the identity of the detached user equipment in the correspondence. When the identifiers of all user equipments in the corresponding relationship are deleted, all user equipments belonging to the group are considered to have been detached.

The identifier information in the PCRF-1 may be the identifier information carried in the IP-CAN session establishment request, or may be the identifier information included in the attribute response message sent by the user information database to the PCRF-1.

421. After receiving the IP address request message for deleting the PCRF-1, the user information database deletes the IP address of the PCRF-1, and sends a response to the PCRF-1 to delete the IP address of the PCRF-1.

In an optional embodiment, after the user information database determines that all the user equipments belonging to the group are attached, the user information database deletes the IP address of the PCRF-1. In this case, steps 420 and 421 are not required. Specifically, the user information database may store the user equipment identifiers belonging to a group, and form the user equipment identifier into a list and attach the identification information of the group, so that the identifier information includes the group belonging to the group. User device ID. After a user equipment is detached, the user information database deletes the user equipment identifier included in the group identifier. When there is no user equipment identifier in the list, all group user equipments belonging to the group are considered to be from the network. Attached.

FIG. 5 is a method for selecting a PCRF based on a proxy DRA, and the specific process is as follows:

501. When the user equipment UE-1 accesses the network, the policy and charging execution function 1 receives the attach request message of the UE-1. Optionally, the policy and charging execution function 1 may be a separately deployed PCEF entity, or may be a functional module with PCEF function deployed on, for example, a PGW.

The attach request message includes the identifier of the UE-1 and the identifier information of the group to which the UE-1 belongs.

Optionally, the user equipments that are the same group are determined according to the same attribute, for example, the user equipments with the same QoS are determined to be the same group; or the user equipments with the same service type are determined to be the same group.

Optionally, a group may be temporarily set up according to requirements, and the group is identified by a group identifier. A correspondence between the identifier of the user equipment in the group and the group identifier is established, and the group to which the user equipment belongs is determined according to the correspondence and the identifier of the user equipment.

Optionally, a specific one or more bits in the identifier of the user equipment represent the same group.

The identifier information may be a group identifier. Optionally, the group identifier may be an access point name (APN). Of course, the identifier information may also be attributes common to all user equipments belonging to a certain group. Optionally, the attributes may be QoS, service type, and the like.

502. The Policy and Charging Enforcement Function 1 sends an IP-CAN Session Establishment Request message to the Proxy DRA.

The IP-CAN session establishment request message includes the identifier of the UE-1 and the identifier information of the group to which the UE-1 belongs.

503. After the proxy DRA receives the IP-CAN session establishment request message sent by the policy and charging execution function 1, the proxy DRA selects the UE-1 according to the identifier of the UE-1 and/or the identity information of the group to which the UE-1 belongs. A PCRF and store the IP address of the PCRF.

The proxy DRA selects a PCRF for the UE-1 according to the identity of the UE-1 or the identity information of the group to which the UE-1 belongs. The proxy DRA determines that the IP address of the PCRF serving any one of the user equipments of the group to which the UE-1 belongs is not stored in the storage unit of the proxy DRA. At this time, the proxy DRA determines that the UE-1 is the first one of the group. The user equipment accessing the network, the proxy DRA stores the IP address of the PCRF, and associates the IP address of the PCRF with the identifier information of the group to which the UE-1 belongs, for example, may store the <identification information, PCRF- 1 IP address>.

504. The proxy DRA sends an IP-CAN Session Setup Request message to the PCRF based on the IP address of the PCRF. The IP-CAN session establishment request message includes an identifier of the UE-1.

505. The PCRF sends a UE-1 attribute request message to the user information database. The number of user information The database includes SPR or UDR.

506. The user information database sends a UE-1 attribute response message to the PCRF. The attribute response message includes attribute information of the user equipment.

Through this step, the PCRF can obtain attribute information of the user equipment, so that the PCRF serves the user equipment. Optionally, the attribute information includes at least one of a service identifier allowed by the user, a priority between the services, a QoS, a charging related information, a user category, or an IP multimedia subsystem signaling priority.

507. The PCRF sends an IP-CAN Session Setup Response message to the Proxy DRA.

508. The proxy DRA forwards the IP-CAN session setup response message to the policy and charging enforcement function 1.

509. When the other user equipment UE-2 accesses the network, the policy and charging execution function 2 is selected to provide the service to the UE-2, and the policy and charging execution function 2 receives the attach request message of the UE-2.

Optionally, the policy and charging execution function 2 may be a separately deployed PCEF entity, or may be a PCEF-enabled functional module deployed on, for example, a PGW.

510. Policy and Charging Enforcement Function 2 sends an IP-CAN Session Establishment Request to the Proxy DRA.

interest.

The IP-CAN session establishment request message includes the UE-2 identifier and the identifier information of the group to which the UE-2 belongs.

511. The proxy DRA determines that the UE-2 and the UE-1 belong to the same group according to the identity information of the group to which the UE-2 belongs, and determines that the PCRF corresponding to the IP address of the PCRF serves the UE-2. The proxy DRA determines that the identity information of the group to which the UE-2 belongs is consistent with the identity information of the group to which the UE-1 belongs, and the proxy DRA determines that the UE-2 and the UE-1 belong to the same group.

The proxy DRA determines that UE-2 and UE-1 belong to the same group, and the proxy DRA selects the PCRF as the service for the user equipment UE-2. In step 511, the proxy DRA selects the PCRF serving UE-1 for UE-2, that is, both UE-2 and UE-1 will adopt the same PCRF, thereby Different user equipments UE-1 and UE-2 belonging to the same group are selected to the same PCRF.

512. The proxy DRA sends an IP-CAN session setup request message to the PCRF according to the IP address of the PCRF. The IP-CAN session establishment request message includes an identifier of the UE-2.

513. The PCRF sends the attribute request message of the other user equipment UE-2 to the user information database, so that the user information database provides the attribute information of the UE-2 to the PCRF according to the identifier of the UE-2.

514. The user information database sends an attribute response message of the other user equipment UE-2 to the PCRF.

Through this step 513 and 514, the PCRF can obtain attribute information of the user equipment, so that the PCRF serves the user equipment. Optionally, the attribute information includes at least one of a service identifier allowed by the user, a priority between the services, a QoS, a charging related information, a user category, or an IP multimedia subsystem signaling priority.

515. The PCRF sends an IP-CAN Session Setup Response message to the Proxy DRA, and the Proxy DRA forwards the IP-CAN Session Setup Response message to PCEF-2/PGW-2.

In an optional embodiment, the following steps may also be performed:

516. When the PCRF determines that all group users are detached from the network, the PCRF sends a request message to the proxy DRA to delete the IP address of the PCRF.

Optionally, the PCRF may store user equipment identifiers belonging to a group, and form identifiers of the user equipments into a list and associate with the group identity information. When a user equipment belonging to a group is attached to the PCRF, the PCRF saves the identity of the user equipment. After a user equipment is detached, PCRF-1 deletes the user equipment identifier included in the group identifier. When there is no user equipment identifier in the list, all group user equipments belonging to the group are considered to be from the network. Attached. The identifier information in the PCRF may be the identifier information carried in the IP-CAN session establishment request, or may be the identifier information included in the attribute response message sent by the user information database to the PCRF-1.

517. After receiving the request message for deleting the IP address of the PCRF, the proxy DRA deletes the IP address of the PCRF, and sends a response to the PCRF to delete the IP address of the PCRF.

In an optional embodiment, after the proxy DRA determines that all user equipments belonging to the group are detached from the network, the proxy DRA deletes the IP address of the PCRF. In this case, steps 516 and 517 are not required. The proxy DRA may store the identifiers of the user equipments belonging to a certain group, and form the identifiers of the all user equipments into a list and associate with the identification information of the group. After a certain user equipment is detached, the proxy DRA deletes the user equipment identifier included in the group identifier. When there is no user equipment identifier in the list, all group user equipments belonging to the group are considered to be detached from the network.

FIG. 6 is a method for selecting a PCRF based on a redirected DRA, and the specific process is as follows:

601. When the user equipment UE-1 accesses the network, the policy and charging execution function 1 receives the attach request message of the UE-1. Optionally, the policy and charging execution function 1 may be a separately deployed PCEF entity, or may be a functional module with PCEF function deployed on, for example, a PGW.

Optionally, a group may be set up according to the requirement, and the group is identified by the group identifier, and the correspondence between the identifier of the user equipment in the group and the group identifier is established, according to the correspondence and the user equipment. The identity determines the group to which the user device belongs.

602. The Policy and Charging Enforcement Function 1 sends an IP-CAN Session Establishment Request message to the redirected DRA.

603. After the redirected DRA receives the IP-CAN session establishment request message sent by the policy and charging execution function 1, the redirected DRA is based on the identity of the UE-1 and/or the identity information of the group to which the UE-1 belongs. 1 Select a PCRF and store the IP address of the PCRF.

The redirected DRA selects a PCRF for UE-1 according to the identity of UE-1 and/or the identity information of the group to which UE-1 belongs. Redirecting the DRA to determine that the IP address of the PCRF serving the user equipment of the group to which the UE-1 belongs is not stored in the storage unit of the redirected DRA, and at this time, the redirecting DRA determines that the UE-1 is the group. The user equipment of the first access network, the proxy DRA stores the IP address of the PCRF, and associates the IP address of the PCRF with the identifier information of the group to which the UE-1 belongs, for example, the identifier information may be stored. , IP address of PCRF-1>.

604. The redirected DRA sends a session redirection message containing the IP address of the PCRF to PCEF-1/PGW-1.

605. The PCEF-1/PGW-1 sends an IP-CAN session establishment request to the PCRF according to the IP address of the PCRF received in step 604.

606. The PCRF sends a UE-1 attribute request message to the user information database, so that the user information database provides the attribute information of the UE-1 to the PCRF according to the identifier of the UE-1. The user information database includes an SPR or a UDR.

607. The user information database sends a UE-1 attribute response message to the PCRF.

The attribute response message includes attribute information of the user equipment. Through this step, the PCRF can obtain attribute information of the user equipment, so that the PCRF serves the user equipment. Optionally, the attribute information includes at least one of a service identifier allowed by the user, a priority between the services, a QoS, a charging related information, a user category, or an IP multimedia subsystem signaling priority.

608. The PCRF sends an IP-CAN Session Setup Response message to the Policy and Charging Enforcement Function 1.

609. When other user equipments UE-2 access the network, the policy and charging enforcement function 2 is selected to provide services for the UE-2, and the policy and charging enforcement function 2 receives the attachment request message of the UE-2.

610. The Policy and Charging Enforcement Function 2 sends an IP-CAN Session Establishment Request message to the redirected DRA.

611. The proxy DRA determines that the UE-2 and the UE-1 belong to the same group according to the identity information of the group to which the UE-2 belongs, and determines that the PCRF corresponding to the IP address of the PCRF serves the UE-2. The proxy DRA determines that the identity information of the group to which the UE-2 belongs is consistent with the identity information of the group to which the UE-1 belongs, and the proxy DRA determines that the UE-2 and the UE-1 belong to the same group.

The proxy DRA determines that UE-2 and UE-1 belong to the same group, and the proxy DRA selects the PCRF as the service for the user equipment UE-2. In step 511, the proxy DRA selects the PCRF serving UE-1 for UE-2, that is, both UE-2 and UE-1 will adopt the same PCRF, thereby making different user equipment UEs belonging to the same group- 1 and UE-2 select the same PCRF.

612. The redirect DRA sends a redirect session request message to the policy and charging enforcement function 2.

The redirect session request message includes an IP address of the PCRF.

613. The policy and charging execution function 2 sends an IP-CAN session establishment request message to the PCRF according to the IP address of the PCRF included in the redirect session request message according to step 612. The IP-CAN Session Setup Request message contains the identity of UE-2.

614. The PCRF sends an attribute request message of the other user equipment UE-2 to the user information database, so that the user information database provides the attribute information of the UE-2 to the PCRF according to the identifier of the UE-2.

615. The user information database sends an attribute response message of the other user equipment UE-2 to the PCRF.

Through this steps 614 and 615, the PCRF can obtain attribute information of the user equipment, so that the PCRF serves the user equipment. Optionally, the attribute information includes at least one of a service identifier allowed by the user, a priority between the services, a QoS, a charging related information, a user category, or an IP multimedia subsystem signaling priority.

616. The PCRF sends an IP-CAN Session Setup Response message to the Policy and Charging Enforcement Function 2.

In an optional embodiment, the following steps may also be performed:

617. When the PCRF determines that all group users are detached from the network, the PCRF sends a request message to the proxy DRA to delete the IP address of the PCRF.

618. After receiving the request message for deleting the IP address of the PCRF, the redirected DRA deletes the IP address of the PCRF, and sends a response to the PCRF to delete the IP address of the PCRF.

In an optional embodiment, after the redirected DRA determines that all user equipments belonging to the group are detached from the network, the redirected DRA deletes the IP address of the PCRF. In this case, steps 617 and 618 are not required. The redirected DRA may store the user equipment identifiers belonging to a certain group, and form the identifiers of the all user equipments into a list and associate with the identification information of the group. After a certain user equipment is detached, the redirected DRA deletes the user equipment identifier included in the identifier information, and when there is no user equipment identifier in the list, all group user equipments belonging to the group are considered to be attached from the network. .

FIG. 7 is a PCEF-based method for selecting a PCRF, and the specific process is as follows:

701. When the user equipment UE-1 accesses the network, the policy and charging execution function receives the attach request message of the UE-1. Optionally, the policy and charging execution function may be a separately deployed PCEF entity, or may be a PCEF-enabled functional module deployed on, for example, a PGW.

702. The Policy and Charging Enforcement Function sends an IP-CAN Session Establishment Request message to the redirected DRA.

The IP-CAN session establishment request message includes a UE-1 identifier.

FIG. 7 illustrates the redirection of the DRA as an example. Optionally, the redirected DRA in step 2 may also be a proxy DRA.

703. The redirected DRA selects a PCRF to serve UE-1 according to the identity of UE-1. Specifically, the redirected DRA selects the PCRF for the UE-1 according to the IMSI of the UE-1 or the IP address of the UE-1.

704. The redirected DRA sends a session redirection message to the policy and charging enforcement function.

The session redirection message includes an IP address of the PCRF.

705. After the policy and charging execution function receives the session redirection message that is sent by the DRA and includes the IP address of the PCRF, the IP address of the PCRF is stored.

The IP address of the PCRF serving any user equipment of the group to which the UE-1 belongs is not stored in the storage unit of the policy and the charging and executing function, and the UE-1 is the group. The user equipment of the first access network of the group, the redirected DRA stores the IP address of the PCRF, and associates the IP address of the PCRF with the identifier information of the group to which the UE-1 belongs, for example, may store <identification information, IP address of PCRF-1>.

706. The policy and charging enforcement function sends an IP-CAN session establishment request to the PCRF according to the IP address of the PCRF included in the received session redirection message. The IP-CAN session establishment request includes an identifier of the UE-1.

707. The PCRF sends a UE-1 attribute request message to the user information database, so that the user information database provides the attribute information of the UE-1 to the PCRF according to the identifier of the UE-1. The user information database includes an SPR or a UDR.

708. The user information database sends a UE-1 attribute response message to the PCRF.

709. The PCRF sends an IP-CAN session setup response message to the policy and charging enforcement function.

710. When the other user equipment UE-2 accesses the network, the policy and charging execution function is selected to provide a service for the UE-2, and the policy and charging execution function receives the attach request message of the UE-2.

The attach request message includes the identifier of the UE-2 and the identifier information of the group to which the UE-2 belongs.

This embodiment selects the same policy and charging execution function as UE-1 to serve UE-2.

711. The Policy and Charging Enforcement Function sends an IP-CAN Session Establishment Request message to the redirected DRA. The IP-CAN session establishment request message includes an identifier of the UE-2.

712. The redirected DRA selects a PCRF-2 for UE-2 according to the identity of UE-2.

Wherein, the PCRF-2 and the PCRF are different PCRFs.

In an optional embodiment, if the redirected DRA is also selected by the UE-2, the PCRF is not required to initiate an address update procedure.

713. The redirected DRA sends a session redirection message to the policy and charging enforcement function.

The session redirection message includes an IP address of the PCRF-2.

714. The policy and charging execution function determines that the UE-2 and the UE-1 belong to the same group according to the group identifier of the group to which the UE-2 belongs, and determines that the PCRF corresponding to the IP address of the PCRF serves the UE-2. The proxy DRA determines that the identity information of the group to which the UE-2 belongs is consistent with the identity information of the group to which the UE-1 belongs, and the proxy DRA determines that the UE-2 and the UE-1 belong to the same group.

The policy and charging execution function determines that UE-2 and UE-1 belong to the same group, and the policy and charging execution function selects the PCRF as the service for the user equipment UE-2. Through step 714, the policy and charging execution function selects the PCRF serving UE-1 for UE-2, that is, both UE-2 and UE-1 will use the same PCRF, thereby making the different groups belong to the same group. User equipment UE-1 and UE-2 select the same PCRF.

715. The policy and charging enforcement function sends an address update request to the redirect DRA. The redirected DRA is updated to the UE-2 selected PCRF.

The address update request includes an IP address of the PCRF.

716. The redirected DRA sends an address update response to the policy and charging enforcement function. Through this step, the policy and charging execution function can update the IP address of the PCRF-2 to the IP address of the PCRF.

717. The policy and charging enforcement function initiates an IP-CAN session establishment request message to the PCRF according to the IP address of the PCRF.

In an alternative embodiment, the order of steps 715 and 717 is not limited, or step 715 and step 717 can be performed simultaneously.

718. The PCRF sends a UE-2 attribute request to the user information database, so that the user information database provides the UE-2 attribute information to the PCRF according to the identifier of the UE-2.

719. The user information database sends a UE-2 attribute response to the PCRF.

Through this steps 718 and 719, the PCRF can obtain attribute information of the user equipment, so that the PCRF serves the user equipment. Optionally, the attribute information includes at least one of a service identifier allowed by the user, a priority between the services, a QoS, a charging related information, a user category, or an IP multimedia subsystem signaling priority.

720. The PCRF sends an IP-CAN Session Setup Response message to the Policy and Charging Executive function.

In an optional embodiment, the following steps may also be performed:

721. The policy and charging execution function determines that all user equipments belonging to the group are detached from the network, and the policy and charging execution function deletes the IP address of the PCRF. The policy and charging execution function may store the identifiers of the user equipments belonging to a certain group, and form the identifiers of the user equipments into a list and associate with the identification information of the group. When a user equipment belonging to a group is attached to the PCRF, the PCRF saves the identity of the user equipment. After a certain user equipment is detached, the policy and charging execution function deletes the user equipment identifier included in the group identifier. When there is no user equipment identifier in the list, all group user equipments belonging to the group are considered to be from the network. Attached.

In other embodiments, the PCRF selection may also adopt a static PCRF selection method, that is, storing the inclusion group in the subscription information in the Home Subscriber Server (HSS) or the Home Location Register (HLR). IP address of the group PCRF of the group to which the user equipment belongs. When the group user equipment is attached to the network, the HSS provides the IP address information of the group PCRF to the GPRS Service Support Node (SGSN) to the Mobility Management Entity (MME) or the HLR. The MME provides the IP address information of the group PCRF to the PCEF/PGW in the attach procedure, or the SGSN provides the IP address information of the group PCRF to the PCEF/PGW in the attach procedure, so that the PCEF/PGW initiates an IP-CAN session establishment procedure to the group PCRF. .

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a method for selecting a static policy and a charging rule function PCRF according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, which is specifically as follows:

81. Receive an IP address and first identification information of the PCRF sent by the serving gateway. The first identifier information is used to identify the first user equipment, and the first user equipment is a user equipment included in the group, and the IP address is stored in the home subscriber server HSS or the home location register HLR. The IP address corresponding to the PCRF configured by all user equipments in the group.

Optionally, the IP address of the PCRF is stored in the home subscriber server HSS or the home location register HLR. Optionally, the IP address of the PCRF is stored in the subscription information in the HSS or the HLR in association with the identification information of the group. Optionally, the group identifier is an access point name APN of the group.

82. Send the IP address and the first identifier information to a diameter routing proxy DRA device. The IP address is used to trigger a session establishment procedure of the PCRF corresponding to the IP address for the first user equipment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a device for selecting a policy and charging rule function PCRF according to an embodiment of the present invention. The device is used to execute the method of the embodiment of FIG. 8. The device includes a receiving unit 901 and a sending unit coupled by the processing unit 903. 902.

The receiving unit 901 is configured to receive an IP address of the PCRF sent by the serving gateway, and the first identifier information, where the first identifier information is used to identify the first user equipment, where the first user equipment is in the group The included user equipment, the IP address is an IP address corresponding to a PCRF configured for all user equipments in the group stored in the home subscriber server HSS or the home location register HLR;

The sending unit 902 is configured to send the IP address and the first identifier information to a diameter routing proxy DRA device, where the IP address is used to trigger, by the first user equipment, a location corresponding to the IP address. The session establishment process of the PCRF.

In an optional embodiment, the IP address of the PCRF is stored in the subscription information in the HSS or HLR in association with the identification information of the group.

In an optional embodiment, the selection device of the PCRF is a policy and charging execution function PCEF.

In an alternative implementation, the processing unit 903 can be a processor. The processor may be specifically a baseband processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), a Field Programmable Gata Array (FPGA), or a Central Processing Unit (CPU). The receiving unit 901 may be a receiver, and the transmitting unit 902 may be a transmitter. The receiving unit 901 and the transmitting unit 902 can also be implemented by a transceiver. The receiver, transmitter and transceiver may be radio frequency circuits or comprise a combination of the processor and radio frequency circuits.

In an alternative embodiment, the apparatus provided by the embodiment of FIG. 9 may include a processor, a receiver, and a transmitter. The receiver is configured to receive an IP address of the PCRF sent by the serving gateway, and the first identifier information, where the first identifier information is used to identify the first user equipment, where the first user equipment is a user included in the group The device, the IP address is an IP address corresponding to a PCRF configured for all user equipments in the group stored in the home subscriber server HSS or the home location register HLR. The transmitter, configured to send the IP address and the first identification information to a diameter routing proxy DRA device, where the IP address is used to enable the DRA device to connect the first user equipment to the IP The PCRF corresponding to the address

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a method for selecting a policy and charging rule function PCRF according to an embodiment of the present invention, where the steps are:

101. Receive an IP address and first identifier information of a PCRF sent by a policy and charging execution function PCEF. The first identifier information is used to identify the first user equipment, and the first user equipment is a user equipment included in the group, and the IP address is stored in the home subscriber server HSS or the home location register HLR. The IP address corresponding to the PCRF configured by all user equipments in the group.

102. A process of establishing a connection between the policy and charging execution function and the PCRF according to an IP address of the PCRF.

In an optional embodiment, the IP address of the PCRF is stored in the subscription information in the HSS or the HLR in association with the identification information of the group, where the identifier information is used for identification. Identification information of the group.

11 is a device for selecting a policy and charging rule function PCRF according to an embodiment of the present invention. The device is used to perform the method of the embodiment of FIG. 10, and the device includes a receiving unit 111 coupled to the processing unit 112.

The receiving unit 111 is configured to receive an IP address and first identifier information of the PCRF sent by the policy and charging execution function PCEF, where the first identifier information is used to identify the first user equipment, the first user The device is a user equipment included in the group, and the IP address is an IP address corresponding to a PCRF configured in the home subscriber server HSS or the home location register HLR for all user equipments in the group;

The processing unit 112 is configured to trigger a process of establishing a connection between the policy and the charging execution function and the PCRF according to the IP address of the PCRF.

In an optional embodiment, the IP address of the PCRF is stored in the subscription information in the HSS or the HLR in association with the identification information of the group, where the identifier information is used to identify the group. Identification information.

In an alternative embodiment, the selection means of the PCRF is a proxy DRA or a redirected DRA.

In an alternative implementation, the processing unit 112 can be a processor. The processor may be specifically a baseband processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), a Field Programmable Gata Array (FPGA), or a Central Processing Unit (CPU). The receiving unit 111 may be a receiver. The receiving unit 111 can also be implemented by a transceiver. The receiver and transceiver may be radio frequency circuits or a combination comprising the processor and radio frequency circuits.

In an alternative embodiment, the apparatus provided by the embodiment of FIG. 11 may include a processor and a receiver. The receiver is configured to receive an IP address and first identifier information of the PCRF sent by the policy and charging execution function PCEF, where the first identifier information is used to identify the first user equipment, where the first user equipment is For the user equipment included in the group, the IP address is the home subscriber server. The IP address corresponding to the PCRF configured for all user equipments in the group stored in the HSS or the home location register HLR. The processor is configured to trigger a process of establishing a connection between the policy and charging execution function and the PCRF according to an IP address of the PCRF.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of obtaining an IP address of a group PCRF in a user information storage device when a user equipment UE is attached to a network. The user information storage device includes a home subscriber server HSS or a home location register HLR (the HSS is used as an example in this embodiment). Specific steps are as follows:

121. When the UE accesses the network, the UE sends an attach request to the eNB.

The attach request includes an identifier ID of the UE and/or a group identifier ID of a group to which the UE belongs.

122. The eNB sends an attach request to the mobility management device. The mobility management device includes an MME or an SGSN (the MME is taken as an example for description in this embodiment).

123. The MME sends an update location request message to the HSS.

The update location request includes the identity ID of the UE and/or the group identity ID of the group to which the UE belongs.

124. The HSS sends a location update response to the MME.

The location update response message includes an IP address of the group PCRF. Optionally, the IP address of the group PCRF is an IP address corresponding to a PCRF that is commonly used by user equipments in the group. The IP address of the group PCRF is stored in the HSS. Preferably, the IP address of the group PCRF is associated with the identifier information and stored, which may be <identification information, IP address of the group PCRF>. The identifier information is identifier information used to identify the group.

The HSS determines to provide the group PCRF to serve the UE according to the subscription information of the UE. Therefore, the HSS will send a Location Update Response containing the IP address of the group of PCRFs to the MME.

125. The MME sends a session establishment request to a Serving Gateway (SGW).

The session establishment request includes an IP address of the group PCRF.

126. The serving gateway sends a session establishment request to the PCEF/PGW.

The session establishment request carries an IP address of the group PCRF.

Through the above steps, when different user equipments belonging to a certain group access the network, the IP addresses of the group PCRFs belonging to the group stored in the HSS are retrieved, so that the belongings belong to a certain The session establishment request of the different user equipments of the group contains the IP addresses of the same group PCRF, so that the different user equipments belonging to a certain group use the same PCRF.

The static PCRF selection method stores the IP address of the group PCRF in the HSS or the HLR. When the user equipment UE belonging to the same group accesses the network, the identification information of the group to which the user equipment UE belongs is adjusted in the HSS. The IP address of the PCRF is set, and a session establishment request is initiated to the IP address of the group PCRF that is invoked in the subsequent process, so that different user equipments UEs belonging to the same group obtain the same PCRF (ie, the group) Group PCRF).

FIG. 13 is a method for selecting a PCRF based on a redirected DRA, and the specific process is as follows:

131. The user equipment accesses the network, and the PCEF/PGW receives a session establishment request message including an IP address of the group PCRF.

The session establishment request message is a session establishment request obtained according to the embodiment described in FIG. The create session request message includes an IP address of a PCRF serving the group user equipment, and the IP address of the PCRF is stored in a home subscriber server HSS or a home location register HLR, the group user equipment Belonging to the group, the PCRF serves any one of the user equipments belonging to the group. Thereby, different user equipments belonging to the same group can be selected to the same PCRF.

132. The PCEF/PGW sends an IP-CAN Session Setup Request message to the redirected DRA.

The IP-CAN session establishment request message includes an IP address of the group PCRF. Optionally, the IP-CAN session establishment request message may further include the UE identifier and/or the identifier information of the group to which the UE belongs.

133. Redirect the IP address of the DRA storage group PCRF.

When the redirected DRA receives the IP-CAN session establishment request message of the PCEF/PGW, when the IP address of the group PCRF is included in the determination message, the redirected DRA does not need to perform the PCRF selection process.

In an optional embodiment, the redirecting DRA may store the UE identifier and/or the identifier information of the group to which the UE belongs, in addition to storing the IP address of the group PCRF.

134. The redirect DRA sends a session redirection message to the PCEF/PGW.

In an optional embodiment, the session redirection message may further include at least one of an IP address of the group PCRF, a UE identifier, or identifier information of a group to which the UE belongs.

135. The PCEF/PGW sends an IP-CAN Session Establishment Request message to the group PCRF according to the IP address of the group PCRF.

136. The PCRF sends a UE attribute request message to the user information database. The user information database includes an SPR or a UDR.

The attribute request message is used to acquire an attribute value of the UE from the user information database.

137. The user information database sends a UE attribute response message to the PCRF.

138. The group PCRF sends an IP-CAN session setup response message to the PCEF/PGW.

In an optional embodiment, in the foregoing process, the order of steps 132 and 135 is not limited. That is, the session establishment request message received by the PCEF/PGW in step 131 contains the IP address of the group PCRF. The PCEF/PGW sends an IP-CAN Session Establishment Request message to the group PCRF according to the IP address of the group PCRF and the IPEF/PGW sends the IP-CAN Session Establishment Request message containing the IP address of the group PCRF to the redirected DRA. Without limitation, step 132 and its subsequent steps 133 and 134 may be performed before step 135, after step 135, or simultaneously.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 14 is a method for selecting a PCRF based on a proxy DRA, and the specific process is as follows:

141. The user equipment UE accesses the network, and the PCEF/PGW receives a session establishment request message including an IP address of the group PCRF.

The session establishment request message is a session establishment request obtained according to the embodiment described in FIG. The create session request message includes an IP address of a PCRF serving the group user equipment, and the IP address of the PCRF is stored in a home subscriber server HSS or a home location register HLR, the group user equipment Belonging to the group, the PCRF serves any one of the user equipments belonging to the group. Thereby, different uses belonging to the same group can be made The device is selected to the same PCRF.

142. The PCEF/PGW sends an IP-CAN Session Setup Request message to the Proxy DRA.

143. The proxy DRA stores the IP address of the group PCRF.

When the proxy DRA receives the IP-CAN session establishment request message of the PCEF/PGW, when the determination message includes the IP address of the group PCRF, the proxy DRA does not need to perform the PCRF selection process, but only needs to follow the IP address of the PCRF. Initiate an IP-CAN session establishment request.

In an optional embodiment, the proxy DRA may store the UE identifier and/or the identifier information of the group to which the UE belongs, in addition to storing the IP address of the group PCRF.

144. The proxy DRA sends an IP-CAN to the group PCRF according to the IP address of the group PCRF.

Session establishment request.

145. The group PCRF sends a UE attribute request message to the user information database.

146. The user information database sends a UE attribute response message to the PCRF.

147. The group PCRF sends an IP-CAN session establishment response to the PCEF/PGW through the proxy DRA.

Message.

The features of the embodiments of the present invention and the embodiments may be combined with each other without conflict.

The above is only a specific embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto, and any person skilled in the art can easily think of changes or substitutions within the technical scope of the present invention. It should be covered by the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of the invention should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

A policy and charging rule function PCRF selection method, which comprises:

The core network device obtains the IP address of the first PCRF, where the first PCRF is a PCRF serving the first user equipment, and the first user equipment is the first one of the multiple user equipments included in the group. User equipment;

The core network device receives the second identifier information, where the second identifier information is the identifier information of the second user equipment;

Determining, by the core network device, that the second user equipment is a user equipment that is included in the group according to the second identifier information or the third identifier information, where the third identifier information is used to identify the group Identification information;

The core network device triggers a session establishment process with the first PCRF for the second user equipment according to the IP address of the first PCRF.
The method according to claim 1, wherein after the core network device obtains the IP address of the first PCRF, the core network device further includes:

The core network device stores a correspondence between an IP address of the first PCRF and the third identifier information;

The core network device triggers a session establishment process with the first PCRF for the second user equipment, including:

The core network device acquires an IP address of the first PCRF according to the corresponding relationship, and triggers a session establishment process with the first PCRF for the second user equipment according to the IP address of the first PCRF.
The method of claim 2, wherein the core network device triggers a session establishment process with the first PCRF for the second user equipment, including:

Determining, by the core network device, that the first PCRF serves the second user equipment according to the corresponding relationship;

Trimming with the first user equipment according to the IP address of the first PCRF The session establishment process of the PCRF.
A method according to claim 2 or 3, wherein

The core network device stores the correspondence between the IP address of the first PCRF and the third identifier information, including: the core network device signing according to the first identifier information and the stored first user equipment The information determines that the first user equipment is a user equipment in the group, and the core network device stores a correspondence between an IP address of the first PCRF and the third identifier information.
A method according to claim 2 or 3, wherein

Before the core network device stores the correspondence between the IP address of the first PCRF and the third identifier information, the method further includes: the core network device receiving the first identifier information and the third identifier information, where the first identifier The information is used to identify the first user equipment;

The core network device stores the correspondence between the IP address of the first PCRF and the third identifier information, including: the user information database device determines, according to the first identifier information and the third identifier information, The first user equipment is a user equipment in the group, and the core network device stores a correspondence between an IP address of the first PCRF and the third identifier information.
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the core network device is a user information database device;

And obtaining, by the core network device, an IP address of the first PCRF, where the user information database receives an IP address of the first PCRF sent by the first PCRF.
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the core network device acquires an IP address of the first PCRF, including:

The core network device receives the first identification information; and the core network device selects the first PCRF for the first user equipment that is identified by the first identifier information, and acquires an IP address of the first PCRF.
The method according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the core network device is a policy and charging execution function PCEF;

The core network device acquires an IP address of the first PCRF, including:

The policy and the charging execution function receive the IP address of the first PCRF sent by the DRA device, where the first PCRF is a PCRF selected by the DRA device for the first user equipment.
The method according to claim 8, wherein the core network device is a policy and charging execution function PCEF, and the core network device triggers a session establishment process with the first PCRF for the second user equipment. Previously, it also included:

Receiving, by the PCEF, an IP address of a second PCRF sent by the DRA device;

Determining, by the PCEF, that the first PCRF is the second user equipment according to the received third identifier information, and the corresponding relationship, where the correspondence is the IP of the first PCRF stored by the PCEF Correspondence between the address and the third identification information;

Sending, by the PCEF, an IP address of the first PCRF to the DRA device, where an IP address of the first PCRF is used by the DRA device to update an IP address of the second PCRF to an IP of the first PCRF address.
The method according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the core network device further receives the third identification information when the core network device receives the second identification information;

The core network device triggers a session establishment process with the first PCRF for the second user equipment according to the IP address of the first PCRF, including:

Determining, by the core network device, the IP address of the first PCRF served by the second user equipment according to the received third identifier information and the corresponding relationship, and according to the IP address of the first PCRF, The second user equipment triggers a session establishment procedure with the first PCRF.
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the core network device triggers a session establishment process with the first PCRF for the second user equipment, including:

Sending, by the core network device, a message including an IP address of the first PCRF to the second PCRF, where the second PCRF redirects the second user equipment to the first PCRF; or

Sending, by the core network device, a message including an IP address of the first PCRF to a policy and a charging execution function serving the second user equipment, and triggering a session with the first PCRF for the second user equipment Establish a process; or

The core network device sends a session establishment request to the first PCRF according to the IP address of the first PCRF, and triggers a session establishment procedure with the first PCRF for the second user equipment.
The method according to any one of claims 2 to 5 or 9 or 10, wherein after the core network device triggers a session establishment process with the first PCRF for the second user equipment, the method further includes :

The core network device determines that the second user device is detached;

The core network device deletes the second identifier information from a correspondence between the third identifier information and the identifier information of all user equipments in the group.
The method according to any one of claims 2 to 5 or 9 or 10 or 12, wherein the core network device triggers a session establishment process with the first PCRF for the second user equipment, Also includes:

After the core network device determines that all the user equipments in the group are detached, the corresponding relationship between the third identifier information and the IP address of the first PCRF is deleted; or

After receiving the request message for deleting the correspondence between the third identifier information and the IP address of the first PCRF, the core network device deletes the correspondence between the third identifier information and the IP address of the first PCRF. .
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the determining that the second user equipment is a user equipment included in the group comprises:

Determining, according to the stored subscription information of the second user equipment and the received identification information of the second user equipment, that the second user equipment is a user equipment included in the group; or

Determining, according to the third identifier information, that the second user equipment is a user equipment included in the group; or

Determining, according to the second identifier information and the third identifier information, that the second user equipment belongs to the group.
A core network device, comprising: a receiving unit, a transmitting unit, and a storage unit coupled to the processing unit, wherein:

The processing unit is configured to obtain an IP address of the first PCRF, where the first PCRF is a PCRF serving the first user equipment, and the first user equipment is the first one of the multiple user equipments included in the group. User equipment accessing the network;

The receiving unit is configured to receive second identifier information, where the second identifier information is identifier information of the second user equipment;

The processing unit is further configured to determine, according to the second identifier information or the third identifier information, that the second user equipment is a user equipment that is included in the group, where the third identifier information is used for Identification information of the group;

And according to the IP address of the first PCRF, triggering a session establishment process with the first PCRF for the second user equipment.
The core network device of claim 15 wherein:

The storage unit is configured to store a correspondence between an IP address of the first PCRF and the third identifier information;

The processing unit is configured to trigger a session establishment process with the first PCRF for the second user equipment as follows:

Acquiring the IP address of the first PCRF according to the corresponding relationship, and triggering a session establishment process with the first PCRF for the second user equipment according to the IP address of the first PCRF.
The core network device according to claim 16, wherein the processing unit is configured to trigger a session establishment process with the first PCRF for the second user equipment as follows:

Determining, by the first PCRF, the second user equipment according to the correspondence stored by the storage unit;

And according to the IP address of the first PCRF, triggering a session establishment process with the first PCRF for the second user equipment.
A core network device according to claim 16 or 17, wherein

The storage unit is further configured to store subscription information of the first user equipment;

The processing unit is further configured to: determine, according to the first identifier information and the subscription information stored by the storage unit, that the first user equipment is a user equipment in the group, and the first PCRF is The correspondence between the IP address and the third identification information is stored in the storage unit.
A core network device according to claim 16 or 17, wherein

The receiving unit is further configured to receive the first identifier information and the third identifier information, where the first identifier information is used to identify the first user equipment;

The processing unit is further configured to: determine, according to the first identifier information and the third identifier information that are received by the receiving unit, that the first user equipment is a user equipment in the group, and the first The correspondence between the IP address of the PCRF and the third identification information is stored in the storage unit.
A core network device according to any one of claims 15 to 19, characterized in that

The receiving unit is further configured to receive an IP address of the first PCRF sent by the first PCRF;

The IP address of the first PCRF acquired by the processing unit is received by the receiving unit.
A core network device according to any one of claims 15 to 19, characterized in that

The receiving unit is further configured to receive first identification information;

The processing unit is configured to acquire an IP address of the first PCRF according to the following manner: the first user equipment that is identified by the first identifier information received by the receiving unit selects a first PCRF, and obtains the first The IP address of a PCRF.
A core network device according to any one of claims 15 to 19, characterized in that

The receiving unit is further configured to receive an IP address of the first PCRF sent by the DRA device, where the first PCRF is a PCR entity selected by the DRA device for the first user equipment;

The IP address of the first PCRF acquired by the processing unit is received by the receiving unit.
A core network device according to claim 22, wherein

The receiving unit is further configured to receive an IP address of a second PCRF sent by the DRA device;

The processing unit is further configured to trigger a meeting with the first PCRF for the second user equipment Determining, by the first PCRF, the second user equipment, according to the received third identifier information and the corresponding relationship, where the correspondence is the IP address of the first PCRF and the first The corresponding relationship of the three identification information;

The sending unit is configured to send an IP address of the first PCRF to the DRA device, where an IP address of the first PCRF is used by the DRA device to update an IP address of the second PCRF to the first The IP address of a PCRF.
The core network device according to any one of claims 15 to 23, wherein the receiving unit further receives the third identification information when receiving the second identification information;

The processing unit is configured to trigger a session establishment process with the first PCRF for the second user equipment as follows:

Determining, according to the third identifier information and the corresponding relationship received by the receiving unit, an IP address of the first PCRF served by the second user equipment, and according to the IP address of the first PCRF, being the second The user equipment triggers a session establishment process with the first PCRF, where the corresponding relationship is a correspondence between an IP address of the first PCRF and the third identifier information stored in the storage unit.
The core network device according to any one of claims 15 to 24, wherein the processing unit is configured to trigger a session establishment process with the first PCRF for the second user equipment as follows:

Transmitting, by the sending unit, the IP address of the first PCRF to the second PCRF by using the sending unit, and triggering a process in which the second PCRF redirects the second user equipment to the first PCRF; or

Transmitting, by the sending unit, the IP address of the first PCRF to the PCEF serving the second user equipment, and triggering a session establishment process with the first PCRF for the second user equipment; or

The processing unit sends a session establishment request to the first PCRF by using the sending unit, according to the IP address of the first PCRF, to trigger the first PCRF with the first user equipment. Session establishment process.
The core network device according to any one of claims 16 to 19 or 23 or 24, wherein the processing unit is further configured to trigger a session establishment with the first PCRF for the second user equipment After the process, determining that the second user equipment is detached;

And deleting the second identifier information from the correspondence between the third identifier information and the identifier information of all the user equipments in the group.
The core network device according to any one of claims 16 to 19 or 23 or 24 or 25, wherein the processing unit is configured to trigger a session establishment process with the first PCRF after the second user equipment triggers After determining that all the user equipments in the group are detached, deleting the correspondence between the third identifier information and the IP address of the first PCRF; or

After receiving the request message for deleting the correspondence between the third identifier information and the IP address of the first PCRF, the correspondence between the third identifier information and the IP address of the first PCRF is deleted.
The core network device according to any one of claims 15 to 27, wherein the processing unit is configured to determine that the second user equipment is a user equipment included in the group as follows:

Determining, according to the stored subscription information of the second user equipment and the received identification information of the second user equipment, that the second user equipment is a user equipment included in the group; or

Determining, according to the third identifier information, that the second user equipment is a user equipment included in the group; or

Determining, according to the second identifier information and the third identifier information, that the second user equipment belongs to the group.
A method for selecting a policy and charging rule function PCRF, comprising:

Receiving an IP address of the PCRF sent by the serving gateway and the first identifier information, where the first identifier information is used to identify the first user equipment, where the first user equipment is a user equipment included in the group, the IP The address is stored in the home subscriber server HSS or the home location register HLR. The IP address corresponding to the PCRF configured for all user equipments in the group;

Transmitting the IP address and the first identifier information to a diameter routing proxy DRA device, where the IP address is used to trigger a session establishment procedure of the PCRF corresponding to the IP address for the first user equipment.
The method according to claim 29, wherein the IP address of the PCRF is stored in the subscription information in the HSS or the HLR in association with the identification information of the group.
A device for selecting a policy and charging rule function PCRF, comprising: a receiving unit and a transmitting unit coupled to the processing unit:

The receiving unit is configured to receive an IP address of the PCRF sent by the serving gateway, and the first identifier information, where the first identifier information is used to identify the first user equipment, where the first user equipment is included in the group User equipment, the IP address is an IP address corresponding to a PCRF configured for all user equipments in the group stored in the home subscriber server HSS or the home location register HLR;

The sending unit is configured to send the IP address and the first identifier information to a diameter routing proxy DRA device, where the IP address is used to trigger the first user equipment to correspond to the IP address The session establishment process of the PCRF.
The apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the IP address of the PCRF is stored in the subscription information in the HSS or the HLR in association with the identification information of the group.
A method for selecting a policy and charging rule function PCRF, comprising:

And receiving the IP address and the first identifier information of the PCRF sent by the policy and the charging and executing function PCEF, where the first identifier information is used to identify the first user equipment, where the first user equipment is a user included in the group a device, the IP address being an IP address corresponding to a PCRF configured for all user equipments in the group stored in the home subscriber server HSS or the home location register HLR;

A process of establishing a connection between the policy and charging execution function and the PCRF according to an IP address of the PCRF.
The method according to claim 33, wherein the IP address of the PCRF is stored in the subscription information in the HSS or the HLR in association with the identification information of the group, wherein the identification information is used for identification. Identification information of the group.
A device for selecting a policy and charging rule function PCRF, comprising: a receiving unit coupled to a processing unit:

The receiving unit is configured to receive an IP address and first identifier information of the PCRF sent by the policy and charging execution function PCEF, where the first identifier information is used to identify the first user equipment, where the first user equipment is For the user equipment included in the group, the IP address is an IP address corresponding to the PCRF configured for all user equipments in the group stored in the home subscriber server HSS or the home location register HLR;

The processing unit is configured to trigger a process of establishing a connection between the policy and charging execution function and the PCRF according to an IP address of the PCRF.
The device according to claim 35, wherein the IP address of the PCRF is stored in the subscription information in the HSS or the HLR in association with the identification information of the group, wherein the identifier information is used for identification. Identification information of the group.