Controlling packet filter installation in a user equipment

1. A method in a communication system comprising a policy controller, a user equipment and a gateway, the communication system being configured to send data packets on at least one bearer from the user equipment to the gateway and the user equipment being configured to install at least one packet filter for associating the data packets with the at least one bearer, the method comprising:

detecting, by the policy controller, an indication of data traffic;

determining, by the policy controller, a control rule for the indicated data traffic; and

performing, by the policy controller, a decision if installation of a new packet filter in the user equipment is required to map the data packets of the indicated data traffic to the at least one bearer.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the indicated data traffic is data traffic without an associated control rule or data traffic with an associated control rule which is to be modified.

3. The method according to claim 1 , comprising setting, by the policy controller, a flag in a message to the gateway, the flag indicating the result of the decision.

4. The method according to claim 3 , comprising sending, by the policy controller, an indication to the gateway indicating if the new packet filter is to be signalled to the user equipment.

5. The method according to claim 1 , comprising:

receiving, by the policy controller from the gateway, an indication that the gateway does not support detecting if the new packet filter is to be signalled to the user equipment; and

activating, by the policy controller, the determined control rule in the gateway without indicating result of the decision to the gateway.

6. The method according to claim 1 , comprising:

generating, by the policy controller, the new packet filter; and

sending, by the policy controller, the new packet filter to the gateway.

7. A method in a communication system with a policy controller, a signalling controller, a user equipment and a gateway, the communication system being configured to send data packets on at least one bearer from the user equipment to the gateway and the user equipment being configured to install at least one packet filter for associating the data packets with the at least one bearer, the method comprising:

obtaining, by the signalling controller, a result of a decision if installation of a new packet filter is required in the user equipment to map indicated data traffic to the at least one bearer, where the signalling controller obtains the result from the policy controller;

evaluation, by the signalling controller, of the result; and

initiating, by the signalling controller, in accordance with the evaluation, signalling of the new packet filter to the user equipment.

8. The method according to claim 7 , comprising signalling, by the signalling controller, the new packet filter to the user equipment, said signalling indicating if installation of the new packet filter is required according to the decision.

9. The method according to claim 7 , comprising if the installation of the new packet filter is not required, performing, by the signalling controller, no signalling of the new packet filter to the user equipment.

10. A method in a communication system with a user equipment and a gateway, the communication system being configured to send data packets on at least one bearer from the user equipment to the gateway and the user equipment being configured to install at least one packet filter for associating the data packets with the at least one bearer, the method comprising:

receiving, by the user equipment, a new packet filter;

determining, by the user equipment, from signalling used to transmit the new filter if installation of the new packet filter in the user equipment is required to map the data packets of indicated data traffic to the at least one bearer; and

installing, by the user equipment, the new packet filter in accordance with the determination.

11. A policy controller in a communication system with a user equipment and a gateway, the communication system being configured to send data packets on at least one bearer from the user equipment to the gateway and the user equipment being configured to install at least one packet filter for associating the data packets with the at least one bearer, the policy controller comprising:

a receiver configured to receive an indication of data traffic; and

a processor for determining a control rule for the indicated data traffic, the processor being configured to perform a decision if installation of a new packet filter is required to map the data packets of the indicated data traffic to the at least one bearer, wherein the receiver and the processor are components of the policy controller.

12. The policy controller according to claim 11 , comprising a transmitter for transmitting the result of the decision to the gateway wherein the transmitter is a component of the policy controller.

13. The policy controller according to claim 12 , wherein the transmitter is configured to set a flag in a message to the gateway, the flag indicating the result of the decision.

14. A signalling controller in a communication system with a policy controller, a user equipment and a gateway, the communication system being configured to send data packets on at least one bearer from the user equipment to the gateway and the user equipment being configured to install at least one packet filter for associating the data packets with the at least one bearer, the signalling controller comprising:

a first interface for receiving a result of a decision if installation of a new packet filter is required in the user equipment to map data traffic to the at least one bearer where the first interface receives the result from the policy controller; and

a processor configured for evaluation of the result and initiating signalling of the new packet filter to the user equipment in accordance with the evaluation, wherein the first interface and the processor are components of the signalling controller.

15. The signalling controller according to claim 14 , comprising a second interface configured to transmit, to the user equipment, the new filter or an indication if the new packet filter is to be installed in the user equipment, wherein the second interface is a component of the signalling controller.

16. The signalling controller according to claim 14 , wherein the signalling controller is in the gateway.

17. The signalling controller according to claim 14 , wherein the result is received from the policy controller and the first interface is configured to send information to the policy controller, said information indicating that the signalling controller is capable of said evaluation and initiating of signalling in response to the evaluation.

18. A user equipment, comprising:

a transmitter configured to send data packets on at least one bearer to a gateway;

a processor configured to install at least one packet filter for associating the data packets with the at least one bearer;

a receiver configured to receive a new packet filter; and

a detector configured to determine, from signalling used to transmit the new packet filter, if installation of the new packet filter is required to map data packets of indicated data traffic to the at least one bearer,

wherein the processor is configured to install the new packet filter in accordance with the determination by the detector, and wherein the transmitter, the processor, the receiver, and the detector are components of the user equipment.

19. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the setting of the flag by the policy controller is dependent on whether precondition signalling is required by the user equipment.

20. The policy controller according to claim 13 , wherein the setting of the flag is dependent on whether precondition signalling is required by the user equipment.

21. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the policy controller is a Policy and Charging Rules Function.

22. The policy controller according to claim 11 , wherein the policy controller is a Policy and Charging Rules Function.

23. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the signalling controller is a Policy and Charging Enforcement Function or a Bearer Binding and Event Reporting Function.

24. The signalling controller according to claim 14 , wherein the signalling controller is a Policy and Charging Enforcement Function or a Bearer Binding and Event Reporting Function.