Granted Patent B2

US 8,837,500 · App. 13/167,522 · Granted Sep 16, 2014

Abstract

Claims (46)

1. A system comprising:

a subscriber database comprising a processor operable to store subscriber profiles for end users of a communication network;

the subscriber database further operable to store direction criteria defining conditions for directing service data flows to Packet Data Networks (PDN), to store mapping data associated with the direction criteria that includes information for directing the service data flows to the PDNs when a condition from the direction criteria is satisfied, and to store flow condition data indicating a status of the service data flows over the PDNs;

the subscriber database further operable to transmit the direction criteria and mapping data to a network element in response to a query to allow the network element to direct a service data flow to a first PDN for a data service;

the subscriber database is further operable to store redirection criteria defining conditions for redirecting service data flows among PDNs, and to store mapping data associated with the redirection criteria that includes information for redirecting service data flows from one PDN to another PDN;

the subscriber database is further operable to transmit the redirection criteria and mapping data to the network element in response to another query to allow the network element to redirect the service data flow from the first PDN to a second PDN.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the subscriber database is further operable to process the flow condition data to identify a problem in the first PDN, and to transmit the redirection criteria and mapping data to the network element when the problem is identified in the first PDN.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the network element comprises a Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF); and

the subscriber database connects to the PCRF over an Sp interface.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the subscriber database is further operable to store the direction criteria and mapping data with a Public Service Identifier (PSI); and

the subscriber database is further operable to store the redirection criteria and mapping data with the PSI.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the subscriber database is further operable to store the direction criteria and mapping data with a Public User Identifier (PUID) for an end user; and

the subscriber database is further operable to store the redirection criteria and mapping data with the PUID for the end user.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the subscriber database is further operable to store the flow condition data with a Public Service Identifier (PSI).

7. A method comprising:

storing subscriber profiles for end users of a communication network in a subscriber database;

storing, in the subscriber database, direction criteria defining conditions for directing service data flows to Packet Data Networks (PDN), mapping data associated with the direction criteria that includes information for directing the service data flows to the PDNs when a condition from the direction criteria is satisfied, and flow condition data indicating a status of the service data flows over the PDNs;

transmitting the direction criteria and mapping data from the subscriber database to a network element in response to a query to allow the network element to direct a service data flow to a first PDN for a data service;

storing, in the subscriber database, redirection criteria defining conditions for redirecting service data flows among PDNs, and mapping data associated with the redirection criteria that includes information for redirecting service data flows from one PDN to another PDN; and

transmitting the redirection criteria and mapping data from the subscriber database to the network element in response to another query to allow the network element to redirect the service data flow from the first PDN to a second PDN.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

processing the flow condition data to identify a problem in the first PDN; and

transmitting the redirection criteria and mapping data to the network element when the problem is identified in the first PDN.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein:

the network element comprises a Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF); and

the subscriber database connects to the PCRF over an Sp interface.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein:

storing the direction criteria and mapping data comprises storing the direction criteria and mapping data with a Public Service Identifier (PSI); and

storing the redirection criteria and mapping data comprises storing the redirection criteria and mapping data with the PSI.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein:

storing the direction criteria and mapping data comprises storing the direction criteria and mapping data with a Public User Identifier (PUID) for an end user; and

storing the redirection criteria and mapping data comprises storing the redirection criteria and mapping data with the PUID for the end user.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein:

storing the flow condition data comprises storing the flow condition data with a Public Service Identifier (PSI).

13. A system comprising:

a Home Subscriber Server (HSS) coupled to a Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) over an Sp interface;

the HSS comprising a processor operable to store subscriber profiles for end users of a communication network;

the HSS further operable to store redirection criteria defining conditions for redirecting service data flows among Packet Data Networks (PDNs), to store mapping data associated with the redirection criteria that includes information for redirecting service data flows from one PDN to another PDN, and to store flow condition data indicating a status of service data flows over the PDNs;

the HSS further operable to receive a query from the PCRF over an Sp interface involving a service data flow for an end user over a first PDN, to process the flow condition data to identify a problem with the first PDN, to identify the redirection criteria and mapping data for the service data flow, and to transmit the redirection criteria and mapping data to the PCRF over the Sp interface to allow the PCRF to redirect the service data flow from the first PDN to a second PDN.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein:

the flow condition data is stored with a Public Service Identifier (PSI).

Assignments (11)