Sy based integrated policy and charging control

1. A method for managing subscriber usage in a mobile network by a policy and charging rules function (PCRF) device comprising:

receiving, by the PCRF device, a credit control request (CCR) message from a policy and enforcement rules function (PCEF) for an application;

determining, by the PCRF device, whether an Sy connection to an online charging system (OCS) is necessary to implement the CCR;

determining, by the PCRF device, whether an Sy session is present;

sending, by the PCRF device, an application authorization request (AAR) message to the OCS;

receiving, from the OCS, an application authorization answer (AAA) message including an Sy counter used by the OCS to track usage associated with a user of the application;

mapping, by the PCRF device, a PCRF metering limit to the Sy counter, wherein the PCRF metering limit is an object used by the PCRF to determine policies to apply in response to reported usage;

binding, by the PCRF device, the PCRF metering limit to the application;

determining, by the PCRF device, a policy to apply based upon the application, the PCRF metering limit, and usage reported by the OCS via the Sy counter; and

sending, by the PCRF device, a message to the PCEF to effect the policy.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving an indication from the OCS that a usage threshold has been crossed;

determining a policy to apply based upon the threshold crossing; and

sending a reauthorization request (RAR) message to the PCEF to effect the policy.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising

sending a message to the subscriber.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the message includes usage information and a usage limit.

5. The method of claim 2 , further comprising

denying the subscriber access to the mobile network.

6. The method of claim 2 , wherein determining a policy to apply includes reducing the quality of service.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving subscriber change message from a subscriber profile repository (SPR);

determining a policy to apply based upon the subscriber change message from the SPR; and

sending a reauthorization request (RAR) message to the PCEF to effect the policy.

8. A tangible and non-transitory machine-readable storage medium encoded with instructions thereon for execution by a policy and charging rules function (PCRF), wherein said tangible and non-transitory machine-readable storage medium comprising:

instructions for receiving, by the PCRF, a credit control request (CCR) message from a policy and enforcement rules function (PCEF) for an application;

instructions for determining, by the PCRF, whether an Sy connection to an online charging system (OCS) is necessary to implement the CCR;

instructions for determining, by the PCRF, whether an Sy session is present;

instructions for sending, by the PCRF, an application authorization request (AAR) message to the OCS;

instructions for receiving, from the OCS, an application authorization answer (AAA) message including an Sy counter used by the OCS to track usage associated with a user of the application;

instructions for mapping, by the PCRF device, a PCRF metering limit to the Sy counter, wherein the PCRF metering limit is an object used by the PCRF to determine policies to apply in response to reported usage;

instructions for binding, by the PCRF, the PCRF metering limit to the application;

instructions for determining, by the PCRF, a policy to apply based upon the application, the PCRF metering limit, and usage reported by the OCS via the Sy counter; and

instructions for sending, by the PCRF, a credit control answer (CCA) message to the PCEF to effect the policy.

9. The tangible and non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 8 , further comprising:

instructions for receiving an indication from the OCS that a usage threshold has been crossed;

instructions for determining a policy to apply based upon the threshold crossing; and

instructions for sending a reauthorization request (RAR) message to the PCEF to effect the policy.

10. The tangible and non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 9 , further comprising

instructions for sending a message to the subscriber.

11. The tangible and non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the message includes usage information and a usage limit.

12. The tangible and non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 9 , further comprising

instructions for denying the subscriber access to the mobile network.

13. The tangible and non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein determining a policy to apply includes

reducing the quality of service.

14. The tangible and non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 8 , further comprising:

instructions for receiving subscriber change message from a subscriber profile repository (SPR);

instructions for determining a policy to apply based upon the subscriber change message from the SPR; and

instructions for sending a reauthorization request (RAR) message to the PCEF to effect the policy.