PCRF/ANDSF interaction in a communication network
View Patent ↗In a packet communication system, a PCRF processes communication policy data to generate a communication policy instruction and a user notice. The PCRF transfers the communication policy instruction for delivery to a packet gateway system. The PCRF transfers the user notice for delivery to an ANDSF. The ANDSF processes the user notice to generate and transfer a data file for delivery to a user communication device that displays the user notice based on the data file. The packet gateway system processes the communication policy instruction to filter packets exchanged with the user communication device.
1. A method of operating a packet communication system having an Access Network Discovery Selection Function (ANDSF) system, a Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) system, and a packet gateway system, the method comprising:
in the PCRF system, processing communication policy data to generate a communication policy instruction, a user notice related to the communication policy instruction, and configuration data related to the communication policy instruction for a user communication device;
in the PCRF system, transferring the user notice and the configuration data for delivery to the ANDSF system and transferring the communication policy instruction for delivery to the packet gateway system;
in the ANDSF system, receiving and processing the user notice and the configuration data to generate and transfer a data file indicating the user notice and the configuration data for delivery to the user communication device, wherein the ANDSF transfers the data file including the user notice and the configuration data to the user communication device;
in the user communication device, the user communication device displays the user notice related to the communication policy instruction based on the data file and modifies a device configuration based on the configuration data in the data file; and
in the packet gateway system, receiving and processing the communication policy instruction to filter packets exchanged with the user communication device based on the communication policy instruction.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein processing the communication policy data to generate and transfer the user notice and the configuration data to the ANDSF system comprises processing a PCRF trigger to generate and transfer the user notice and configuration data to the ANDSF system for delivery to the user communication device.
3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
in the PCRF system, transferring an event trigger for delivery to the ANDSF system;
in the ANDSF system, receiving and processing the event trigger to detect a triggering event;
in the ANDSF system, transferring an event notice for delivery to the PCRF system responsive to detecting the triggering event; and
in the PCRF system, receiving the event notice indicating the triggering event.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein the event trigger comprises a status change for the user communication device determined by the ANDSF system.
5. The method of claim 3 wherein the event trigger comprises information transferred from the user communication device to the ANDSF system.
6. The method of claim 3 wherein processing the communication policy data to generate and transfer the communication policy instruction, the user notice, and the configuration data comprises processing the event notice from the ANDSF system.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the device configuration comprises a video adaptation configuration.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the device configuration comprises a pre-handover connectivity test configuration.
9. A packet communication system comprising:
a Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) system configured to process communication policy data to generate a communication policy instruction, a user notice related to the communication policy instruction, and configuration data related to the communication policy instruction for a user communication device,
the PCRF system is configured to transfer the user notice and the configuration data for delivery to an Access Network Discovery Selection Function (ANDSF) system, and transfer the communication policy instruction for delivery to a packet gateway system;
the ANDSF system is configured to receive and process the user notice and the configuration data to generate and transfer a data file indicating the user notice and the configuration data for delivery to the user communication device, wherein the ANDSF transfers the data file including the user notice and the configuration data to the user communication device;
the user communication device displays the user notice related to the communication policy instruction based on the data file and modifies a device configuration based on the configuration data in the data file; and
the packet gateway system is configured to receive and process the communication policy instruction to filter packets exchanged with the user communication device based on the communication policy instruction.
10. The packet communication system of claim 9 wherein the PCRF system is configured to process a PCRF trigger to generate and transfer the user notice and the configuration data to the ANDSF system for delivery to the user communication device.
11. The packet communication system of claim 9 wherein:
the PCRF system is configured to transfer an event trigger for delivery to the ANDSF system;
the ANDSF system is configured to receive and process the event trigger to detect a triggering event and transfer an event notice for delivery to the PCRF system responsive to detecting the triggering event; and
the PCRF system is configured to receive the event notice indicating the triggering event.
12. The packet communication system of claim 11 wherein the event trigger comprises a status change for the user communication device and the ANDSF system is configured to detect the status change for the user communication device.
13. The packet communication system of claim 11 wherein the event trigger comprises information transferred from the user communication device to the ANDSF system and the ANDSF system is configured to receive the information transferred from the user communication device.
14. The packet communication system of claim 11 wherein the communication policy data processed by the PCRF system to generate and transfer the communication policy instruction, the user notice, and the configuration ndata comprises the event notice from the ANDSF system.
15. The packet communication system of claim 9 wherein the device configuration comprises a video adaptation configuration.
16. The packet communication system of claim 9 wherein the device configuration comprises a pre-handover connectivity test configuration.