Methods and apparatus for providing session policy during a registration of a device
A method for a user agent to access a session policy in a network is provided. The method comprises the user agent sending a registration message to a first network node. The method further comprises the user agent receiving policy-related information from the first network node in a response to the registration message. The policy-related information is one of the session policy, a Uniform Resource Locator that points to the session policy, and a Policy-Contact header containing a policyContactURI for a policy document.
1. A method for a user agent to access a session policy in a network, comprising:
the user agent sending a registration message to a first network node, wherein the registration message is a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) REGISTER message; and
the user agent receiving a record locator or address of a location of a policy document that contains the session policy in a response to sending the registration message to the first network node, wherein the record locator or address is contained in a policyContactURI in a Policy-Contact header field,
wherein a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) scheme of the policyContactURI is for a protocol other than SIP.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the user agent sends a request that results in the reception of the policy document, wherein the user agent obtains the policy document via a protocol other than SIP.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first network node is one of:
a serving call session control function; and
a registrar.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein a registration is made to the first network node, wherein a second network node contains the policy document, and wherein the user agent receives the policy document from the second network node.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the second network node is at least one of:
a SIP server;
Proxy Call Session Control Function (P-CSCF); and
a policy server.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the protocol other than SIP is at least one of:
Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP); and
General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) Activate Packet Data Protocol (PDP) context.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein a registration is made to the first network node via a second network node, and wherein the user agent receives the policy document from one of the first network node, the second network node, or a third network node.
8. The method of claim 5 , wherein one or more Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) frames are used to transport the policy document.
9. The method of claim 6 , wherein the third network node is at least one of:
Access Network specific gateway;
PCRF (Policy Control and Charging Rules function); and
a policy server.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the Access Network specific gateway is one of:
a Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN); and
a Packet Data Gateway (PDG).
11. The method of claim 6 , wherein the second network node is at least one of:
a SIP server;
an Access Network specific gateway; and
a Proxy Call Session Control Function (P-CSCF).
12. A user agent, comprising:
a storage device; and
a processor configured to execute instructions stored on the storage device such that when executed, the user agent:
sends a registration message to a first network node, wherein the registration message is a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) REGISTER message; and
receives a record locator or address of a location of a policy document that contains a session policy in a response to the registration message to the first network node, wherein the record locator or address is contained in a policyContactURI in a Policy-Contact header field,
wherein a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) scheme of the policyContactURI is for a protocol other than SIP.
13. The user agent of claim 12 , wherein the user agent sends an authentication request that results in the reception of the policy document, and wherein the user agent obtains the policy document via a signaling protocol other than SIP.
14. The user agent of claim 12 , wherein a registration is made via to the first network node, wherein a second network node contains the policy document, and wherein the user agent receives the policy document from the second network node.
15. The user agent of claim 14 , wherein the second network node is at least one of:
a SIP server;
a Proxy Call Session Control Function (P-CSCF); and
a policy server.
16. The user agent of claim 12 , wherein the protocol other than SIP is a lower layer protocol comprising at least one of:
an Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP); and
a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) Activate Packet Data Protocol (PDP) context.
17. The user agent of claim 12 , wherein a registration is made via to the first network node via a second network node that contains the policy document, wherein the user agent receives the policy document from one of the first network node, the second network node or a third network node.
18. The user agent of claim 16 , wherein one or more EAP frames are used to transport the policy document.
19. A network node, comprising:
a storage device; and
a processor configured to execute instructions stored on the storage device such that when executed, the network node:
sends a record locator or address of a location of a policy document that contains a session policy, wherein the network node sends the record locator or address to a user agent in response to receiving a registration message, the registration message being a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) REGISTER message,
wherein the record locator or address is contained in a policyContactURI in a Policy-Contact header field, and wherein a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) scheme of the policyContactURI is for a protocol other than SIP.
20. The network node of claim 19 , wherein the network node informs the user agent to perform a request that results in the sending of the policy document, and wherein the network node informs the user agent via a protocol other than SIP.