Systems and methods for common policy platform

1. A converged small cell communication system, comprising:

a mobile network core including a policy engine and a packet data network gateway (PGW) including a PGW-policy and charging enforcement function (PGW-PCEF);

a data over cable service interface specification (DOCSIS) core including a packetcable multimedia (PCMM) unit having a policy server and an application manager, and a cable modem termination system (CMTS) having a CMTS-PCEF; and

a common policy platform for managing a service flow of a user equipment (UE) operating within a communication vicinity of the small cell communication system,

wherein the policy engine is configured to implement the common policy platform to (i) form a policy and charging control (PCC) rule for the service flow, and (ii) send the PCC rule to both the PGW-PCEF and the CMTS-PCEF,

wherein the CMTS comprises an application programming interface (API) for (i) communicating with the policy engine, and (ii) converting the PCC rule to a format of the DOCSIS core, and

wherein CMTS-PCEF is configured to detect the service flow of the UE and apply the converted PCC rule to the detected service flow.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the policy engine comprises a mobile policy control and charging rules function (PCRF).

3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a serving gateway (SGW) in operable communication with the PGW-PCEF and the CMTS-PCEF.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the PGW-PCEF is in operable communication with the policy engine.

5. The system of claim 4 , further comprising a Gx interface, and wherein the system is configured such that communication between the PGW-PCEF and the policy engine occurs over the Gx interface.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the Gx interface is configured to implement a Diameter protocol.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the DOCSIS core further comprises a DOCSIS policy control and charging enforcement rules function (PCRF), and wherein the DOCSIS PCRF comprises the policy server and the application manager.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the API is located separate from the CMTS.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the API is co-located with the CMTS.

10. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a Rx interface, and wherein the system is configured such that communication between the application function and the policy engine occurs over the Rx interface.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the CMTS comprises a cable modem.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein PGW-PCEF is configured to detect the service flow of the UE and apply the PCC rule to the detected service flow.