Method and apparatus for removing policy and charging control rule from default bearer

1. A method for removing a policy and charging control rule from a default bearer, the method comprising:

determining that a received service flow is a service flow of Single Radio Voice Call Continuity (SRVCC) switching upon receipt of flow description information of the service flow; and

in response to determining that a received service flow is a service flow of SRVCC switching upon receipt of the flow description information, and after a new bearer is created for the received service flow of SRVCC switching, removing a policy and charging control rule that has been activated on a default bearer for the SRVCC switching and, at the same time, issuing a policy and charging control rule made for the newly created bearer.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the flow description information comprises a port number of a service flow packet and wherein determining that the received service flow is a service flow of SRVCC switching comprises:

matching a port number reserved for the SRVCC switching with the port number of the service flow packet comprised in the flow description information; and

determining that the received service flow is the service flow of the SRVCC switching because the port number reserved for the SRVCC switching is consistent with the port number of the packet comprised in the flow description information.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the port number of the service flow packet comprises a destination port number of a downlink packet of the service flow wherein matching the port number reserved for the SRVCC switching with the port number of the service flow packet comprised in the flow description information comprises matching, by a policy control and charging rules function entity (PCRF), the destination port number of the downlink packet of the service flow comprised in the flow description information with a port number that is reserved by a user equipment for the SRVCC switching during registration to an IMS network.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein, before matching the destination port number of the downlink packet of the service flow comprised in the flow description information with a port number that is reserved by a user equipment for the SRVCC switching during registration to an IMS network, the method further comprises:

interacting, by the PCRF, with an application function entity (AF) or a proxy call session control function entity (P-CSCF), and acquiring the port number that is reserved by the user equipment for the SRVCC switching during the registration to the IMS network; and

acquiring, by the PCRF, the flow description information by interacting with the AF or the P-CSCF after a switching process of switching an IMS service from a circuit switched domain to a packet switched domain is completed.

5. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the port number of the service flow packet comprises a source port number of a downlink packet of the service flow and wherein matching the port number reserved for the SRVCC switching with the port number of the service flow packet comprised in the flow description information comprises matching, by a policy control and charging rules function entity (PCRF), the source port number of the downlink packet of the service flow comprised in the flow description information with a port number that is reserved by an IMS network for the SRVCC switching.

6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein before matching the source port number of the downlink packet of the service flow comprised in the flow description information with the port number that is reserved by an IMS network for the SRVCC switching, the method further comprises:

interacting, by the PCRF, with a packet data network gateway (PGW) to acquire the port number that is reserved by the IMS network for the SRVCC switching; and

acquiring, by the PCRF, the flow description information by interacting with an application function entity (AF) or a proxy call session control function entity (P-CSCF) after a switching process of switching an IMS service from a circuit switched domain to a packet switched domain is completed.

7. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the port number of the service flow packet comprises a source port number of a downlink packet of the service flow and wherein matching the port number reserved for the SRVCC switching with the port number of the service flow packet comprised in the flow description information comprises matching, by a packet data network gateway (PGW), the source port number of the downlink packet of the service flow comprised in the flow description information with a port number that is reserved by an IMS network for the SRVCC switching.

8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein, before matching a source port number of a downlink packet of the service flow comprised in the flow description information with the port number that is reserved by an IMS network for the SRVCC switching, the method further comprises:

interacting, by the PGW, with a destination mobility management entity (MME) and acquiring the port number that is reserved by the IMS network for the SRVCC switching; and

acquiring, by the PGW, the flow description information by interacting with the destination MME after a switching process of switching an IMS service from a circuit switched domain to a packet switched domain is completed.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein determining that the received service flow is a service flow of SRVCC switching comprises determining that the received service flow is the service flow of the SRVCC switching when received signaling comprises an indication pointing out that a service initiated by an application function entity (AF) or a proxy call session control function entity (P-CSCF) is an IMS service switching from a circuit switched domain to a packet switched domain.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein determining that a received service flow is a service flow of SRVCC switching comprises determining that the received service flow is the service flow of SRVCC switching when received signaling comprises an indication pointing out that a resource applied for by a user equipment is used for an IMS service switching from a circuit switched domain to a packet switched domain.

11. An apparatus for removing a policy and charging control rule from a default bearer, the apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program to be executed by the processor, the program including instructions for:

determining whether a received service flow is a service flow of Single Radio Voice Call Continuity (SRVCC) switching upon receipt of flow description information of the service flow; and

in response to determining that the received service flow is the service flow of the SRVCC switching, and after a new bearer is created for the received service flow of SRVCC switching, removing a policy and charging control rule that has been activated on a default bearer for the SRVCC switching and, at the same time, issuing a policy and charging control rule made for the newly created bearer.

12. An apparatus for removing a policy and charging control rule from a default bearer, the apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program to be executed by the processor, the program including instructions for:

determining whether a received service flow is a service flow of Single Radio Voice Call Continuity (SRVCC) switching upon receipt of flow description information of the service flow; and

when it is determined that the received service flow is the service flow of the SRVCC switching, removing a policy and charging control rule that has been activated on a default bearer for the SRVCC switching and, at the same time, issuing a policy and charging control rule made for a newly created bearer;

wherein the flow description information comprises a port number of a service flow packet and wherein the program further includes instructions for:

matching a port number reserved for the SRVCC switching with the port number of the service flow packet comprised in the flow description information; and

determining that the received service flow is the service flow of the SRVCC switching when the port number reserved for the SRVCC switching is consistent with the port number of the packet comprised in the flow description information.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the apparatus is a policy control and charging rules function entity (PCRF) and the port number of the service flow packet comprises a destination port number of a downlink packet of the service flow; and

wherein the program further includes instructions for matching the destination port number of the downlink packet of the service flow comprised in the flow description information with a port number that is reserved by a user equipment for the SRVCC during registration to an IMS network.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the program further includes instructions for:

interacting with an application function entity AF or a proxy call session control function entity (P-CSCF) and acquiring the port number that is reserved by the user equipment for the SRVCC switching during the registration to the IMS network; and

acquiring the flow description information by interacting with the AF or the P-CSCF after a switching process of switching an IMS service from a circuit switched domain to a packet switched domain is completed.

15. The apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the apparatus is a policy control and charging rules function entity (PCRF) and the port number of the service flow packet comprises a source port number of a downlink packet of the service flow; and

wherein the program further includes instructions for matching the source port number of the downlink packet of the service flow comprised in the flow description information with a port number that is reserved by an IMS network for the SRVCC switching.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the program further includes instructions for:

interacting with a packet data network gateway (PGW) and acquiring the port number that is reserved by the IMS network for the SRVCC switching; and

acquiring the flow description information by interacting with an application function entity (AF) or a proxy call session control function entity (P-CSCF) after a switching process of switching an IMS service from a circuit switched domain to a packet switched domain is completed.

17. The apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the apparatus is a packet data network gateway (PGW) and the port number of the service flow packet comprises a source port number of a downlink packet of the service flow; and

wherein the program further includes instructions for matching the source port number of the downlink packet of the service flow comprised in the flow description information with a port number that is reserved by an IMS network for the SRVCC switching.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein the program further includes instructions for:

interacting with a destination mobility management entity (MME) and acquiring the port number that is reserved by the IMS network for the SRVCC switching; and

acquiring the flow description information by interacting with the destination MME after a switching process of switching an IMS service from a circuit switched domain to a packet switched domain is completed.

19. The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the apparatus is a policy charging and control rules function entity (PCRF) and wherein the program further includes instructions for determining that the received service flow is the service flow of the SRVCC switching when received signaling comprises an indication pointing out that a service initiated by an application function entity AF or a proxy call session control function entity P-CSCF is an IMS service switching from a circuit switched domain to a packet switched domain.

20. The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the apparatus is a packet data network gateway (PGW) and wherein the program further includes instructions for determining that the received service flow is the service flow of the SRVCC switching when received signaling comprises an indication pointing out that a resource applied for by a user equipment is used for an IMS service switching from a circuit switched domain to a packet switched domain.