CN103490908A

CN103490908A - Selection method, device and system for PCRF

Info

Publication number: CN103490908A
Application number: CN201210192558.5A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 毛玉欣; 周晓云; 吴锦花; 毕以峰
Original assignee: ZTE Corp
Current assignee: ZTE Corp
Priority date: 2012-06-12
Filing date: 2012-06-12
Publication date: 2014-01-01
Anticipated expiration: 2032-06-12
Also published as: CN103490908B

Abstract

The invention discloses a selection method, device and system for a PCRF. The method comprises the following steps that a DRA receives user group information sent for the PCRF of a first user service in a user group; the DRA selects the PCRF for other users in the user group according to the user group information of the address information of the PCRF. The selection method, device and system for the PCRF resolve the problem that a use amount monitoring mechanism in the relevant technology can not meet the use amount monitoring requirement of a family user group, the situation that the users in the user group select a uniform PCRF to manage the use amount of the user group is guaranteed, and the operability of the system is guaranteed.

Description

The system of selection of "Policy and Charging Rules Function, Apparatus and system

Technical field

The present invention relates to the communications field, in particular to system of selection, the Apparatus and system of a kind of "Policy and Charging Rules Function (Policy and Charging Rules Function, referred to as PCRF).

Background technology

Third generation partner program (3rd Generation Partnership Project, referred to as 3GPP) defined for mobile network's strategy and charging and controlled (Policy and Charging Control, referred to as PCC) framework, Fig. 1 is the 3GPP PCC configuration diagram according to correlation technique, as shown in Figure 1, each function is described as follows:

PCRF, the business data flow contained for business packet is used Internet resources to formulate the resource control strategy in transmitting procedure, comprises service quality (Quality of Service, referred to as QoS) control strategy and charging control strategy.

Strategy and charge execution function (Policy and Charging Enforcement Function, referred to as PCEF), for carrying out PCRF issues or the upper pre-configured PCC rule of PCEF, IP message to transmission over networks is detected, identify the business data flow that this IP message is subordinate to, and provide QoS and charging to control to business data flow.

Bearing binding and reporting events function (Bearer Binding and Event Report Function, referred to as BBERF), be mainly used in procotol (the Internet Protocol to transmission over networks, referred to as IP) message detected, and the IP message is mapped on corresponding bearer path according to rule.BBERF also carries out carrying the reporting of dependent event, and for example, when carrying is lost, or when the access network switching occurs, all needs corresponding reporting events to PCRF, and request PCRF carries out corresponding decision-making.

User-subscribed database (Subscription Profile Repository, referred to as SPR), for preserving the signing business information of user, provide necessary user signing contract information for PCRF works out the PCC rule.

Online Charging System (Online Charging System, referred to as OCS) and off-line accounting system (Offline Charging System, referred to as OFCS), be respectively used to off-line and online charging.

In the user commences business process, PCC is that business (being comprised of some business data flows) dynamically provides QoS to guarantee in transmitting procedure according to following principle:

At first, the corresponding concrete PCC rule of each business data flow that business packet contains, the QoS resource that need to use while having defined this business datum flow transmission in the PCC rule.Before business data flow transmits in bearer network, PCRF need to be the business data flow decision-making and formulate the PCC rule according to various information.PCRF decision-making the information of formulating PCC rule institute foundation comprise:

(1) the service negotiation information received from AF.This service negotiation information is exactly user while commencing business and the Correspondent Node information of carrying out described business of consulting, and for example, carries out described business to the requirement of QoS, IP address that communicating pair is used, port numbers, the information such as agreement used.

(2) user signing contract information received from SPR.For example, comprise the signing QoS information of user and operator in user signing contract information; When the user commences business, business can not surpass the operable QoS information of user of user signing contract information defined to the requirement of QoS.

(3) the self-defined strategy of operator of PCRF self storage.For example operator commences business and need to differentiation control roamer and non-roaming user, and the differentiation control strategy of this operator self-defining can be configured on PCRF.

(4) the access relevant information received from PCEF or BBERF.For example, when the user is attached to network, PCRF need to obtain by PCEF or BBERF the information of user access network, carries out strategic decision-making for the user commences business for PCRF.

(5) obtain user's credit information from OCS.For example, once user's credit, be finished or not, PCRF just can't authorize described user to commence business.

Secondly, PCRF according to above-mentioned information to business data flow decision-making PCC rule, and if the PCC rule is handed down in the PCEF(network and has BBERF, PCRF also needs to formulate the QoS rule, and is handed down to BBERF).PCEF need to set up corresponding carrying according to the qos requirement of PCC rule, and the PCC rule is tied in corresponding carrying and (if there is BBERF in network, by BBERF, according to the QoS rule, sets up carrying).If the carrying that has had the QoS with the indication of PCC rule or QoS rule to be complementary in network, be tied to described PCC rule or QoS rule in existing carrying.

After this, when the user commences business, when business data flow transmits on bearer network, the IP message that terminal and the network equipment can will form (being comprised of source IP address, source port number, purpose IP address, destination slogan, agreement) this business data flow according to five-tuple matches corresponding PCC rule/QoS rule, binding relationship according to PCC rule/QoS rule and carrying, just described business data flow can be matched in corresponding carrying, thereby the transmission on bearer network provides QoS to guarantee for business data flow.In the time of the service ending of carrying out as the user, corresponding PCC rule need to be deleted from bearer network, discharges and distributes to the QoS resource that described business is used.On the one hand can be according to business to the corresponding QoS resource of the demand assignment of QoS by above-mentioned PCC mechanism, while having realized on the other hand needing the QoS resource, just can distribute, while not needing the QoS resource, just can discharge in time, therefore can reach and promote customer service experience by PCC mechanism, improve the purpose of Internet usage efficiency.

In order to improve the flexibility of network operation, for example, for certain business, operator wishes that front 10M is free for the user, after user's consumption exceeds 10M, just needs to collect the charges; For another example, operator wishes to provide a kind of bandwidth to the user within the flow of 10M, after flow exceeds 10M, needs this user's bandwidth is limited.For above-mentioned scene, require when the user commences business, when PCRF issues the control strategy for business to PCEF, also need to issue the consumption monitoring, require PCEF to be monitored the flow of described business.When the flow of described business reaches the desired threshold value of monitoring, PCEF need to report the consumption monitored results to PCRF, so that PCRF carries out strategic decision-making to described business again according to the consumption monitored results, produces new control strategy.

Fig. 2 is that as shown in Figure 2, the flow process of the implementation procedure of consumption monitoring is as follows according to the schematic diagram of the consumption monitoring realization flow of correlation technique:

Steps A 1-A3, issue the process of consumption monitoring to PCEF for PCRF.Wherein, business consists of one or more business data flow, and PCRF need to formulate control strategy (PCC rule) and be handed down to PCEF for each business data flow, and PCEF, according to the PCC rule, business data flow is implemented to QoS and charging is controlled.If need to be to this service implementation consumption monitoring, PCRF is when issuing the PCC rule, issue the consumption monitoring simultaneously, described consumption monitoring is comprised of a monitoring keyword (monitoring key) and threshold value (threshold), wherein, need to implement the consumption monitoring to which business data flow, just in the PCC rule of describing business data flow, comprise described monitoring key.PCRF is handed down to PCEF by above-mentioned information, and PCEF implements the consumption monitoring to described business data flow after receiving described information.

For example, the business packet that needs to implement the consumption monitoring in flow process has contained business data flow-1 and business data flow-2, and the process that PCRF issues the consumption monitoring to PCEF is described as steps A 1-A2:

Steps A 1.PCRF is that described business is carried out strategic decision-making, produce control strategy (PCC rule), need for described service implementation consumption monitoring simultaneously, PCRF distributes monitoring keyword monitoring key, and be included in PCC rule-1 and PCC rule-2, be the signing consumption allocation threshold threshold of described monitoring key according to the user simultaneously, and described monitoring key and threshold are included in consumption monitor message (Usage Monitoring Information).

Steps A 2.PCRF issues control strategy to PCEF, comprises PCC rule-1, PCC rule-2 and consumption monitor message.

Step B, after PCEF receives the control strategy that PCRF issues, install the PCC rule, and, according to the consumption monitor message, to the PCC rule, corresponding business data flow (being business data flow 1 and business data flow 2) is implemented the consumption monitoring.

Step C, the consumption supervision and reporting.When PCEF reaches corresponding described threshold value to the accumulative total consumption of this Monitoring Key monitoring, or PCRF is while requiring to report the consumption monitoring, and PCEF reports the consumption monitoring.Comprise described Monitoring Key in the consumption monitor message reported (Usage Monitoring Information) and add up to use consumption.

Step D, according to consumption supervision and reporting result, PCRF reformulates control strategy to described business data flow.For example, integrated flow has exceeded the flow of regulation, and PCRF need to be reduced the utilized bandwidth of described business.Simultaneously, if also need described business is continued to carry out the consumption monitoring, PCRF need to redistribute threshold value according to the signing consumption of user for described monitoring key.When described user's accumulative total consumption has arrived described signing consumption, just can't continue to implement the consumption monitoring to described user.

Step e, PCRF issues the new control strategy for this business to PCEF.If need to continue described service implementation consumption is controlled, also need to comprise the consumption monitor message in the described information issued.

What above-mentioned flow process was described is to single service implementation consumption monitoring.If a plurality of or all service implementation consumption monitoring that need to carry out the user need to comprise monitoring keyword monitoring key and get final product in the PCC of corresponding business data flow rule.

Visible, the signing consumption of description of the Prior Art, for unique user, only can be realized unique user is implemented to the consumption monitoring.Yet, in actual operation process, also there will be a plurality of users to share the demand of signing consumption, for example, the one family consumption set meal 500M that contract, the signing consumption of this family is shared by all members of family.For the consumption monitoring demand as above-mentioned domestic consumer's group, utilize existing consumption monitoring mechanism to realize.

Can't realize the problem of the consumption monitoring demand that the domestic consumer organizes for user monitoring mechanism in correlation technique, not yet propose at present effective solution.

Summary of the invention

Main purpose of the present invention is to provide the selection scheme of a kind of PCRF, can't realize the problem of the consumption monitoring demand that the domestic consumer organizes at least to solve user monitoring mechanism in above-mentioned correlation technique.

According to an aspect of the present invention, provide the system of selection of a kind of PCRF, comprised the following steps: DRA is received as the subscriber group information of this user's group of the PCRF transmission that in user's group, first user is served; DRA, according to the address information of this subscriber group information and above-mentioned PCRF, selects above-mentioned PCRF for this user organizes other interior users.

Preferably, before DRA receives the above-mentioned subscriber group information of PCRF transmission, the method also comprises: PCRF directly sends to DRA by above-mentioned subscriber group information, perhaps PCRF sends to PCEF by above-mentioned subscriber group information, by this PCEF, above-mentioned subscriber group information is sent to DRA, wherein, above-mentioned subscriber group information comprises that the user organizes the user ID of all members in sign and user's group.

Preferably, before PCRF sends to DRA by above-mentioned subscriber group information, the method also comprises: PCRF obtains the subscriber group information of this user's group according to the user ID of first user from SPR.

Preferably, DRA is before for this user, other users in organizing select above-mentioned PCRF, and the method also comprises: the address information of self that DRA receives that PCRF sends.

Preferably, after the subscriber group information of this user's group that DRA reception PCRF sends, the method also comprises: DRA sets up the corresponding relation of the address information of this subscriber group information and above-mentioned PCRF.

Preferably, above-mentioned first user is DRA while setting up above-mentioned corresponding relation first, the user that PCRF serves.

Preferably, DRA selects PCRF to comprise for this user organizes other interior users: DRA is judged as the PCRF of above-mentioned first user selection and is that in the affiliated user of above-mentioned first user organizes, whether the PCRF of other users' selections is identical; If not identical, DRA notice PCEF carries out the PCRF selection for this user organizes other interior users again, and wherein, the PCRF reselected is the PCRF for above-mentioned first user service, is included as the address information of the PCRF of above-mentioned first user service in this notice.

Preferably, DRA notice PCEF is after for this user, other users in organizing carry out the PCRF selection again, and the method also comprises: PCEF stops the IP-CAN session with former PCRF, and sets up and serve the IP-CAN session between the PCRF of above-mentioned first user.

Preferably, DRA is after for this user, other users in organizing select PCRF, and the method also comprises: according to the signing consumption information of this user's group, for this user, the user in organizing commences business and carries out consumption and monitor decision-making PCRF, and issues user monitoring to PCEF.

According to a further aspect in the invention, provide the choice device of a kind of PCRF, be positioned at DRA, this device comprises: receiver module, the subscriber group information of this user's group sent for the PCRF that is received as the service of user's group first user; And the selection module, for this subscriber group information of receiving according to receiver module and the address information of above-mentioned PCRF, other users for this user in organizing select above-mentioned PCRF.

Preferably, this device also comprises: set up module, for the corresponding relation of the address information of setting up above-mentioned subscriber group information and above-mentioned PCRF.

Preferably, this device also comprises: whether judge module is identical with the PCRF that organizes interior other users' selections for this user for the PCRF that is judged as above-mentioned first user selection; And processing module, for in the situation that judge module be judged as PCRF that above-mentioned first user selects and organize for user under above-mentioned first user in the PCRF of other users' selections not identical, notice PCEF carries out the PCRF selection for this user organizes other interior users again, wherein, the PCRF reselected is the PCRF for above-mentioned first user service, is included as the address information of the PCRF of above-mentioned first user service in this notice.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, the selective system of a kind of PCRF also is provided, comprise the DRA that the choice device of PCRF, SPR and above-mentioned PCRF is positioned at, wherein, PCRF comprises: obtain forwarding module, for obtain the subscriber group information of the user's group under first user from SPR, and this subscriber group information is sent to DRA; SPR comprises: inquiry issues module, for the instruction according to PCRF, inquires about and issue this subscriber group information.

By the present invention, adopting DRA is the mode that the user that belongs to same user's group selects identical PCRF, solve consumption monitoring mechanism in the correlation technique and can't realize the problem of the consumption monitoring demand that the domestic consumer organizes, guaranteed to select a unified PCRF to carry out the consumption of users, manage user groups for the user organizes interior user, improved the operability of system.

The accompanying drawing explanation

Accompanying drawing described herein is used to provide a further understanding of the present invention, forms the application's a part, and schematic description and description of the present invention the present invention does not form inappropriate limitation of the present invention for explaining.In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is the 3GPP PCC configuration diagram according to correlation technique;

Fig. 2 is the schematic diagram according to the consumption monitoring realization flow of correlation technique;

Fig. 3 is the flow chart according to the system of selection of the PCRF of the embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 4 is the structural representation according to the choice device of the PCRF of the embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 5 is the structural representation of the choice device of PCRF according to the preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 6 is the structural representation according to the selective system of the PCRF of the embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 7 is the schematic flow sheet of the selection PCRF of the embodiment of the present invention two;

Fig. 8 is the schematic diagram of the user signing contract information of the embodiment of the present invention two;

Fig. 9 is the schematic diagram that the user of the embodiment of the present invention two organizes CAMEL-Subscription-Information;

Figure 10 is the schematic flow sheet of the selection PCRF of the embodiment of the present invention three;

Figure 11 is the schematic flow sheet of the selection PCRF of the embodiment of the present invention four;

Figure 12 is that the PCRF of the embodiment of the present invention five carries out the schematic flow sheet of consumption monitoring to user's group.

Embodiment

Hereinafter with reference to accompanying drawing, also describe the present invention in detail in conjunction with the embodiments.It should be noted that, in the situation that do not conflict, embodiment and the feature in embodiment in the application can combine mutually.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, provide the system of selection of a kind of PCRF.Fig. 3 is the flow chart according to the system of selection of the PCRF of the embodiment of the present invention, and as shown in Figure 3, the method comprises the following steps:

Step S302, DRA is received as the subscriber group information of this user's group of the PCRF transmission that in user's group, first user is served;

Step S304, DRA is according to the address information of this subscriber group information and above-mentioned PCRF, for this user organizes the PCRF that other interior users select the first class services user.

Pass through above-mentioned steps, adopting DRA is the mode that the user that belongs to same user's group selects identical PCRF, solve consumption monitoring mechanism in the correlation technique and can't realize the problem of the consumption monitoring demand that the domestic consumer organizes, guaranteed to select a unified PCRF to carry out the consumption of users, manage user groups for the user organizes interior user, improved the operability of system.

For example, when DRA receives user's IP connected reference network (IP-Connectivity Access Network, referred to as IP-CAN) session establishment request, DRA need to select a PCRF to be served.In implementation process, mode one, DRA can obtain the subscriber group information at this user place, determine that in user's group at this user place, existing member has selected PCRF, and DRA selects this PCRF to send this user's IP-CAN session establishment request; In mode two, user's group, select first the user of PCRF after selecting PCRF, set up the corresponding relation of this user's group and this PCRF in DRA, according to this corresponding relation, for this user organizes, interior other users select to organize corresponding PCRF with this user DRA.That is, DRA is that the user who belongs to same user's group selects identical PCRF.The method can guarantee that DRA is when the user's who receives same user's group IP-CAN session establishment request, and the user who organizes for same user selects one PCRF, makes PCRF become possibility to the consumption monitoring of user's group.

In implementation process, the user that DRA can obtain by the PCRF for first user service in user's group under first user from SPR organizes sign.Particularly, two kinds of methods can also be arranged: after (1) this PCRF obtains user under first user and organizes sign from SPR, the subscriber group information of the user being organized to the sign indication directly sends to DRA; (2) after this PCRF obtains user under first user and organizes sign from SPR, the subscriber group information of the user being organized to the sign indication sends to the PCEF corresponding with first user, by this PCEF, this subscriber group information is transferred to DRA.Wherein, above-mentioned subscriber group information can comprise that the user organizes the user ID of all members in sign and this user's group.

Preferably, before PCRF sends to DRA by subscriber group information, PCRF obtains the subscriber group information of user's group according to the user ID of first user from SPR.For example, DRA is returned as the address information of the PCRF of first user selection to the PCEF corresponding with first user; After PCEF receives the address information of PCRF, the PCRF indicated by the address information of PCRF obtains the subscriber group information under first user from SPR, and subscriber group information is sent to DRA.

Preferably, after step S302, DRA sets up the corresponding relation of subscriber group information and PCRF address information.In implementation process, above-mentioned first user is DRA while setting up first this corresponding relation, the user that PCRF serves.For example, the user organizes the corresponding relation of sign and PCRF address, wherein, and the equal corresponding one PCRF of all members in user's group.

Preferably, before step S304, DRA receives outside the subscriber group information that PCRF sends, self the address information that also receives that PCRF sends.

In addition, in step S304, whether DRA can also be judged as PRCF that first user selects identical with the PRCF of second user's selection for belonging to same user's group; If not identical, DRA notice PCEF is that the second user selects the PCRF identical with first user again, is included as the address information of the PCRF of first user service in this notice.For example, the PCRF that DRA is the first user service is PCRF1, and DRA also selects PCRF1 to be served for the second user with first user ownership same subscriber group.If, before judgement, PCEF is that the second user selects PCRF2,, after the judgement difference, PCEF stops and former PCRF(PCRF2) the IP-CAN session, and the IP-CAN session between foundation and PCRF1.Can guarantee further that like this DRA is that the user who belongs to same user's group selects identical PCRF to be served.

Preferably, after step S304, according to the signing consumption information of user group, for the user, the user in organizing commences business and carries out consumption and monitor decision-making PCRF, and issues user monitoring to PCEF.By this preferred embodiment, the signing consumption that PCRF can users, manage user groups, thus realized the consumption monitoring demand to user's group.

Corresponding to said method, the embodiment of the present invention also provides the choice device of a kind of PCRF.Fig. 4 is the structural representation according to the choice device of the PCRF of the embodiment of the present invention, and as shown in Figure 4, this device is positioned at DRA, comprising: receiver module 42, the subscriber group information of this user's group sent for the PCRF that is received as the service of user's group first user; And select module 44, and be coupled to receiver module 42, for this subscriber group information of receiving according to receiver module 42 and the address information of above-mentioned PCRF, other users for this user in organizing select above-mentioned PCRF to be served.

Pass through said apparatus, select module 44 to select identical PCRF for the user who belongs to same user's group, solve consumption monitoring mechanism in the correlation technique and can't realize the problem of the consumption monitoring demand that the domestic consumer organizes, guaranteed to select a unified PCRF to carry out the consumption of users, manage user groups for the user organizes interior user, improved the operability of system.

Fig. 5 is the structural representation of the choice device of PCRF according to the preferred embodiment of the invention, and as shown in Figure 5, this device also comprises: set up module 52, for setting up the corresponding relation of the address information of subscriber group information and above-mentioned PCRF under first user.Also, after in user's group, first user is determined the PCRF of its selection, DRA is established as the corresponding relation of the affiliated user's group of first user and the selected PCRF of first user, so that in this user's group, other users select the PCRF identical with first user to be served.

Preferably, this device also comprises: judge module 54, and be coupled to and set up module 52, whether identical with the PCRF that organizes interior other users' selections for the user for the PCRF that is judged as the first user selection; And processing module 56, be coupled to judge module 54 and select module 44, for in the situation that judge module 54 be judged as PCRF that first user selects and organize for the user in the PCRF of other users' selections not identical, notice PCEF carries out the PCRF selection for the user organizes other interior users again, wherein, the PCRF reselected is the PCRF for the first user service, is included as the address information of the PCRF of first user service in this notice.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, also provide the selective system of a kind of PCRF.Fig. 6 is the structural representation according to the selective system of the PCRF of the embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Figure 6, this system comprises the residing DRA66 of the choice device of PCRF62, SPR64 and above-mentioned PCRF, wherein, PCRF62 comprises: obtain forwarding module 622, be coupled to receiver module 42 and select module 44, for obtain the subscriber group information of the user's group under first user from SPR64, and this subscriber group information is sent to DRA66; SPR64 comprises: inquiry issues module 642, is coupled to and obtains forwarding module 622, for the instruction according to PCRF62, inquires about and issue this subscriber group information.

Implementation procedure below in conjunction with preferred embodiments and drawings to above-described embodiment is elaborated.

Embodiment mono-

Because consumption monitoring decision-making realizes on PCRF, realize the consumption monitoring to user's group, need to be by the signing consumption of PCRF users, manage user groups.Yet when DRA is chosen as the PCRF of user's access service according to user ID etc., different user access networks, may select different PCRF for its service, can't utilize so existing consumption monitoring mechanism to realize the consumption monitoring demand to above-mentioned user's group.So for the consumption monitoring demand of the user's group to sharing signing consumption, the present embodiment has provided a kind of PCRF system of selection, to realize the user, organizes the problem of consumption monitoring.

In implementation process, the PCEF system of selection of the present embodiment can comprise the steps:

Step 1, for the PCRF of first user access service in user's group sends the subscriber group information under this user to Diameter route agent (Diameter Routing Agent, referred to as DRA).Wherein, the first user here is DRA while setting up first subscriber group information and PCRF information corresponding relation, the user that PCRF serves.

Wherein, subscriber group information at least comprises: the user organizes sign, and the user organizes all users' that comprise user ID.Subscriber group information can directly send to DRA by PCRF, or PCRF sends to DRA by PCEF.

Preferably, before step 1, DRA sets up the user ID of described first user and the corresponding relation of PCRF address.And, before step 1, PCRF also obtains from SPR the user that described first user is corresponding and organizes CAMEL-Subscription-Information, this user organizes CAMEL-Subscription-Information and comprises outside subscriber group information, at least also comprises that the user organizes signing consumption.PCRF sends outside subscriber group information to DRA, optionally also comprises that described PCRF sends the address information of described PCRF to DRA.

Preferably, after step 1, set up the corresponding relation of subscriber group information and PCRF address information on DRA.

Step 2, according to the corresponding relation of described subscriber group information and PCRF address, DRA selects PCRF for the access that the user organizes other interior users.

After step 2, PCRF organizes signing consumption according to the user, and for the user, the user in organizing commences business and carries out consumption and monitor decision-making.

Embodiment bis-

User's group in the present embodiment consists of user-1 and user-2, and the signing consumption of sharing users group.How in the present embodiment, provided when user-1 and user-2 are linked into network or initiation and set up PDN and be connected, be user-1 and user-2, by proxy DRA(, acts on behalf of DRA) choose the process of identical PCRF.

Fig. 7 is the schematic flow sheet of the selection PCRF of the embodiment of the present invention two, and as shown in Figure 7, this flow process comprises the steps:

Step S701, the user-1 in the user organizes is attached to network or initiates PDN and connects the request of foundation, supposes that (for example, APN) choose PCEF-1, described request is initiated to PCEF-1 in user-1 according to the information comprised in request message.

Step S702, after PCEF-1 receives described request, send the request of IP-CAN session establishment to DRA, comprises the sign (subscriber-1id) of user-1 in this request message.

Step S703, DRA is chosen as the PCRF of this user's access service according to subscriber-1id.DRA sets up the corresponding relation of subscriber-1 id and PCRF information (for example, the address of PCRF).

Step S704, DRA is transmitted to PCRF by described IP-CAN session establishment request message.

Step S705, PCRF obtains the CAMEL-Subscription-Information of user-1 from SPR according to the subscriber-1 id in request message, SPR is present in user's group according to subscriber-1 id judgement user-1 simultaneously, and SPR organizes CAMEL-Subscription-Information by corresponding user and returns in the lump PCRF.

Fig. 8 is the schematic diagram of the user signing contract information of the embodiment of the present invention two, and as shown in Figure 8, user signing contract information at least comprises that user ID (subscriber id) and user organize sign (group id).Fig. 9 is the schematic diagram that the user of the embodiment of the present invention two organizes CAMEL-Subscription-Information, and as shown in Figure 9, the user organizes CAMEL-Subscription-Information and at least comprises that the user organizes sign (group id), user group membership sign (subscriber id) and signing consumption etc.

PCRF is that the IP-CAN session is set up in user-1, and return to the response of IP-CAN session establishment success, to comprise in this response message that (user organizes sign group id and user group membership sign to subscriber group information, for example, user-1 sign subscirber-1 id and user-2 sign subscriber-2 id), described information will feed back to DRA, so that DRA guarantees to choose identical PCRF for the subsequent user of described user's group, can realize by following two kinds of processes (case-1 and case-2):

(1) situation one (Case-1) process:

Step S706a, PCRF is that the IP-CAN session is set up in user-1, and return to the response message of IP-CAN session establishment success, this response message comprises subscriber group information, wherein, subscriber group information at least comprises that the user organizes sign (group id) and user group membership sign (comprising user-1 sign subscriber-1 id and user-2 sign subscriber-2 id).

Step S707a, above-mentioned IP-CAN session establishment response message is through DRA, DRA obtains subscriber group information (group id, subscriber-1id, subscriber-2id), because step S703 has set up the corresponding relation of subscriber-1 and PCRF information, therefore, here DRA sets up the corresponding relation of subscriber group information (group id, subscriber-1id, subscriber-2id) and PCRF information in conjunction with this two-part information.

It should be noted that, above-mentioned steps S706a and step S707a can be also: in step S706a, PCRF, in the IP-CAN session establishment response message returned, directly comprises subscriber group information and PCRF information (for example, PCRF address) in step S706; In step S707a, DRA directly sets up and preserves the corresponding relation of subscriber group information and PCRF information.

Step S708a, DRA returns to PCEF-1 by above-mentioned IP-CAN session establishment response message.User-1 completes the process of network attachment or PDN connection.

(2) situation two (Case-2) process

Step S706b, PCRF returns to IP-CAN session establishment response message to PCEF-1, and this response message comprises subscriber group information (group id, subscriber-1id, subscriber-2id).Optionally, can comprise PCRF information in response message.

Step S707b, PCEF-1 sends to DRA by above-mentioned subscriber group information after receiving described IP-CAN session establishment response message.If step S706b has PCRF information, PCEF-1 also sends to DRA by PCRF information.

Step S708b, according to the corresponding relation of subsriber-1id in step S703 and PCRF information, and the subscriber group information of step S707b reception, DRA sets up subscriber group information (group id, subscriber-1 id, subscriber-2 id) and the corresponding relation of PCRF information.If step S707b has also sent PCRF information, DRA directly sets up the corresponding relation of subscriber group information and PCRF information.

Step S709-S715 is attached to network or initiates the process that PDN connects foundation for described user organizes interior user-2:

Step S709, user-2 access network, select PCEF-2 to initiate to adhere to request or PDN connects the request of foundation, and this request message comprises user-2 sign (subscriber-2 id).

Step S710, PCEF-2 sends IP-CAN session-2 to DRA and sets up request, and this request message comprises subscriber-2id.

Step S711, DRA, according to subscriber-2 id and step S707a or the subscriber group information of step S708b foundation and the corresponding relation of PCRF information, is that user-2 selects described PCRF.

Step S712, DRA initiates IP-CAN session-2 to PCRF and sets up request.

Step S713, PCRF obtains the CAMEL-Subscription-Information of user-2 from SPR according to subscriber-2 id.PCRF or SPR walk according to subscriber-2 id and step S705 the subscriber group information transmitted, user-2 corresponding to judgement subscriber-2 id belongs to described user's group, but subscriber group information has sent to PCRF, therefore, can send again described subscriber group information in this step.

Step S714, PCRF is that IP-CAN session-2 are set up in user-2, and returns to IP-CAN session-2 to PCEF-2 and set up response.

It should be noted that, if in step S713, SPR also sends to PCRF by described subscriber group information, PCRF also can send to DRA by the described subscriber group information in step S706a or step S706b, perhaps by PCEF-2, send to DRA(as shown in step S715), its process of transmitting corresponding process of transmitting (process that case-1 or case-2 describe) during with reference to user-1 access network.If step S713 does not send to PCRF by described subscriber group information, the process of to DRA, again upgrading subscriber group information can be omitted.

Embodiment tri-

Scene and embodiment bis-that embodiment tri-describes are basic identical, and difference is by redirect DRA (being redirected DRA) as choosing identical PCRF in user-1 and user-2.Figure 10 is the schematic flow sheet of the selection PCRF of the embodiment of the present invention three, and as shown in figure 10, this flow process comprises the steps:

Step S1001, the user-1 in the user organizes is attached to network or initiates PDN and connects the request of foundation.(for example, APN) choose PCEF-1, described request is initiated to PCEF-1 in user-1 to the information of supposing to comprise according to request message.

Step S1002, after PCEF-1 receives described request, send the request of IP-CAN session establishment to DRA, and this request message comprises the sign (subscriber-1 id) of user-1.

Step S1003, DRA is chosen as the PCRF of described user's access service according to subscriber-1 id.DRA sets up the corresponding relation of subscriber-1 id and PCRF information (for example, the address of PCRF).

Step S1004, DRA returns to described PCRF address information to PCEF-1.

Step S1005, the PCRF address information that PCEF-1 returns according to DRA, send the request of IP-CAN session establishment to PCRF, and this request message comprises subscriber-1 id.

Step S1006, PCRF obtains the CAMEL-Subscription-Information of user-1 from SPR according to the subscriber-1 id in request message, SPR is present in user's group according to subscriber-1 id judgement user-1 simultaneously, and SPR organizes CAMEL-Subscription-Information by corresponding user and returns in the lump described PCRF.Wherein, user signing contract information as shown in Figure 8, at least comprises that user ID (subscriber id) and user organize sign (group id); The user organizes CAMEL-Subscription-Information and at least comprises that the user organizes sign (group id), user group membership sign (subscriber id) and signing consumption etc.

Step S1007, PCRF is that the IP-CAN session is set up in user-1, and return to the response message of IP-CAN session establishment success, this response message comprises subscriber group information, at least comprises that the user organizes sign (group id) and user group membership sign (comprising user-1 sign subscriber-1 id and user-2 sign subscriber-2 id).Optionally, subscriber group information also comprises the PCRF address information.

Step S1008, PCEF-1 sends to DRA by described subscriber group information after receiving described IP-CAN session establishment response message, if PCRF information is arranged in step S1007, PCEF-1 also sends to DRA by this PCRF information.

Step S1009, corresponding relation according to subsriber-1 id in step S503 and PCRF information, and the subscriber group information of step S1008 reception, DRA sets up subscriber group information (group id, subscriber-1id, subscriber-2id) and the corresponding relation of PCRF information, if step S1008 has also sent PCRF information, DRA directly sets up the corresponding relation of subscriber group information and PCRF information.

Step S1010-S1016 is attached to network or initiates the process that PDN connects foundation for the user organizes interior user-2:

Step S1010, user-2 access network, select PCEF-2 to initiate to adhere to request or PDN connects the request of foundation, and this request message comprises user-2 sign (subscriber-2id).

Step S1011, PCEF-2 sends IP-CAN session-2 to DRA and sets up request, and this request message comprises subscriber-2id.

Step S1012, DRA, according to subscriber-2id and the subscriber group information of step S1009 foundation and the corresponding relation of PCRF information, is that user-2 selects described PCRF.

Step S1013, DRA will return to PCEF-2 for the PCRF address information that user-2 selects.

Step S1014, PCEF-2 sends IP-CAN session-2 according to the PCRF address information to PCRF and sets up request, comprises subscriber-2 id in this request message.

Step S1015, PCRF obtains the CAMEL-Subscription-Information of user-2 from SPR according to subscriber-2 id.The subscriber group information that PCRF or SPR transmitted according to subscriber-2 id and step S1006, user-2 corresponding to judgement subscriber-2 id belongs to described user's group, but subscriber group information has sent to described PCRF, therefore in this step, can send again described subscriber group information.

Step S1016, PCRF is that IP-CAN session-2 are set up in user-2, and returns to IP-CAN session-2 to PCEF-2 and set up response.

It should be noted that, if in step S1015, SPR also sends to described PCRF by described subscriber group information, PCRF also can send to DRA(as shown in step S1017 by PCEF-2 by subscriber group information in step S1007), its process of transmitting corresponding process of transmitting (process that step S1007 and step S1008 describe) during with reference to user-1 access network.If step S1015 does not send to PCRF by described subscriber group information, the process of to DRA, again upgrading subscriber group information can be omitted.

Embodiment tetra-

Scene and embodiment bis-that embodiment tetra-describes are basic identical, difference is in the flow process of user-1 access network, if DRA does not also set up the corresponding relation of subscriber group information and PCRF information, now the user organizes interior user-2 and has initiated the flow process of access network, now, how to guarantee to choose for user-1 and user-2 process of same PCRF.

Figure 11 is the schematic flow sheet of the selection PCRF of the embodiment of the present invention four, and as shown in figure 11, this flow process comprises the steps:

The process of step S1101-S1105 is identical with step S701-S705 in embodiment bis-no longer to be repeated in this description here.

The flow process that step S1106-S1111 is user-2 access network in described user organizes, in its flow process generating process, DRA does not also set up the corresponding relation of user's group and PCRF-1 address, and the process that Case-1 or Case-2 describe does not also complete.

Step S1106, network attachment or PDN connection request are initiated to PCEF-2 in user-2.

Step S1107, PCEF-2 initiates IP-CAN session-2 to DRA and sets up request, and this request message comprises subscriber-2id.

Step S1108, owing to there is no subscriber group information that subscriber-2 id is corresponding and the corresponding relation of PCRF address on DRA now, now, DRA is that PCRF-2 is chosen in user-2 according to subscriber-2 id, sets up the corresponding relation of subscriber-2 id and PCRF-2 address.

Step S1109, DRA sets up request message by described IP-CAN session-2 and sends to PCRF-2.

Step S1110, the subscriber-2 id obtained according to PCRF-2 in step S1109, obtain the CAMEL-Subscription-Information of user-2 to SPR, and the user organizes CAMEL-Subscription-Information.

Step S1111, PCRF-2 returns to PCEF-2 the response that IP-CAN session-2 are successfully established.

Process and step S1104 correspondence that Case-1 and Case-2 describe, for returning to IP-CAN session-1, PCRF-1 sets up response, and to upper subscriber group information (group id, the subscriber-1id of upgrading of DRA, subscriber-2id) process, the process of correspondence in its process reference example two.

Step S1115, the subscriber group information of receiving according to step S1113a or step S1114b that set up with corresponding relation PCRF, i.e. (group id, subscriber-1id, subscriber-2id) and the corresponding relation of PCRF-1 address, and the subscriber-2 id of step S1108 foundation and the corresponding relation of PCRF-2 address, that DRA is judged as that user-2 under group-id selects is PCRF-2, do not choose in the PCRF-1 that group id is corresponding, DRA is that the user that subscriber-2 is corresponding-2 selects PCRF-1 again.

Step S1116, DRA returns to the address of PCRF-1 to PCEF-2, require PCEF-2 to stop the IP-CAN session-2 of setting up for user-2 access network before this, re-establishes the IP-CAN session.

Step S1117, after receiving described message, PCEF-2 is initiated to the termination of the IP-CAN session-2 of PCRF-2.

Step S1118, PCEF-2 is initiated to the process of establishing of the IP-CAN session-2 ' of PCRF-1 again according to the address of PCRF-1.

Embodiment five

The present embodiment is the process of consumption monitoring that user's group is carried out, and the flow process that the embodiment of front of take describes is basis.When the flow process that the embodiment of front describes has realized organizing interior all user access networks for the user, all select identical PCRF for its access service, the present embodiment is by the signing consumption of PCRF users, manage user groups, for described user's group is carried out the consumption monitoring.

Figure 12 is that the PCRF of the embodiment of the present invention five carries out the schematic flow sheet of consumption monitoring to user's group, and as shown in figure 12, this flow process comprises the steps:

Step S1201, commence business in user-1

Step S1202, AF is handed down to PCRF by service negotiation information.

Step S1203, for example, according to this service negotiation information and other information (, carrier policy etc.), PCRF is that described business is carried out strategic decision-making, comprises and produces QoS and charging control strategy.It is that the described business that described user carries out is carried out consumption monitoring decision-making that the user that the PCRF simultaneously described according to front embodiment obtains from SPR organizes CAMEL-Subscription-Information (comprising signing consumption) PCRF, be included as described traffic flow assignment monitoring key, and to organize available signing consumption according to the user be described monitoring key allocation threshold (threshold-1).

Step S1204, PCRF is handed down to PCEF-1 by control strategy and consumption monitoring.

Step S1205, the information issued according to PCRF, PCEF-1 starts the consumption monitoring.

Step S1206, when the accumulative total consumption reaches the threshold-1 of PCRF distribution, PCEF-1 reports the accumulative total consumption, and PCRF can redistribute new threshold value according to reported result and continue implementing monitoring, or stops the consumption monitoring.

Step S1207, the user-2 in the user organizes commences business.

Step S1208, AF is handed down to PCRF by service negotiation information.

Step S1209, PCRF carries out strategic decision-making, carries out consumption monitoring decision-making simultaneously, is described traffic assignments monitoring key-2, according to the available signing consumption of user's group, is described monitoring key allocation threshold (threshold-2) simultaneously.

Step S1210, PCRF is handed down to PCEF-2 by control strategy and consumption monitoring

Step S1211, the described initiation of services consumption monitoring that PCEF-2 carries out user-2 according to the information issued.

Step S1212, when the accumulative total consumption reaches threshold-2, PCEF-2 carries out the consumption supervision and reporting, and PCRF carries out accordingly consumption and is distributing, or stops the consumption monitoring.About consumption monitoring decision-making, the process that issues and report can, with reference to existing consumption monitoring realization mechanism, no longer be described in detail fully.

In sum, the embodiment of the present invention provides the selection scheme of a kind of PCRF, adopting DRA is the mode that identical PCRF is selected in the IP-CAN session establishment request that belongs to the user of same user's group, guaranteed to choose same PCRF for the user organizes interior user, realized the user is organized the demand of consumption monitoring.

Obviously, those skilled in the art should be understood that, above-mentioned each module of the present invention or each step can realize with general calculation element, they can concentrate on single calculation element, perhaps be distributed on the network that a plurality of calculation elements form, alternatively, they can be realized with the executable program code of calculation element, thereby they can be stored in storage device and be carried out by calculation element, perhaps they are made into respectively to each integrated circuit modules, perhaps a plurality of modules in them or step being made into to the single integrated circuit module realizes.Like this, the present invention is not restricted to any specific hardware and software combination.

The foregoing is only the preferred embodiments of the present invention, be not limited to the present invention, for a person skilled in the art, the present invention can have various modifications and variations.Within the spirit and principles in the present invention all, any modification of doing, be equal to replacement, improvement etc., within all should being included in protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. the system of selection of a "Policy and Charging Rules Function PCRF, is characterized in that, comprises the following steps:

The DRA of Diameter route agent is received as the subscriber group information of described user's group of the PCRF transmission that in user's group, first user is served;

Described DRA, according to the address information of described subscriber group information and described PCRF, selects described PCRF for described user organizes other interior users.

2. method according to claim 1, is characterized in that, described DRA also comprises before receiving the described subscriber group information of described PCRF transmission:

Described PCRF directly sends to described DRA by described subscriber group information, perhaps described PCRF sends to strategy and charge execution function PCEF by described subscriber group information, by this PCEF, described subscriber group information is sent to described DRA, wherein, described subscriber group information comprises that described user organizes the user ID of all members in sign and described user's group.

3. method according to claim 2, is characterized in that, described PCRF also comprises before described subscriber group information is sent to described DRA:

Described PCRF obtains the subscriber group information of described user's group according to the user ID of described first user from user-subscribed database SPR.

4. method according to claim 1, is characterized in that, described DRA, before other users in described user organizes select described PCRF, also comprises:

Described DRA receives the address information of the described PCRF of described PCRF transmission.

5. method according to claim 1, is characterized in that, described DRA also comprises after receiving the subscriber group information of described user's group that described PCRF sends:

Described DRA sets up the corresponding relation of the address information of described subscriber group information and described PCRF.

6. method according to claim 5, is characterized in that, described first user is described DRA while setting up described corresponding relation first, the user that described PCRF serves.

7. according to the described method of any one in claim 1 to 6, it is characterized in that, described DRA is that other users in described user organizes select described PCRF to comprise:

Whether the PCRF that in described DRA is judged as the PCRF of described first user selection and organizes for described user, other users select is identical;

If it is not identical, described DRA notification strategy and charge execution function PCEF carry out the PCRF selection for described user organizes other interior users again, wherein, the PCRF reselected is the PCRF for described first user service, is included as the address information of the PCRF of described first user service in described notice.

8. method according to claim 7, is characterized in that, after described DRA notifies described PCEF other users in organizing carry out the PCRF selection for described user again, also comprises:

Described PCEF stops the IP connected reference network IP-CAN session with former PCRF, and the IP-CAN session between the PCRF of foundation and the described first user of service.

9. method according to claim 1, is characterized in that, described DRA, after other users in described user organizes select described PCRF, also comprises:

Described PCRF is that user in described user organizes commences business and carries out consumption monitoring decision-making according to the signing consumption information of described user group, and issues user monitoring to strategy and charge execution function PCEF.

10. the choice device of a "Policy and Charging Rules Function PCRF, be positioned at the DRA of Diameter route agent, it is characterized in that, comprising:

Receiver module, the subscriber group information of the described user's group sent for the PCRF that is received as the service of user's group first user; And

Select module, for the described subscriber group information that receives according to described receiver module and the address information of described PCRF, other users for described user in organizing select described PCRF.

11. choice device according to claim 10, is characterized in that, also comprises:

Set up module, for the corresponding relation of the address information of setting up described subscriber group information and described PCRF.

12. choice device according to claim 10, is characterized in that, also comprises:

Whether judge module is identical with the PCRF that organizes interior other users' selections for described user for the PCRF that is judged as described first user selection; And

Processing module, for in the situation that described judge module be judged as PCRF that described first user selects and organize for described user in the PCRF of other users' selections not identical, notification strategy and charge execution function PCEF carry out the PCRF selection for described user organizes other interior users again, wherein, the PCRF reselected is the PCRF for described first user service, is included as the address information of the PCRF of described first user service in described notice.

13. the selective system of a "Policy and Charging Rules Function PCRF, is characterized in that, comprises the described DRA of any one in PCRF, user-subscribed database SPR and claim 10 to 12, wherein,

Described PCRF comprises: obtain forwarding module, for obtain the subscriber group information of the user's group under described first user from described SPR, and described subscriber group information is sent to described DRA;

Described SPR comprises: inquiry issues module, for the instruction according to described PCRF, inquires about and issue described subscriber group information.