WO2010135931A1

WO2010135931A1 - Method and system for enabling making service charging policy

Info

Publication number: WO2010135931A1
Application number: PCT/CN2010/071472
Authority: WO
Inventors: 吴锦花; 芮通; 周晓云; 宗在峰
Original assignee: 中兴通讯股份有限公司
Priority date: 2009-05-26
Filing date: 2010-03-31
Publication date: 2010-12-02
Also published as: CN101729978B; CN101729978A

Abstract

A method and a system for enabling making service charging policy are disclosed, which relate to policy and charging enforcement function (PCEF) entity, policy and charging rules function (PCRF) entity and subscription profile repository (SPR). The method includes: SPR saves the subscription information based on the different locations of the user equipment (UE) service in advance, and the subscription information based on the different locations of the UE service includes the location information, QoS information and charging information; PCRF determines policy and charging control (PCC) policy according to the subscription information based on the different locations of the UE service. In the present invention, as the subscription information based on the different locations of the user service is saved in SPR, PCRF can choose the different subscription information for the different locations of the user in different service proceeding process, and make corresponding PCC policy accordingly, thereby, the meticulous charging of the service can be enabled.

Description

Method and system for realizing business charging strategy

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a Policy and Charging Control (PCC) technology for a communication system, and more particularly to a method and system for implementing a PCC policy.

Background technique

The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) evolved Evolved Packet System (EPS) from the Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN) , Mobility Management Entity (MME), Serving Gateway (S-GW), Packet Data Network Gateway (P-GW or PDN GW), Home Subscriber Server (HSS) ), 3GPP's Authentication 4 (Authorization, Authorization and Accounting, AAA), Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) entity and other supporting nodes. Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the above EPS architecture.

The PCC system is part of the EPS architecture. The functional entities of the PCC system in the EPS architecture can be distributed as follows: The PCRF is the policy and charging rule function entity; the Policy and Charging Enforcement Function (PCEF) entity exists in In the P-GW, the bearer binding and event reporting function (BBERF) entity may exist in the S-GW, and the application function (AF) entity of the service exists in the network protocol provided by the operator. (Internet Protocol, IP) service network, User Profile (Repository Profile Repository, SPR) can be integrated with HSS. In 3GPP, the corresponding PDN network can be found by Access Point Name (APN). A connection between a UE and a PDN network is usually referred to as an IP Connectivity Access Network (IP-CAN) session.

The PCC system architecture is shown in Figure 2. It is applicable to all 3GPP IP-CAN sessions. The PCRF is mainly responsible for the formulation of the PCC policy. The PCC policy is issued to the PC through the Gx interface. PCEF; PCEF installs and executes the PCC policy, and reports information about the bearer related events to the PCRF, and exchanges billing information with the billing system (online/offline).

The PCRF sends the service quality of service (QoS) rules to the BBERF through the Gxx interface. The BBERF is responsible for reporting the bearer binding and related events to the PCRF. The AF provides service information to the PCRF through the Rx interface. The SPR saves the service information subscribed by the user. The PCRF can query the SPR for the service information subscribed by the user through the Sp interface. The PCEF sends the online charging information to the Online Charging System (OCS) through the Gy interface, and is responsible for the online charging statistics. The offline charging information is sent to the offline charging system through the Gz interface (Offline Charging System, OFCS). Currently, in the PCC architecture, the PCRF can dynamically send PCC policy information to the PCEF, where the policy information includes information about QoS (including QoS rules and QoS information) policies and charging policies. The PCRF formulates a PCC policy based on the service-related information provided by the AF, the bearer-related information reported by the PCEF, and the service information subscribed by the user in the SPR. The PCC policy refers to a related strategy for charging control, gating, and QoS control based on business information such as user contracted information. For example, the PCRF can deliver the corresponding QoS policy according to different service requirements. The PCRF can limit the services of certain services according to the service information subscribed by the user. The PCRF delivers different charging policies for services that provide different QoS policies. Meet the specific operational needs of operators for different types of contracted services for different users. Different accounting policies are provided for different QoS policies, such as services that give bandwidth resource guarantees during prime time or in certain areas, or users charge extra VIP fees, etc., all of which involve the formulation of PCC policies. In the existing network, the HSS only stores the user-level location information (that is, the location information that is not for the service), and the SPR does not yet have the subscriber's location information about various services. Therefore, when the PCRF makes a policy decision for a certain service of the user, since the location information of the service of the subscription user cannot be known, the corresponding PCC policy cannot be formulated for different location information of the service, so that the service cannot be different. Refined billing for location.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a method for implementing a business charging strategy and The system is capable of fine-grained billing of services. In order to solve the above technical problem, the present invention provides a method for implementing a service charging policy, which involves a Policy and Charging Enforcement Function (PCEF) entity, a Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) entity, and a User Contracting Database (SPR). The method includes: the SPR pre-saves the location-based subscription information of the user equipment (UE) service, where the location-based subscription information of the UE service includes location information, quality of service QoS information, and charging information;

The PCRF entity determines a Policy and Charging Control (PCC) policy based on the location-based subscription information of the UE service. The method further includes: after determining the PCC policy, the PCRF sends the determined PCC policy to the determined

PCEF. The steps to determine the PCC strategy include:

The PCRF entity receives the creation information of the UE service reported by the PCEF entity, and obtains the subscription information of the UE service based on different locations from the SPR according to the information of the UE and the service information in the creation information, and saves the subscription information based on different locations. Obtaining subscription information for the location information of the current UE; or, the PCRF entity receives the creation information of the UE service reported by the PCEF entity, and obtains the information from the SPR according to the information of the UE and the information of the service in the creation information and the current location information of the UE. The subscription information of the current location information of the UE is saved;

The PCRF entity determines the PCC policy based on the acquired subscription information for the location information of the current UE. The steps to determine the PCC strategy include:

The PCRF entity receives the modification information of the UE service on the PCEF entity, and obtains the information of the UE change carried in the modification information, where the information changed by the UE includes at least the changed location information;

If the PCRF entity is sufficient to determine that the subscription information needs to be updated with the information changed by the current UE according to the subscription information of the UE stored on the PCRF entity, the updated subscription information for the information changed by the UE is obtained from the PCRF entity or from the SPR; Obtaining, according to the saved subscription information of the UE, whether the subscription information needs to be updated with the information changed by the UE, acquiring the information from the SPR Updated subscription information for information changed by the UE;

The PCRF entity checks whether the PCC policy needs to be updated based on the updated subscription information obtained for the information changed by the UE, and re-determines the PCC policy if necessary. Before the step of determining the PCC policy, the method further includes: when the SPR detects that the subscription information of the service changes in the service of the UE, sending a notification of the subscription information update to the PCRF entity; the changed subscription information includes location information, QoS information, and charging. One or more of the information. The steps to determine the PCC strategy include:

The PCRF entity saves the subscription information of the service carried in the notification of the update of the subscription information based on the updated information of the different location, and obtains the updated subscription information from the updated subscription information of the UE service according to the location information of the current UE; or And acquiring, by the PCRF entity, the updated subscription information for the location information of the current UE from the SPR according to the current location information of the UE;

The PCRF entity checks whether the PCC policy needs to be updated based on updated subscription information for the location information of the current UE, and re-determines the PCC policy if needed.

In order to solve the above technical problem, the present invention provides a system for implementing a service charging policy, including a policy and charging execution function (PCEF) entity, a policy and charging rule function (PCRF) entity, and a user subscription database, which are sequentially connected. (SPR), where:

The SPR is set to: pre-save different location-based subscription information of the user equipment (UE) service, and the location-based subscription information of the UE service includes location information, quality of service (QoS) information, and charging information;

The PCRF entity is configured to: determine a policy and charging control (PCC) policy according to different location-based subscription information of the UE service;

The PCEF is set to: report information about the UE service to the PCRF entity. The PCRF entity is further configured to: deliver the determined PCC policy to the PCEF entity;

The PCEF entity is also set to: Execute a PCC policy. The information about the UE service reported by the PCEF entity includes the creation information of the UE service.

The PCRF entity is further configured to: request and acquire the location-based subscription information of the UE service from the SPR according to the information of the UE and the service information in the creation information, and save, and obtain the location for the current UE from the subscription information based on the different location. The subscription information of the information; or, according to the information of the UE in the creation information, the information of the service, and the location information of the current UE, the subscription information for the location information of the current UE is obtained from the SPR and saved; and according to the obtained current information The subscription information of the location information of the UE determines a PCC policy;

The SPR is further configured to return, according to the request of the PCRF entity, the location-based subscription information of the UE's service to the PCRF entity, or return the subscription information for the current UE location information to the PCRF entity.

The information of the UE service reported by the PCEF entity includes the modification information of the UE service; the modification information of the UE service carries the information changed by the UE, and the information changed by the UE includes at least the location information;

The PCRF entity is further configured to: obtain the information of the UE change; if the subscription information of the UE saved on the PCRF entity is sufficient to determine that the subscription information needs to be updated according to the information changed by the current UE, the subscription information of the UE cannot be determined according to the saved information. Whether the subscription information is updated with the information changed by the UE, the subscription information for the information changed by the UE is acquired from the SPR; and the subscription information according to the acquired information changed for the UE is checked whether the PCC policy needs to be updated, and if necessary, re-determined PCC strategy;

The SPR is further configured to: query the subscription information of the UE service based on different locations according to the request of the PCRF entity, and obtain the subscription information for the information changed by the UE from the subscription information based on the different location, and return the information to the PCRF entity.

The SPR is further configured to: when the subscription information of the service is detected in the service of the UE, send a notification of the subscription information update to the PCRF entity; the changed subscription information includes one of location information, charging information, and QoS information. Or multiple.

The PCRF entity is further configured to: save the subscription information of the UE-based service that is carried in the notification of the update of the subscription information, and according to the location information of the current UE, the service is based on Acquiring the subscription information of the location information of the current UE in the updated subscription information of the same location; or requesting and acquiring the updated subscription information for the location information of the current UE according to the location information of the current UE; The updated subscription information of the location information of the UE checks whether the PCC policy needs to be updated, and if necessary, re-determines the PCC policy; the SPR is further set to: based on the request of the PCRF entity, the service updated by the UE is based on the subscription information of different locations or for the current UE. The updated subscription information for the location information is returned to the PCRF entity.

In order to solve the above technical problem, the present invention further provides a policy and charging rule function (PCRF) entity that implements a service charging policy, and the PCRF entity is set to: according to different locations of user equipment (UE) services. The subscription information determining policy and charging control (PCC) policy; wherein the location-based subscription information of the UE service is pre-stored in a user subscription database (SPR) connected to the PCRF entity, where the UE service The subscription information based on the different locations includes location information, quality of service (QoS) information, and charging information; and information for receiving the UE service reported by the Policy and Charging Enforcement Function (PCEF) entity connected to the PCEF entity. The PCRF entity is further configured to: send the determined PCC policy to the PCEF entity, so that the PCEF entity executes the PCC policy. The information about the UE service reported by the PCEF entity includes the information about the creation of the UE service. The PCRF entity is further configured to: request and acquire the SPR according to the information of the UE and the information of the service in the creation information. And signing, according to the different location subscription information, the subscription information of the location information of the current UE is obtained from the location information of the UE, or is further configured to be based on the UE in the creation information. And the location information of the current UE is obtained from the SPR and saved, and the PCC policy is determined according to the acquired subscription information for the location information of the current UE; The SPR returns, according to the request of the PCRF entity, the location-based subscription information of the service of the UE to the PCRF entity, or returns the subscription information for the current UE location information to the PCRF. An entity, so that the PCRF entity acquires subscription information of the UE and saves the information. The information about the UE service reported by the PCEF entity includes the modification information of the UE service; the modification information of the UE service carries the information changed by the UE, and the information changed by the UE includes at least the location information; The PCRF entity is further configured to: obtain information about the UE change; if the subscription information of the UE saved on the PCRF entity is sufficient to determine that the subscription information needs to be updated according to information changed by the current UE, then the PCRF entity is Or obtaining, from the SPR, updated subscription information for the information changed by the UE; if it is not determined according to the saved subscription information of the UE, whether the subscription information needs to be updated with information changed by the UE, SPR acquires subscription information for information changed by the UE; and checks, according to the acquired subscription information of the information changed for the UE, whether the PCC policy needs to be updated, and if necessary, re-determines the PCC policy; The SPR queries the location-based subscription information of the UE service according to the request of the PCRF entity, and obtains the subscription information based on different locations. The subscription information for the changed information of the UE is returned to the PCRF entity, so that the PCRF entity acquires the subscription information of the UE and saves. The PCRF entity is further configured to: receive a notification of subscription information update sent to the PCRF entity when the subscription information of the service detected by the SPR changes, and base the UE service carried in the notification of the subscription information update The updated subscription information of the different UEs is saved, and the updated subscription information for the location information of the current UE is obtained from the updated subscription information of the service according to the location information of the current UE; or, according to the location information of the current UE SPR requesting and acquiring updated subscription information for location information of the current UE; checking, according to the updated subscription information for the location information of the current UE, whether the PCC policy needs to be updated, and re-producing the PCC policy if necessary; The contract information that has changed includes one or more of the location information, the charging information, and the QoS information. 1 is a schematic diagram of an EPS system architecture; FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a PCC system architecture; FIG. 3 is a schematic flowchart of Embodiment 1 of a method for implementing a service charging policy according to the present invention; FIG. 5 is a schematic flowchart of Embodiment 3 of a method for implementing a service charging policy according to the present invention; FIG. 6 is a schematic flowchart of a method for implementing a service charging policy according to the present invention; FIG. 7 is a schematic flowchart of Embodiment 5 of a method for implementing a service charging policy according to the present invention; FIG. 8 is a schematic flowchart of Embodiment 6 of a method for implementing a service charging policy according to the present invention.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a method for implementing a service charging policy and a system thereof, and the inventive concept thereof is: preserving, in an SPR, pre-registration information of all subscriber services of a user equipment (UE) based on different locations; When a service is initiated, the PCRF obtains the corresponding subscription information from the SPR according to the current location information of the UE, and sends a PCC policy to the PCEF according to the obtained subscription information. Or, when the SPR detects that the service of the UE is changed based on the location information of the UE in the process of the service, the PCRF is notified to update the subscription information; or, when the PCEF detects the current information change of the UE during the service, the UE is updated. The information is sent to the PCRF; the PCRF obtains the subscription information corresponding to the location (from the local acquisition or the SPR) according to the current location of the UE service, and determines whether the PCC policy needs to be updated according to the obtained subscription information, and if necessary, the updated PCC The policy is sent to the PCEF. The technical solutions of the present invention are described and illustrated in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and preferred embodiments.

The method for implementing a PCC policy provided by the present invention relates to a policy and charging execution function entity (PCEF), Policy and Charging Rules Function Entity (PCRF), and User Contracting Database (SPR), the method includes:

(1) preserving the location-based subscription information of the subscription service of the user equipment (UE) in the SPR;

For example, the location-based subscription information of the different subscription services of the UE as shown in Table 1 is stored in the SPR, wherein the subscription information includes location information, QoS information, charging information, and the like. Table 1

When performing service A (Service A), if the current location information (such as time zone, cell or tracking area) of the UE is Location 1, its current QoS information (including media type, guaranteed bandwidth and transmission level, etc.) is QoS Profile 1 Then, the corresponding charging information (for example, rate group, etc.) is Charging Info 1. If the current location information of the UE is Location 2 or Location 3, the QoS information is QoS Profile 2, and the charging information is Charging Info 2 . Similarly, when the Service B is launched, the subscription information corresponding to different locations of the UE is performed. In the above location information, "cell" (or "routing area") is a location definition in a Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS); "tracking area" is in an evolved packet system (EPS) Location definition; "Time zone" is defined in various mobile communication systems. The different services of the UE stored in the SPR are based on the subscription information of different locations, and are used when the PCRF needs to formulate a PCC policy for the service according to the location information. Note that the contract information expressed in Table 1 is only one form thereof. In fact, the contract information is not only in this form, but also has many other forms. For example, the charging information can be further refined for the QoS information, that is, the charging information depends not only on the location information but also on the QoS information, and the like. (2) The PCRF selects the corresponding subscription information according to the current location of the UE during the service process, and formulates the PCC policy according to the selected subscription information or determines whether to update the PCC policy, and sends the formulated PCC policy or the updated PCC policy to the PCEF. . The following three application scenarios are as follows: a. When the UE initiates a service, the PCRF obtains the corresponding subscription information from the location-based subscription information of the service according to the current location of the UE, and formulates a PCC policy according to the obtained subscription information. PCEF.

The PCRF may request the SPR to acquire the location-based subscription information of the service of the UE and store it locally, and obtain the subscription information (including the charging information, etc.) corresponding to the current location of the UE, or request the SPR according to the current location of the UE. Obtain the contract information (including billing information, etc.) corresponding to the location. When the SPR receives the subscription information request message of the PCRF, the SPR is queried according to the UE information (such as the number of the UE) and the service information (such as the service identifier of the service A) of the UE. Related information, and returning a subscription information response message to the PCRF, where the message contains the location-based subscription information of the service of the UE, as shown in Table 2. Table 2

After receiving the subscription information response message, the PCRF saves the corresponding subscription data in the subscription information of the UE based on different locations (as shown in Table 2). When the service is started, according to the UE, The previous location selects the corresponding subscription information (including billing information, etc.), and formulates a PCC policy based on the selected subscription information. Or, when the SPR receives the subscription information request message of the PCRF, according to the UE information and the service information (such as the service identifier) carried in the subscription information request message and the current location information of the UE (such as Location1), the service is queried for the current location of the UE. The subscription information is returned to the UE, and the subscription information response message carries the subscription information of the service for the current location of the UE, as shown in Table 3. table 3

After receiving the subscription information response message, the PCRF saves the subscription information (including charging information, etc.) for the current location of the UE in the subscription information response message, and formulates a PCC policy according to the subscription information. Alternatively, the SPR receives the subscription information request message of the PCRF, according to the UE information and service information (such as the service identifier) carried in the message, the current location information of the UE (such as Locationl), and the current QoS information of the UE (such as QoS Profile 1). Querying the charging information of the service for the current location of the UE and the QoS, and returning a subscription information response message to the UE, where the subscription information response message carries the charging information of the service for the current location of the UE and the QoS. When the SPR detects the change of the subscription information of the UE in the process of the service, the PCRF is notified that the location-based subscription information of the service has been updated; the PCRF obtains the subscription information corresponding to the location according to the current location of the UE in the service, and Check whether the PCC policy needs to be updated according to the obtained subscription information. If necessary, the updated PCC policy is sent to the PCEF. The subscription information of the UE detected by the SPR is changed, for example, the location information of the UE subscription is changed, or

The charging information and the like corresponding to the location information signed by the UE are changed.

After the PCRF receives the notification of the SPR (that is, updates the subscription information request or indication), according to the current location of the UE, the service of the updated UE that is locally saved is based on the subscription information of different locations (ie, Obtain updated subscription information (including billing information) in Table 2), or obtain corresponding contract information from SPR (ie, Table 3). c. When the PCEF detects the current information change of the UE during the service progress, the updated information is notified to the PCRF; the PCRF obtains the updated subscription information according to the updated information, and checks whether the PCC policy needs to be updated according to the updated subscription information, The updated PCC policy is sent to the PCEF.

The current information of the UE detected by the PCEF changes, for example, the current location information of the UE changes. If the PCRF is sufficient to determine that the corresponding subscription information (including the charging information, etc.) needs to be updated according to the locally saved subscription information, and the updated subscription information can be obtained locally, the subscription information corresponding to the changed location is locally obtained; If the PCRF is insufficient to determine whether the corresponding subscription information needs to be updated according to the locally saved subscription information, the SPR is requested to re-acquire the subscription information (including the charging information, etc.) in the changed location of the UE.

The present invention is directed to the above method, and proposes a corresponding system for formulating a service charging policy, including a policy and a charging execution function entity (PCEF), a policy and charging rule function entity (PCRF), and a user subscription database (SPR), which are sequentially connected. among them:

The PCEF is configured to perform charging statistics according to the PCC policy received from the PCRF, and report the UE service related information to the PCRF;

The UE service related information reported by the PCEF, including a session creation indication or a session modification indication, where the session modification indication is used to notify the PCRF that the current information change (such as a location change) of the UE is detected during the service progress;

The PCRF is configured to obtain the corresponding subscription information according to the current location information of the UE in the service related information of the UE reported by the PCEF, and formulate the PCC policy according to the obtained subscription information; or obtain the UE according to the current service update subscription information notified by the SPR. The subscription information of the service is updated, and the PCC policy is re-defined as needed; and the PCC policy is formulated or re-issued to the PCEF; here, the PCRF can notify the SPR after receiving the notification of the current service update subscription information of the SPR UE. Requesting to obtain the location-based subscription information of the service, and storing the information locally, obtaining the subscription information corresponding to the current location of the UE, or requesting the SPR according to the current location of the UE. The contract information corresponding to the location. The subscription information includes billing information and QoS information. Here, the PCRF may obtain location information updated by the UE from the PCEF, or obtain updated location-based subscription information (including updated location information, charging information, QoS information, etc.) from the SPR. The PCRF obtains updated subscription information (including charging information, etc.) from the locally stored UE's location-based subscription information according to the location of the UE update, or obtains updated subscription information from the SPR.

The SPR is set to pre-store the location-based subscription information of the subscription service of the user equipment (UE); when receiving the subscription information request of the UE service sent by the PCRF, the service is based on the location-based subscription information or the service for the current location of the UE. The subscription information is returned to the PCRF; and the PCRF is updated to update the subscription information when the location-based subscription information update of the current service of the UE is detected during the service. Here, the current service of the UE is updated based on the location-based subscription information, including updated location information or updated QoS information and charging information.

In addition, the present invention provides a corresponding policy and charging rule function (PCRF) entity for implementing a service charging policy, and the PCRF entity is configured to: determine, according to different location-based subscription information of user equipment (UE) services, for the foregoing method. a policy and charging control (PCC) policy; wherein the location-based subscription information of the UE service is pre-stored in a user subscription database (SPR) connected to the PCRF entity, and the location-based subscription information of the UE service includes Location information, quality of service (QoS) information, and charging information; and information of the UE service reported by the Policy and Charging Enforcement Function (PCEF) entity that is connected to the PCEF entity.

The PCRF entity is further configured to: deliver the determined PCC policy to the PCEF entity, so that the PCEF entity executes the PCC policy. The information about the UE service reported by the PCEF entity includes the creation information of the UE service.

The PCRF entity is further configured to: request and acquire the subscription information of the UE based on different locations according to the information of the UE and the information of the service in the creation information, and save the information from the different bits based on different locations. The subscription information of the current UE is obtained, and the subscription information for the location information of the current UE is obtained from the SPR according to the information of the UE in the creation information, the information of the service, and the location information of the current UE. The subscription information is saved and saved; and the PCC policy is determined according to the obtained subscription information for the location information of the current UE. The SPR returns the subscription information based on the different location of the service of the UE to the PCRF entity according to the request of the PCRF entity. Or the subscription information for the location information of the current UE is returned to the PCRF entity, so that the PCRF entity acquires the subscription information of the UE and saves the information.

The information about the UE service reported by the PCEF entity includes the modification information of the UE service; the modification information of the UE service carries the information changed by the UE, and the information changed by the UE includes at least the location information; the PCRF entity is further configured to: obtain the information changed by the UE; According to the fact that the subscription information of the UE saved on the PCRF entity is sufficient to determine that the subscription information needs to be updated with the information changed by the current UE, the updated subscription information for the UE changed information is obtained from the PCRF entity or from the SPR; The subscription information of the UE cannot determine whether the subscription information needs to be updated with the information changed by the UE, and then acquires subscription information for the information changed by the UE from the SPR; and checks whether the PCC policy needs to be updated according to the acquired subscription information of the information changed for the UE, If necessary, the PCC policy is re-determined; wherein the SPR queries the subscription information of the UE service based on different locations according to the request of the PCRF entity, acquires subscription information for the information changed by the UE from the subscription information based on different locations, and returns the information to the subscription information of the UE. a PCRF entity to enable the PCRF entity to acquire the UE About information and save.

The PCRF entity is further configured to: notify the subscription information update sent to the PCRF entity when the subscription information of the service detected by the SPR changes, and sign the update of the UE service based on the different location carried in the notification of the subscription information update The information is saved, and the updated subscription information for the location information of the current UE is obtained from the updated subscription information of the service according to the location information of the current UE; or the SPR is requested according to the current UE location information and acquired for the current UE. Updated subscription information for location information; and Checking whether the PCC policy needs to be updated according to the updated subscription information for the location information of the current UE, and re-producing the PCC policy if necessary; wherein the changed subscription information includes location information, charging information, and the One or more of the QoS information.

In the first embodiment, when the UE initiates a certain service, the PCRF obtains the location-based subscription information of the service from the SPR (such as Table 2), and obtains corresponding charging information according to the current location of the user, and formulates a PCC policy according to the method. And sent to the PCEF, as shown in FIG. 3, the following steps are included: 301: After receiving the IP-CAN session request, the PCEF sends an IP-CAN session creation indication to the PCRF.

302: After receiving the IP-CAN session creation indication, the PCRF requests the SPR to request location-based subscription information of the UE and the service involved in the IP-CAN session creation indication;

303: The SPR searches for the location-based subscription information of the service of the UE according to the UE information (such as the number of the UE) and the service information (such as the service identifier), and returns the information to the PCRF.

The location-based subscription information of the service of the UE is as shown in Table 2, including QoS information and charging information at each location.

304: The PCRF stores the location-based subscription information of the service of the UE, and searches for corresponding subscription information (including at least charging information, etc.) according to the current location information of the UE. 305: The PCRF formulates a corresponding PCC according to the found subscription information. Strategy

306: The PCRF returns an IP-CAN session creation response message to the PCEF, and the response message carries the formulated PCC policy.

Embodiment 2 When the UE initiates a service, the PCRF provides the current location information of the UE to the UE.

SPR, the SPR finds the corresponding subscription information of the service at the current location, and sends the subscription information to the PCRF. The PCRF formulates the PCC policy and sends it to the PCEF. As shown in Figure 4, the following steps are included:

401: After receiving the IP-CAN session request, the PCEF sends an IP-CAN session creation indication to the PCRF.

402: After receiving the IP-CAN session creation indication, the PCRF sends a subscription information request message of the service to the SPR, where the request message carries the current location information of the UE.

403: The SPR searches for the location-based subscription information of the service of the UE according to the UE information and the service information, and searches for the subscription information corresponding to the current location information of the UE according to the current location information of the UE.

The subscription information of the service of the UE that is found by the SPR for the current location is as shown in Table 3, including charging information and QoS information.

404: SPR returns the found subscription information to the PCRF;

405: The PCRF formulates a corresponding PCC policy according to the subscription information;

406: The PCRF returns an IP-CAN session creation response message to the PCEF, and the response message carries the formulated PCC policy.

In the third embodiment, when the SPR detects that the subscription information of the service of the UE changes during the service, for example, the location information of the service subscription information changes, or the other subscription information corresponding to the location information of the service changes, and then sends the information to the PCRF. Updating the subscription information request, updating the subscription information request carrying the location update information of the service update; the PCRF receives the updated subscription information, and obtains the corresponding subscription information according to the current location of the UE, and updates according to the need The PCC policy sends the updated PCC policy to the PCEF. As shown in Figure 5, the following steps are included:

501: The SPR detects a change of the subscription information of the service that is being performed by the UE (for example, a change of the location information, or a change of the charging information, etc.); 502: The SPR sends an update subscription information request message to the PCRF, where the update of the service of the UE is carried. Signing information based on different locations; The updated location-based subscription information of the service of the UE is as shown in Table 2, including QoS information and charging information at each location.

503: After receiving the request information, the PCRF returns an update subscription information response message to the SPR.

504: The PCRF stores the updated location-based subscription information of the service of the UE, and searches for the subscription information corresponding to the current location information of the UE according to the current location information of the UE.

505: The PCRF checks whether the corresponding PCC policy needs to be updated, and if necessary, re-establishes the PCC policy;

506: The PCRF sends the re-established PCC policy to the PCEF.

Embodiment 4: When the SPR detects that the subscription information of the UE changes during the service progress (for example, the location information of the service subscription information changes, or the other subscription information corresponding to the service information changes), the subscription information indication is sent. To the PCRF, the PCRF is triggered to re-acquire the subscription information corresponding to the current location of the UE, and then the PCC policy is updated as needed, and the updated PCC policy is sent to the PCEF. As shown in FIG. 6, the method includes the following steps:

601: The SPR detects a subscription information change of the service that the UE is performing, such as a change of the location information, or a change of the charging information in the subscription information.

602: The SPR sends an update subscription information indication to the PCRF.

603: The PCRF sends a subscription information request message of the service of the UE to the SPR, where the current location information of the UE is carried.

604: The SPR searches for the location-based subscription information of the corresponding service of the UE according to the UE information and the service information, and searches for the updated subscription information according to the current location information of the UE.

605: The SPR returns the found subscription information to the PCRF through the subscription information response message;

The subscription information returned by the SPR for the current location of the UE is as shown in Table 3, including charging information and QoS information.

606: After receiving the subscription information update response message, the PCRF according to the subscription information in the response message Check whether the PCC policy needs to be updated, and re-establish the PCC policy if necessary. 607: The PCRF sends the re-established PCC policy to the PCEF.

Embodiment 5: When the PCEF detects the current information change of the UE during the service progress (for example, the current location change), the changed information is notified to the PCRF; if the PCRF is sufficient to determine whether the corresponding subscription information needs to be updated according to the locally saved information, The PCC policy is updated as required, and the updated PCC policy is sent to the PCEF. As shown in Figure 7, the following steps are included:

701: The PCEF detects the IP-CAN session modification; 702: the PCEF sends an IP-CAN session modification indication to the PCRF, where the UE carries the information currently changed by the UE (such as changed location information);

703: The PCRF is configured to determine whether the subscription information needs to be updated according to the location information of the locally stored UE according to the location, and the updated subscription information is obtained locally when the update is needed, and the update is not required to be obtained from the SPR. For example, the PCRF locally stores the subscription information based on different locations as shown in Table 2. When the UE changes from Location 1 to Location 2, the PCRF is sufficient to determine the corresponding QoS information and charging according to the locally saved subscription information. The information needs to be updated, that is, it needs to be updated from QoS Profile 1 and Charging Info 1 to QoS Profile 2 and Charging Info 2, and the updated QoS Profile 2 and Charging Info 2 can be obtained locally, so that it does not need to be acquired through interaction with SPR. Updated contract information. Alternatively, when the UE changes from Location 2 to Location 3, the PCRF is sufficient to determine that the corresponding QoS information and charging information does not need to be updated according to the locally saved subscription information, that is, QoS Profile 2 and Charging Info 2 under Location 2. There is also no need to interact with SPR to obtain updated subscription information. 704: The PCRF obtains the subscription information corresponding to the current location of the UE from the location-based subscription information of the service saved locally.

705: The PCRF checks whether the PCC policy needs to be updated, and if necessary, re-establishes the PCC policy; 706: The PCRF returns an IP-CAN session modification response message to the PCEF. If the PCRF updates the PCC policy, the response message carries the re-established PCC policy.

Embodiment 6: When the PCEF detects that the current information of the UE changes (for example, location information) during the service progress, the UE updates the information to the PCRF; if the PCRF is insufficient according to the locally saved information, it is determined whether the corresponding subscription information needs to be updated. Then, the SPR is requested to reclaim the subscription information (including the charging information) in the current location. After receiving the subscription information returned by the SPR, the PCC policy is updated according to the need, and the updated PCC policy is sent to the PCEF, as shown in FIG. , including the following steps: 801: PCEF detects IP-CAN session modification;

802: The PCEF sends an IP-CAN session modification indication to the PCRF, where the UE currently carries information (such as changed location information);

803: The PCRF is not enough to determine whether the corresponding charging information needs to be updated according to the locally stored subscription information, and the corresponding subscription information needs to be obtained from the SPR. For example, the PCRF only saves the local information as shown in Table 3. Location 1 signing information, when

The UE changes from Location 1 to Location 2. The PCRF cannot determine whether the corresponding QoS information and charging information need to be updated according to the locally saved subscription information, and the corresponding subscription information needs to be obtained from the SPR.

804: The PCRF sends a subscription information request message to the SPR, where the current location information of the UE is carried.

805: The SPR searches for the different location-based subscription information of the corresponding service of the user according to the user information and the service information, and searches for the latest subscription information (including at least the charging information) according to the current location information of the UE.

806: The SPR returns the found subscription information to the PCRF. 807: The PCRF checks whether the PCC policy needs to be updated according to the subscription information, and re-establishes the PCC policy if necessary. 808: The PCRF returns an IP-CAN session modification response message to the PCEF. If the PCRF updates the PCC policy, the response message carries the re-established PCC policy.

It can be seen that the present invention saves the subscription-based information of different services of the subscription user in the SPR, so that the PCRF can select different subscription information for different locations of the subscription users during different service execution processes ( For example, the charging information), and the corresponding PCC policy is formulated according to the contract information, so that the fine billing of the service can be realized.

The above are only the preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. The invention is also to be construed as being limited by the scope of the appended claims.

Industrial Applicability The present invention makes it possible to save user subscription services in SPR based on subscription information of different locations.

The PCRF can select different subscription information for different users in different service processes, and formulate corresponding PCC policies accordingly, thereby enabling fine-grained charging of services.

Claims

Claim

A method for implementing a service charging policy, comprising a Policy and Charging Enforcement Function (PCEF) entity, a Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) entity, and a User Contracting Database (SPR), the method comprising: Separating location-based subscription information of the user equipment (UE) service, the location-based subscription information of the UE service includes location information, quality of service QoS information, and charging information; and the PCRF entity is based on different locations of the UE service. The contract information identifies the Policy and Charging Control (PCC) policy.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the PCRF entity delivering the determined PCC policy to the PCEF entity.

The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the determining the PCC policy comprises: the PCRF entity receiving the creation information of the UE service reported by the PCEF entity, according to the UE in the creation information And the information of the service, acquiring the location-based subscription information of the service of the UE from the SPR, and saving, and acquiring the subscription information for the current UE location information from the different location-based subscription information. Or the PCRF entity receives the creation information of the UE service reported by the PCEF entity, according to the information of the UE in the creation information, the information of the service, and the current location information of the UE, The SPR acquires subscription information for the location information of the current UE and saves; and the PCRF entity determines the PCC policy according to the obtained subscription information for the location information of the current UE.

The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the determining the PCC policy comprises: the PCRF entity receiving the modification information of the UE service reported by the PCEF entity, The information about the UE change carried in the modification information, where the information changed by the UE includes at least the changed location information, and the PCRF entity is sufficient to determine the subscription information according to the UE saved on the PCRF entity. The subscription information needs to be updated with the information changed by the current UE, and the PCRF entity obtains updated subscription information for the information changed by the UE from the PCRF entity or from the SPR; if the subscription information of the UE cannot be saved according to the saved information Determining whether the subscription information needs to be updated with information changed by the current UE, acquiring updated subscription information for the information changed by the UE from the SPR; and the information that the PCRF entity changes according to the acquired for the UE The updated subscription information checks if the PCC policy needs to be updated, and if necessary, re-determines the PCC policy.

The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein before the step of determining the PCC policy, the method further includes: the SPR detecting, when the service of the UE is in progress, that the subscription information of the service changes, to the PCRF entity Transmitting the notification of the subscription information update; the changed subscription information includes one or more of the location information, the QoS information, and the charging information.

The method according to claim 5, wherein the determining the PCC policy comprises: the PCRF entity saving the subscription information of the service carried in the notification of the subscription information update based on different locations, and according to the current UE Obtaining the subscription information for the location information of the current UE from the subscription information of the location update of the UE service, or the PCRF entity obtains the SPR from the SPR according to the current location information of the UE. The updated subscription information of the current location information of the UE; and the PCRF entity checks whether the PCC policy needs to be updated according to the updated subscription information for the location information of the current UE, and re-determines the PCC policy if necessary.

7. A system for implementing a service charging policy, comprising a policy and charging execution function (PCEF) entity, a policy and charging rule function (PCRF) entity, and a number of user subscriptions that are sequentially connected. a database (SPR), wherein: the SPR is set to: pre-save different location-based subscription information of a user equipment (UE) service, and the location-based subscription information of the UE service includes location information, quality of service (QoS) And the information and the charging information; the PCRF entity is configured to: determine a policy and a charging control ( _PCC ) policy according to different location-based subscription information of the UE service, where the PCEF entity is configured to: report the UE service to the PCRF entity information.

The system according to claim 7, wherein the PCRF entity is further configured to: deliver the determined PCC policy to the PCEF entity; and the PCEF entity is further configured to: execute the PCC policy.

The system according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the information about the UE service reported by the PCEF entity includes the creation information of the UE service; the PCRF entity is further configured to: according to the creation information Information of the UE and the information of the service, requesting and acquiring the location-based subscription information of the service of the UE from the SPR, and saving, acquiring the location information for the current UE from the different location-based subscription information. The contract information is further set to acquire, according to the information of the UE in the creation information, the information of the service, and the location information of the current UE, the subscription information for the location information of the current UE from the SPR, and save the information according to the acquired information; Determining a PCC policy for the subscription information of the location information of the current UE; the SPR is further configured to: return, according to the request of the PCRF entity, the location-based subscription information of the service of the UE to the PCRF entity, Or, the subscription information for the location information of the current UE is returned to the PCRF entity.

The system according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the information about the UE service reported by the PCEF entity includes modification information of a UE service, and the modification information of the UE service carries information changed by the UE. The information that the UE changes includes at least the location information; the PCRF entity is further configured to: obtain information about the UE change; if the subscription information of the UE saved according to the PCRF entity is sufficient to determine the subscription information If the information needs to be updated with the information changed by the UE, the updated subscription information of the information changed for the UE is obtained from the PCRF entity or from the SPR; if the subscription is not determined according to the saved subscription information of the UE Whether the information needs to be updated with the information changed by the UE, acquiring subscription information for the information changed by the UE from the SPR; and checking whether the update needs to be updated according to the acquired subscription information of the information changed for the UE a PCC policy, if necessary, re-determining the PCC policy; the SPR is further configured to: query the location according to the request of the PCRF entity The subscription information of the UE service based on the different location, the subscription information of the information changed by the UE is obtained from the subscription information based on the different location, and is returned to the PCRF entity.

The system according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the SPR is further configured to: when the subscription information of the service is changed in the service of the UE, send the subscription information to the PCRF entity. The updated notification; the changed subscription information includes one or more of the location information, the charging information, and the QoS information.

The system according to claim 11, wherein the PCRF entity is further configured to: save the subscription information of the UE service based on the location information updated in the notification of the subscription information update, and according to the current UE The location information is used to obtain updated subscription information for the location information of the current UE from the subscription information of the updated location of the service; or, requesting, according to the location information of the current UE, the update of the location information of the current UE. Signing information; and checking whether the PCC policy needs to be updated according to the updated subscription information for the location information of the current UE, and redetermining the PCC policy if necessary; The SPR is further configured to: return the updated service of the UE to the PCRF entity based on the subscription information of the different location or the updated subscription information of the location information of the current UE according to the request of the PCRF entity.

13. A policy and charging rule function (PCRF) entity that implements a service charging policy, the PCRF entity configured to: determine policy and charging control according to location-based subscription information of user equipment (UE) services ( a PCC) policy; the location-based subscription information of the UE service is pre-stored in a user subscription database (SPR) connected to the PCRF entity, and the location information of the UE service based on different locations includes location information. And quality of service (QoS) information and charging information; and information for receiving the UE service reported by the Policy and Charging Enforcement Function (PCEF) entity connected to the PCEF entity.

The PCRF entity according to claim 13, wherein the PCRF entity is further configured to:

The PCC strategy described.

The PCRF entity according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the information about the UE service reported by the PCEF entity includes the creation information of the UE service, and the PCRF entity is further configured to: according to the creation information. The information of the UE and the information of the service, requesting and acquiring the location-based subscription information of the service of the UE from the SPR, and saving, acquiring the location information for the current UE from the different location-based subscription information. The contract information is further set to acquire, according to the information of the UE in the creation information, the information of the service, and the location information of the current UE, the subscription information for the location information of the current UE from the SPR, and save the information according to the acquired information; Determining a PCC policy for the subscription information of the current location information of the UE; The SPR returns, according to the request of the PCRF entity, the location-based subscription information of the service of the UE to the PCRF entity, or returns the subscription information for the current UE location information to the PCRF. An entity, so that the PCRF entity acquires subscription information of the UE and saves the information.

The PCRF entity according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the information about the UE service reported by the PCEF entity includes modification information of a UE service, and the modification information of the UE service carries the UE changed. The information that the UE changes includes at least the location information; the PCRF entity is further configured to: obtain information about the UE change; if the subscription information of the UE saved according to the PCRF entity is sufficient to determine the subscription The information needs to be updated with the information changed by the current UE, and the updated subscription information of the information changed for the UE is obtained from the PCRF entity or from the SPR; if the subscription is not determined according to the saved subscription information of the UE Whether the information needs to be updated with the information changed by the UE, acquiring subscription information of the information changed for the UE from the SPR; and checking whether the PCC needs to be updated according to the acquired subscription information of the information changed for the UE a policy, if necessary, re-determining the PCC policy; wherein the SPR queries the location according to the request of the PCRF entity The subscription information of the UE service is obtained by acquiring the subscription information of the information that is changed by the UE, and returning the information to the PCRF entity, so that the PCRF entity acquires the subscription of the UE. Information and save.

The PCRF entity according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the PCRF entity is further configured to: notify the subscription information update sent to the PCRF entity when the subscription information of the service detected by the SPR is changed And storing, according to the location information of the current UE, the subscription information of the UE service carried in the notification of the subscription information update is based on the current location information of the UE Obtaining the updated subscription information for the location information of the current UE in the updated subscription information of the different location; or requesting and acquiring the updated subscription information for the location information of the current UE according to the location information of the current UE; The updated subscription information for the location information of the current UE checks whether the PCC policy needs to be updated, and if necessary, re-defines the PCC policy; wherein the changed subscription information includes the location information, the charging information And one or more of the QoS information.