WO2013000850A1 - A method to manage ip address assignment in access networks - Google Patents
A method to manage ip address assignment in access networks Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2013000850A1 WO2013000850A1 PCT/EP2012/062192 EP2012062192W WO2013000850A1 WO 2013000850 A1 WO2013000850 A1 WO 2013000850A1 EP 2012062192 W EP2012062192 W EP 2012062192W WO 2013000850 A1 WO2013000850 A1 WO 2013000850A1
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- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- policy
- address
- node
- pcrf
- address assignment
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L61/00—Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
- H04L61/50—Address allocation
- H04L61/5007—Internet protocol [IP] addresses
- H04L61/503—Internet protocol [IP] addresses using an authentication, authorisation and accounting [AAA] protocol, e.g. remote authentication dial-in user service [RADIUS] or Diameter
Definitions
- the present invention generally relates to a method to manage IP address assignment in access networks, said access networks implementing a Policy and Charging and Control, or PCC, architecture and more particularly to a method wherein said IP address assignment is performed by a Policy and Charging Rules Function, or PCRF, node
- policy architectures to address the same problem: to apply different policies to users depending on their real- time context and subscription. These policies cover, apart from access control, quality of service (QoS) and charging policies.
- QoS quality of service
- charging policies The most commonly adopted specification regarding policy architecture is 3GPP TS 23.203 "Policy and Charging and Control Architecture” (PCC).
- PCC allows charging control and policy control over user flows. Although at the beginning it was focus on 3G access networks, in the last releases it also provides recommendations to other wireless technologies, such as WiFi and WiMax, and in general the model has been extended to cover heterogeneous access networks, either fixed as wireless access networks
- PCC architecture is mainly compounded of a control central node, PCRF (Policy and Charging Rules Function) acting as a policy decision point able to evaluate the suitable policy to enforce in PCEF, located at the transport layer (Policy and Charging Enforcement Function).
- PCRF Policy and Charging Rules Function
- the communication between these two elements is the Gx interface.
- the PCEF role is performed by a GGSN (Gateway GPRS Support Node), although other nodes, like DPIs, could play also the PCEF role.
- the GGSN is in charge of IP address assignment for the IP bearers requested by users. This assignment can be local, that is, performed in the own GGSN, but typically the IP address assignment is carried out through an AAA server.
- GGSN acting as PCEF within the PCC architecture, receives a bearer establishment request (1 ). Then, GGSN asks an AAA server for an IP to be assigned to this new bearer connection (2). Afterwards, GGSN asks PCRF(3) for resources authorization through Gx interfaces, to finally establish the bearer connection (4), according to the parameters collected from the mentioned different nodes.
- PCEF supplies the IP address to the PCRF at IP- CAN session establishment time.
- the PCRF is aware of the IP assigned to the IP bearer, however, it has no control over the IP addressing that must be used for the authorized resources, like the authorized services addressing.
- PCRF cannot establish addressing policies since it does not assign the IP to be used by the bearer.
- PCRF can distinguish and apply policies based on the IP ranges assigned to the user, this procedure results a post IP assignment, before knowing the authorized services/resources the user is allowed to, which may outcome in conflicts between the user IP address and the addressing policies to establish for that user. For example, a VIP user can be assigned a different addressing range that results in a different routing path or a higher routing priority.
- the present invention provides a method to manage IP address assignment in access networks, said access networks implementing a Policy and Charging and Control, or PCC, architecture.
- PCC Policy and Charging and Control
- IP address assignment is performed by a Policy and Charging Rules Function, or PCRF, node.
- PCRF Policy and Charging Rules Function
- Figure 1 shows a general and current scheme of PCC architecture.
- Figure 2 shows current interaction between different entities of a PCC architecture when performing a bearer establishment process.
- Figure 3 shows a general scheme of PCC architecture according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 4 shows the interchange of messages between PCEF and PCRF nodes according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- Figure 5 shows a use case of the present invention wherein a service-based addressing policy is assigned by the PCEF to a user equipment.
- Figure 6 shows a use case of the present invention wherein a special addressing schema is used for premium users.
- the present invention improves 3GPP policy mechanisms by defining extensions over 3GPP Gx interface (TS 29.212). It enables the bearer IP address assignment by the PCRF, permiting the establishment of suitable addressing policies, based on the authorized services/resources for that user connection, and linking these policies to the standard resource and charging policies managed by the PCRF.
- AAA server which allocates an IP address for the user communication, as shown in Figure 1.
- PCRF which makes the IP assignment according to the required addressing needs. This fact does not involve that AAA server is used for other purposes, like authentication and/or accounting.
- the PCRF decides the policy rules to apply at the PCEF for that user session, among which the addressing policies are included, that is, IP address assignment. This way, the PCRF can impose the policy addressing otherwise it didn't be possible, since the AAA server does not know beforehand the policies that will be assigned to the user by the PCRF.
- Gx specification states that the PCEF shall send a
- CCR message with CC-Request-Type AVP (AVP code 416), of type Enumerated, set to the value "INITIAL_REQUEST" and other attributes will include the UE IPv4 address within the Framed-IP-Address and/or the UE IPv6 prefix within the Framed-IPv6-Prefix AVP, if available.
- AVP code 8 defined in RFC 4005, is of type OctetString and contains an IPv4 address.
- AVP code 97 also defined in RFC 4005, is of type OctetString and contains an IPv6 prefix.
- Some services to be provided require that the user traffic goes through a service center where being properly processed, as shown in Figure 5. In contrast, other services do not need to be processed at any service centre, accessing the Internet directly.
- the PCRF decides the addressing policies to apply based on the service to be used and assigns the IP address, it avoids IP addressing conflicts that may occur if an AAA server was used, where the IP assignment takes place before knowing the allowed/subscribed services for the user. ⁇ Premium channel
- Some users are willing to pay a bit more for a better service quality. Therefore, when retrieving data from content servers (e.g. CDNs), it is interesting to provide premium users with an access channel whose treatment guarantees the quality of service.
- content servers e.g. CDNs
- PCRF constitutes a central node where the network intelligence resides
- IP addressing could be carried out in an easier and more suitable way, avoiding IP addressing conflicts that may occur.
- the invention will provide some easy and low cost mechanisms to enhance the flexibility of dynamic control of connectivity services, since it is an extension of a commonly adopted reference point among PCEF nodes.
- the invention will enable the operator to link the addressing plan to the resource and charging policies, giving as a result more complex and ambitious policies that cover more service scenarios.
- the invention will reduce the time-to-market and will extend easily the portfolio of new connectivity service, since the invention facilitates new service scenarios which will be difficult to carry out otherwise.
- the invention will enable to simplify the architecture complexity, since the IP assignment is transferred to the PCRF, so it is not necessary an AAA server for this purpose.
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Abstract
In the method of the invention said access networks implement a Policy and Charging and Control, or PCC, architecture, and it is characterised in that said IP address assignment is performed by a Policy and Charging Rules Function, or PCRF, node.
Description
A method to manage IP address assignment in access networks
Field of the art
The present invention generally relates to a method to manage IP address assignment in access networks, said access networks implementing a Policy and Charging and Control, or PCC, architecture and more particularly to a method wherein said IP address assignment is performed by a Policy and Charging Rules Function, or PCRF, node
Prior State of the Art
Many standardization bodies have defined different policy architectures to address the same problem: to apply different policies to users depending on their real- time context and subscription. These policies cover, apart from access control, quality of service (QoS) and charging policies. The most commonly adopted specification regarding policy architecture is 3GPP TS 23.203 "Policy and Charging and Control Architecture" (PCC).
PCC allows charging control and policy control over user flows. Although at the beginning it was focus on 3G access networks, in the last releases it also provides recommendations to other wireless technologies, such as WiFi and WiMax, and in general the model has been extended to cover heterogeneous access networks, either fixed as wireless access networks
PCC architecture is mainly compounded of a control central node, PCRF (Policy and Charging Rules Function) acting as a policy decision point able to evaluate the suitable policy to enforce in PCEF, located at the transport layer (Policy and Charging Enforcement Function). The communication between these two elements is the Gx interface.
In the 3GPP mobile access, like UMTS or LTE, the PCEF role is performed by a GGSN (Gateway GPRS Support Node), although other nodes, like DPIs, could play also the PCEF role. Among other things, the GGSN is in charge of IP address assignment for the IP bearers requested by users. This assignment can be local, that is, performed in the own GGSN, but typically the IP address assignment is carried out through an AAA server.
GGSN, acting as PCEF within the PCC architecture, receives a bearer establishment request (1 ). Then, GGSN asks an AAA server for an IP to be assigned to
this new bearer connection (2). Afterwards, GGSN asks PCRF(3) for resources authorization through Gx interfaces, to finally establish the bearer connection (4), according to the parameters collected from the mentioned different nodes.
Whichever IP address assignment is performed, local or remote through AAA, this IP is reported to the PCRF at bearer establishment time, so the PCRF has no control over this assignment.
As stated in 3GPP TS 29.212, PCEF supplies the IP address to the PCRF at IP- CAN session establishment time. Following this procedure, the PCRF is aware of the IP assigned to the IP bearer, however, it has no control over the IP addressing that must be used for the authorized resources, like the authorized services addressing. PCRF cannot establish addressing policies since it does not assign the IP to be used by the bearer. Though PCRF can distinguish and apply policies based on the IP ranges assigned to the user, this procedure results a post IP assignment, before knowing the authorized services/resources the user is allowed to, which may outcome in conflicts between the user IP address and the addressing policies to establish for that user. For example, a VIP user can be assigned a different addressing range that results in a different routing path or a higher routing priority.
Description of the Invention
It is necessary to offer an alternative to the state of the art which covers the gaps found therein, particularly related to the lack of proposals which really allows establishing a synchronization in the 3GPP model between the IP address assignment and the policy decision made by PCRF, as the PRCF cannot decide the addressing schema to be used in the IP bearer.
To that end, the present invention provides a method to manage IP address assignment in access networks, said access networks implementing a Policy and Charging and Control, or PCC, architecture.
On contrary to the known proposals, in the method of the invention, in a characteristic manner said IP address assignment is performed by a Policy and Charging Rules Function, or PCRF, node.
Other embodiments of the method of the first aspect of the invention are described according to appended claims 2 to 7, and in a subsequent section related to the detailed description of several embodiments.
Brief Description of the Drawings
The previous and other advantages and features will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of embodiments, with reference to the attached drawings (some of which have already been described in the Prior State of the Art section), which must be considered in an illustrative and non-limiting manner, in which:
Figure 1 shows a general and current scheme of PCC architecture.
Figure 2 shows current interaction between different entities of a PCC architecture when performing a bearer establishment process.
Figure 3 shows a general scheme of PCC architecture according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 4 shows the interchange of messages between PCEF and PCRF nodes according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 5 shows a use case of the present invention wherein a service-based addressing policy is assigned by the PCEF to a user equipment.
Figure 6 shows a use case of the present invention wherein a special addressing schema is used for premium users.
Detailed Description of Several Embodiments
The present invention improves 3GPP policy mechanisms by defining extensions over 3GPP Gx interface (TS 29.212). It enables the bearer IP address assignment by the PCRF, permiting the establishment of suitable addressing policies, based on the authorized services/resources for that user connection, and linking these policies to the standard resource and charging policies managed by the PCRF.
Traditionally, in order to obtain an IP address, it has been necessary an AAA server which allocates an IP address for the user communication, as shown in Figure 1. However, in the proposed invention it is the PCRF which makes the IP assignment according to the required addressing needs. This fact does not involve that AAA server is used for other purposes, like authentication and/or accounting.
During the bearer establishment, the PCRF decides the policy rules to apply at the PCEF for that user session, among which the addressing policies are included, that is, IP address assignment. This way, the PCRF can impose the policy addressing otherwise it couldn't be possible, since the AAA server does not know beforehand the policies that will be assigned to the user by the PCRF.
For IP bearer establishment, Gx specification states that the PCEF shall send a
CCR message with CC-Request-Type AVP (AVP code 416), of type Enumerated, set to
the value "INITIAL_REQUEST" and other attributes will include the UE IPv4 address within the Framed-IP-Address and/or the UE IPv6 prefix within the Framed-IPv6-Prefix AVP, if available.
- Framed-IP-Address AVP (AVP code 8), defined in RFC 4005, is of type OctetString and contains an IPv4 address.
- Framed-IPv6-Address AVP (AVP code 97), also defined in RFC 4005, is of type OctetString and contains an IPv6 prefix.
For the purpose of this invention, it is proposed not to send Frame-IP-Address AVP and/or Framed-IPv6-Prefix AVP into the initial CCR. Instead, any of these attributes or both of them are included into the response to CCR, that is, the CCA, since the PCRF should assign the corresponding bearer IP address.
• Service-based routing
Some services to be provided require that the user traffic goes through a service center where being properly processed, as shown in Figure 5. In contrast, other services do not need to be processed at any service centre, accessing the Internet directly.
To establish the correct traffic routing in each case, that is, going through a service centre in one case and directly to the Internet in the other case, it is needed a different addressing schema.
As the PCRF decides the addressing policies to apply based on the service to be used and assigns the IP address, it avoids IP addressing conflicts that may occur if an AAA server was used, where the IP assignment takes place before knowing the allowed/subscribed services for the user. · Premium channel
Some users are willing to pay a bit more for a better service quality. Therefore, when retrieving data from content servers (e.g. CDNs), it is interesting to provide premium users with an access channel whose treatment guarantees the quality of service.
In order to implement this premium channel, the traffic must be diverted to a premium path where the quality is guaranteed. And to achieve this objective, a different addressing schema must be used for premium users.
Advantages of the invention
Including the IP assignment feature as a new functionality done by the PCRF, the main advantages of this invention are the following:
- Since PCRF constitutes a central node where the network intelligence resides, IP addressing could be carried out in an easier and more suitable way, avoiding IP addressing conflicts that may occur.
- The invention will provide some easy and low cost mechanisms to enhance the flexibility of dynamic control of connectivity services, since it is an extension of a commonly adopted reference point among PCEF nodes.
- The invention will enable the operator to link the addressing plan to the resource and charging policies, giving as a result more complex and ambitious policies that cover more service scenarios.
- The invention will reduce the time-to-market and will extend easily the portfolio of new connectivity service, since the invention facilitates new service scenarios which will be difficult to carry out otherwise.
- The invention will enable to simplify the architecture complexity, since the IP assignment is transferred to the PCRF, so it is not necessary an AAA server for this purpose.
A person skilled in the art could introduce changes and modifications in the embodiments described without departing from the scope of the invention as it is defined in the attached claims.
ACRONYMS
AAA Authentication, Authorization, Accounting
CCR Credit Control Request
CCA Credit Control Answer
GGSN Gateway GPRS Support Node
PCC Policy and Charging Control
PCEF Policy Control Enforcement Function
PCRF Policy and Charging Rule Function
UMTS Universal Mobile Telecommunication System
REFERENCES
[1 ] Patent Definition. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patent. [2] TS 23.203 "3rd Generation Partnership Project: Policy and Charging Control Architecture"
[3] TS 29.212 "3rd Generation Partnership Project: Gx reference point" [4] TS 29.061 "Interworking between the Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) supporting packet based services and Packet Data Networks (PDN)"
[5] RFC 4006 "Diameter Credit-Control Application".
http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc4006.txt
[6] RFC 4005 "Diameter Network Access Server Application".
http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc4005.txt
Claims
Claims \ - A method to manage IP address assignment in access networks, said access networks implementing a Policy and Charging and Control, or PCC, architecture, characterised in that said IP address assignment is performed by a Policy and Charging Rules Function, or PCRF, node.
2. - A method as per claim 1 , comprising performing said IP address assignment during a bearer establishment process.
3. - A method as per claim 2, wherein said bearer establishment process comprises:
a) a Policy and Charging Enforcement Function, or PCEF, node receiving a bearer establishment request;
b) said PCEF node sending a policies request to said PRCF node;
c) said PRCF node sending a set of policies to said PCEF node; and
d) said PCEF sending a bearer establishment response to the device that sent said bearer establishment request of step a).
4. - A method as per claim 3, comprising including an addressing policy in said set of policies.
5. - A method as per claim 4, comprising containing said IP address assignment in said set addressing policy.
6. - A method as per any of previous claims 3 to 5, comprising performing said sending of step b) by means of a Credit Control Request message not containing a Framed-IP-Address AVP and/or a Framed-IPv6-Address AVP.
7. - A method as per claim 6, comprising performing said sending of step c) by means of a Credit Control Answer message containing a Framed-IP-Address AVP and/or a Framed-IPv6-Address AVP.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| ESP201131106 | 2011-06-30 | ||
| ES201131106 | 2011-06-30 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| WO2013000850A1 true WO2013000850A1 (en) | 2013-01-03 |
Family
ID=46331335
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2012/062192 Ceased WO2013000850A1 (en) | 2011-06-30 | 2012-06-25 | A method to manage ip address assignment in access networks |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| AR (1) | AR087019A1 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO2013000850A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2018144330A1 (en) * | 2017-02-03 | 2018-08-09 | T-Mobile Usa, Inc. | Ip index for ip address allocation based on policy control function |
Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2011047726A1 (en) * | 2009-10-22 | 2011-04-28 | Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (Publ) | P-cscf address discovery |
| EP2339781A1 (en) * | 2008-09-18 | 2011-06-29 | Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. | Method and system for realizing the policy and charging control in the multiple packet data networks (pdn) scene |
-
2012
- 2012-06-25 WO PCT/EP2012/062192 patent/WO2013000850A1/en not_active Ceased
- 2012-06-29 AR ARP120102380A patent/AR087019A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
Patent Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP2339781A1 (en) * | 2008-09-18 | 2011-06-29 | Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. | Method and system for realizing the policy and charging control in the multiple packet data networks (pdn) scene |
| WO2011047726A1 (en) * | 2009-10-22 | 2011-04-28 | Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (Publ) | P-cscf address discovery |
Non-Patent Citations (2)
| Title |
|---|
| "3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group Services and System Aspects; Policy and charging control architecture (Release 11), 3GPP TS 23.203 V11.2.0", 12 June 2011 (2011-06-12), pages 1 - 140, XP055023827, Retrieved from the Internet <URL:http://www.3gpp.org/ftp/Specs/archive/23_series/23.203/23203-b20.zip> [retrieved on 20120404] * |
| "Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS); LTE; Policy and charging control over Gx reference point (3GPP TS 29.212 version 10.3.0 Release 10)", TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION, EUROPEAN TELECOMMUNICATIONS STANDARDS INSTITUTE (ETSI), 650, ROUTE DES LUCIOLES ; F-06921 SOPHIA-ANTIPOLIS ; FRANCE, vol. 3GPP CT 3, no. V10.3.0, 1 June 2011 (2011-06-01), XP014066131 * |
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2018144330A1 (en) * | 2017-02-03 | 2018-08-09 | T-Mobile Usa, Inc. | Ip index for ip address allocation based on policy control function |
| US10404655B2 (en) | 2017-02-03 | 2019-09-03 | T-Mobile Usa, Inc. | IP index for IP address allocation based on policy control function |
| CN110235427A (en) * | 2017-02-03 | 2019-09-13 | T移动美国公司 | The IP index for IP address distribution based on policy control functions |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| AR087019A1 (en) | 2014-02-05 |
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