Method for actively suspending terminal expiration strategy by PCF (Policy Control Function)

Abstract

The invention discloses a method for actively terminating a terminal expiration policy by a PCF (Policy Control Function). The method comprises the following steps: step 1, configuring a session rule, a charging and control policy rule PCC, a user-level policy and a default policy in a policy center; step 2, a user triggers a policy matching and authorization process of a policy control function PCF network element video voice service; 3, after the PCF creates an event scheduler for deleting the expired data of the cluster database, the event scheduler is started to run; and step 4, the event scheduler automatically deletes the information record of the signed package of the user when the signed package expires, and writes the deleted change action and the IMSI of the user into a database change table, the method can sensitively and accurately judge the service use authority, and the legal rights and interests of the user and the interests of the operator are ensured.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention belongs to the technical field of mobile communications, and in particular relates to a method for a PCF to actively terminate a terminal expiration strategy. Background Art

[0002] With the rapid development of mobile communication technology, China's mobile phone users have exceeded one billion. Mobile phone users' lives are inseparable from GPRS. For example, mobile payment, video entertainment, social activities and other activities closely related to life are inseparable from the smart applications of mobile phones. Smart applications rely on GPRS wireless network services. In addition, mobile phone users' demands for GPRS services include faster speed and more traffic. In the fifth-generation mobile communication core network system, the policy control function network element (Policy Control GPRS Function, hereinafter referred to as PCF) can meet the needs of users that are difficult to satisfy and provide users with rich and diverse package options. When users form sticky demands for various needs supported by GPRS, they will continue to use the package after the expiration of the package service period. If the user's call balance is sufficient, the corresponding package service will be charged; if the user's call balance is insufficient, but the service continues without being disconnected, the mobile operator is in a passive state in terminating the user's service, and cannot take into account the service timeliness and package timeliness at the same time to decide whether the service can be terminated. When a large number of users use the service, the service does not have the ability to finely identify users during the service period, and limit the service flow or re-billing. PCF has the ability to manage user packages, and the package start time and termination time in the user package are clear. As the network element that most directly understands the details of the user's package activation, if PCF does not have the ability to effectively manage the user's authority to use the package, the result will inevitably lead to operational losses of mobile operators, and even affect the entire core network product and cannot maintain the potential customer interests.

[0003] Therefore, the present invention proposes a method for PCF to actively terminate the terminal expiration policy. Summary of the invention

[0004] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a method for PCF to actively terminate the terminal expiration policy in view of the deficiencies in the prior art. On the basis of using a database cluster to store multiple levels of policies, a user package setting of the database cluster is inserted to periodically scan the expiration key. When automatically clearing expired data, PCF recognizes that the database user contract data table has changed, and immediately notifies the session management function network element (Session Manager Function, hereinafter referred to as SMF) to delete the rules associated with the package. SMF further deletes the proprietary bearer associated with the rule, and the service currently being used by the user will be automatically terminated.

[0005] The present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0006] A method for a PCF to actively terminate a terminal expiration policy, comprising:

[0007] Step 1: Configure session rules in the policy center, configure charging and control policy rules PCC, configure user-level policies and default policies;

[0008] Step 2: The user triggers the policy matching and authorization process of the PCF network element video and voice service;

[0009] Step 3: After PCF creates an event scheduler for deleting expired data in the cluster database, it starts the event scheduler.

[0010] Step 4: The event scheduler automatically deletes the subscription package information record of the user whose subscription package has expired, and writes the deleted change action and the user IMSI to the database change table.

[0011] Furthermore, step 1 of configuring the session rules includes:

[0012] Step 1.1.1, configure the session rule set, configure the session rule set index, configure the session rule set name, and configure the associated session rules;

[0013] Step 1.1.2, configure a single session rule, configure the session rule name, configure the maximum uplink bandwidth of session-level data services, configure the maximum downlink bandwidth of session-level data services, configure the data network name DNN as the matching condition of the session rule, configure the 5G service quality parameter 5QI, configure the priority level PL, preemption capability PC, preemption vulnerability or preemption capability PV.

[0014] Furthermore, step 1 of configuring the charging and control policy rules includes:

[0015] Configure the PCC service, configure the service index, specific service identifier, associated service description index and associated service policy index.

[0016] Furthermore, step 1 of configuring the charging and control policy rules includes:

[0017] Configure the service description index, the flow description index associated with the service description, and configure the source IP address, destination IP address, source port, destination port, and protocol type.

[0018] Furthermore, step 1 of configuring the charging and control policy rules includes:

[0019] Configure the service policy content, including: configure the association between the custom event index and the policy set index in policy derivation; configure the PCC rules associated with the policy set; configure the rule name in the PCC rule to obtain the conditions required to match the PCC rule.

[0020] Furthermore, in step 1, configure the charging and control policy rules:

[0021] If a match is successful in the process of obtaining policy rules, the PCF network element can authorize the policy rules, where the authorized policy rules include charging policies and control rules.

[0022] Furthermore, step 2 includes:

[0023] Step 2.1, PCF determines the characteristic configuration of the network element, wherein the current PCF is to authorize a user-level policy for the user. If the user-level policy cannot be authorized because the user conditions are not met, the default policy is authorized;

[0024] Step 2.2, PCF performs user-level policy authorization;

[0025] Step 2.3: If the user-level policy authorization fails, the package template in the database cluster is directly queried according to the default-level policy, and the default-level policy authorization is executed;

[0026] Step 2.4: User-level policy authorization fails, default-level policy authorization also fails, and general-level policy authorization is executed.

[0027] Further, step 2.2 includes:

[0028] Step 2.2.1: PCF checks whether the user is a legitimate contracted user. If the user is legitimate, the process goes to step 2.2.2. If the user is not legitimate, the policy authorization is rejected.

[0029] Step 2.2.2, the PCF queries the user's contracted package content or contracted product content stored in the database cluster system according to the international mobile subscriber identity code of the terminal carried by the legal contracted user;

[0030] Step 2.2.3: Successfully query the content of the contracted package, and further query the content of the contracted products associated with the database cluster. If there are contracted products, proceed directly to step 2.2.4;

[0031] Step 2.2.4, query the associated product template, and query the policy template stored in the database cluster according to the policy template recorded in the product template;

[0032] Step 2.2.5, query the policy template in the database cluster system, and query the configuration information according to the session rule set and PCC rule set content associated with the policy template;

[0033] Step 2.2.6, query the content of the session rule set, first perform DNN condition matching according to the session rules associated with the session rule set, and if DNN is matched, record the session rule;

[0034] Step 2.2.7, query the content of the PCC rule set, first match the service type according to the PCC rules associated with the PCC rule set, and if the video and voice service conditions are matched, record the PCC rules;

[0035] Step 2.2.8, the session rules and PCC rules are obtained successfully, and the user-level policy is authorized for the user's terminal.

[0036] Further, step 4 includes:

[0037] Step 4.1: During the operation of PCF, a periodic task is started to check the database change table, and the user's IMSI is obtained according to the new content of the checked database change table; the expiration rule policy of the contract is obtained through the IMSI;

[0038] Step 4.2: The PCF business process processing thread constructs a notification message based on the expired rule policy name recorded in the user's current context. The message carries the name of the rule to be deleted and sends it to SMF.

[0039] Step 4.3: SMF receives a message from PCF notifying the deletion of the rule policy, checks the rule policy name, compares the bearer bound to the rule policy in this process, and deletes the rule and the bearer bound to the rule according to the PCF's requirements;

[0040] In step 4.4, the dedicated bearer is deleted, and the services associated with the dedicated bearer are automatically terminated.

[0041] Further, step 4.1 includes:

[0042] Step 4.1.1: PCF detects that there is a record of deletion of user-related subscription package data in the database change table;

[0043] Step 4.1.2, the PCF periodic detection thread sends a message that the user's contracted package has expired to the PCF business process processing thread;

[0044] Step 4.1.3: The PCF business process processing thread receives a message that the user's subscription package has expired, and searches for all the user's current valid, non-expired subscription packages based on the user's IMSI information carried in the message;

[0045] In step 4.1.4, the PCF business process worker thread compares the policy rules associated with the successfully authorized package recorded in the user context with the valid policy rules currently matched to the user, and the difference is the expired policy rules.

[0046] The beneficial effects of the present invention are:

[0047] 1. The method of the PCF actively terminating the terminal expiration policy of the present invention can sensitively and accurately determine the authority of service use, thereby ensuring the legitimate rights and interests of users and the interests of both operators;

[0048] 2. The method of the PCF actively terminating the terminal expiration policy of the present invention can realize that the user continues to have the service before and after the expiration of the user's contracted package, and the PCF actively and reasonably terminates the service to ensure the resource allocation and protection of other users of the unexpired packages in the wireless network;

[0049] 3. According to the method of the PCF actively terminating the terminal expiration policy of the present invention, when the core network equipment does not have the rationality to suspend the service under the 3GPP standard protocol constraint framework, the PCF integrated database can delete the expired data and actively terminate the terminal expiration policy. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0050] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a method for managing unexpired contracted packages of terminal users using PCF according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0051] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a solution for detecting an expired package subscription of a terminal user using PCF as described in an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0052] In order to more clearly understand the above-mentioned purposes, features and advantages of the present invention, the present application is further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific implementation methods. It should be noted that the embodiments of the present application and the features in the embodiments can be combined with each other without conflict.

[0053] Example

[0054] The method for the PCF to actively terminate the terminal expiration policy includes:

[0055] Step 1: Configure a general policy in the policy center PC;

[0056] Step 1.1, configure session rules. The user uses the terminal device to start the communication service and completes the terminal device access to the mobile communication network through the base station. During the successful access, any level of policy to be authorized by the PCF contains a session rule. Specifically, the session rule is configured through steps 1.1.1 and 1.1.2.

[0057] Step 1.1.1, configure the session rule set so that the new session rule can be flexibly matched in the session policy set. During configuration, the PCF network element authorizes the user terminal, configures the session rule set index and the name of the session rule set, and configures 1 to 16 associated session rules. The session rule set is configured when the user goes online for the first time or when the user's terminal device moves to another location or when the service moves.

[0058] Step 1.1.2, configure a single session rule, configure a session rule index, configure a session rule name, configure the maximum uplink bandwidth of the session-level data service, configure the maximum downlink bandwidth of the session-level data service, configure the data network name (DataNetwork Name, hereinafter referred to as DNN) as the matching condition of the session rule, configure the 5G service quality parameter (5GQoS Identifier, hereinafter referred to as 5QI), configure the priority level (Priority Level, hereinafter referred to as PL), preemption capability (Preemption Capability, hereinafter referred to as PC), preemption vulnerability or preemption capability (Preemption Vulnerability, hereinafter referred to as PV), wherein the configuration of a single session rule is in accordance with the 3GPP standard protocol constraints and has the session rule requirements under the standard framework;

[0059] Step 1.2, configure the charging and control policy rules (Policy and Charge Control, hereinafter referred to as PCC), wherein the charging and control policy rules are configured in various change scenarios such as when the user goes online for the first time, or when the user's terminal successfully obtains the assigned address, or when the user's terminal access data network changes;

[0060] Step 1.2.1, configure the PCC service, configure the service index, specific service identifier, associated service description index, and associated service policy index;

[0061] Step 1.2.2, configure the service description index and the flow description index associated with the service description; configure the source IP address, destination IP address, source port, destination port and protocol type;

[0062] Step 1.2.3, configure the service policy content, configure the association between the custom event index and the policy set index in the policy derivation; configure the PCC rules specifically associated with the policy set; configure the specific rule name in the PCC rule to obtain the conditions required to match the PCC rule; configure the matching conditions: if the match is successful in the process of obtaining the policy rule, the PCF network element authorizes the policy rule, including: charging policy and control rules, for example: charging policy includes online charging, offline charging, service quality, for example: control rules include the maximum uplink bandwidth, the maximum downlink bandwidth, the uplink guaranteed bandwidth, the downlink guaranteed bandwidth, etc. constrained by the rule;

[0063] Step 1.3: Based on the configurations in Step 1.1 and Step 1.2, configure the contents of the user-level policy and the default policy;

[0064] Step 1.3.1, configure the policy template, the indexes of 1 to 8 session rules associated with the template, and the indexes of 1 to 8 PCC rules;

[0065] Step 1.3.2, configure the product template and select a configured policy template in the template;

[0066] Step 1.3.3, configure the package template, and select 1 to 8 configured product templates in the package;

[0067] Step 1.3.4, open an account for the user, fill in the international mobile subscriber identity code of the terminal, specify the international mobile subscriber identity code of the terminal to configure the contracted package template or product template, and set the start time and end time of the contracted package template of the user, or the start time and end time of the product template;

[0068] Step 1.3.5, in the PCF configuration, enable the authorized user-level policy according to the current customer scenario, and configure the default policy index. The default policy index is the specified package template index;

[0069] Step 2: After the user successfully goes online, the user sends a service request policy authorization message to the PCF network element for the first time to call the video and voice service, triggering the policy matching and authorization process of the PCF network element video and voice service, which specifically includes the following steps:

[0070] Step 2.1, PCF determines the characteristic configuration of the network element, wherein the current PCF is to authorize a user-level policy for the user. At the same time, if the user-level policy is that the user conditions are not met and cannot be authorized, the default policy is authorized;

[0071] Step 2.2, PCF performs the user-level policy authorization process;

[0072] Step 2.2.1: PCF checks whether the user is a legitimate subscriber. If the user is legitimate, it proceeds to step 2.2.2. If the user is not legitimate, it rejects policy authorization.

[0073] Step 2.2.2, the PCF queries the user's contracted package content or contracted product content stored in the database cluster system according to the international mobile subscriber identity code of the terminal carried by the legal contracted user;

[0074] Step 2.2.3: Successfully query the content of the contracted package, and further query the content of the contracted products associated with the database cluster. If there is only a contracted product, proceed directly to step 2.2.4;

[0075] Step 2.2.4, query the associated product template, and query the policy template stored in the database cluster according to the policy template recorded in the product template;

[0076] Step 2.2.5, query the policy template in the database cluster system, and query the configuration information according to the session rule set and PCC rule set content associated with the policy template;

[0077] Step 2.2.6, query the content of the session rule set, first perform DNN condition matching according to the session rules associated with the session rule set, and if DNN is matched, record the session rule;

[0078] Step 2.2.7, query the content of the PCC rule set, first match the service type according to the PCC rules associated with the PCC rule set, and if the video and voice service conditions are matched, record the PCC rules;

[0079] Step 2.2.8, the session rules and PCC rules are successfully obtained, and the user-level policy is authorized for the user's terminal;

[0080] Step 2.3: User-level policy authorization fails. Directly query the package template in the database cluster according to the default-level policy, and repeat steps 2.2.4 to 2.2.8 to complete the default-level policy authorization.

[0081] Step 2.4: User-level policy authorization fails, and default-level policy authorization also fails. Repeat steps 2.2.6 to 2.2.8 to complete general-level policy authorization.

[0082] Step 3: PCF creates an event scheduler for the cluster database. The event scheduler will delete expired data at a fixed time every day. PCF allows operators to set the time interval for periodic deletion of expired data.

[0083] Step 3.1: After PCF successfully creates the event scheduler for deleting expired data in the cluster database, start the scheduler.

[0084] Step 4: When the user's contracted package expires, the event scheduler automatically deletes the user's contracted package information record, the user's contracted package information table is changed, and the change action (expired deletion) and user IMSI are written to the database change table;

[0085] Step 4.1: During the PCF operation, a periodic task is started to check the database change table, and operations are performed according to the new content in the database change table;

[0086] Step 4.1.1: PCF detects that there is a record of deletion of user-related subscription package data in the database change table, and the reason for deletion is expiration;

[0087] Step 4.1.2, the PCF periodic detection thread sends a message that the user's contracted package has expired to the PCF business process processing thread;

[0088] Step 4.1.3: The PCF business process processing thread receives a message that the user's subscription package has expired, and searches for all the user's current valid, non-expired subscription packages based on the user's IMSI information carried in the message;

[0089] Step 4.1.4, the PCF business process processing thread compares the rules and policies associated with the successfully authorized packages recorded in the user's current context, and compares the differentiated rules between the authorized and currently valid ones, which are the expired rules and policies;

[0090] Step 4.2: The PCF business process processing thread constructs a notification message based on the expired rule policy name recorded in the user's current context. The message carries the name of the rule to be deleted and sends it to SMF.

[0091] Step 4.3: SMF receives a message from PCF notifying the deletion of the rule policy, checks the rule policy name, compares the bearer bound to the rule policy in this process, and deletes the rule and the bearer bound to the rule according to the PCF's requirements;

[0092] Step 4.4: Delete the dedicated bearer, and the services associated with the dedicated bearer are automatically terminated.

[0093] As a specific implementation method, Figure 1 As shown in the figure, in a normal scenario, a user goes online and uses video and voice services. The subscription package to which the video and voice billing services belong is about to expire. The steps are as follows:

[0094] Step S11, the terminal user initiates a video and voice service request;

[0095] Step S12, the PCF terminal user signs a package template or a product template;

[0096] Step S13, obtaining the contract package, or successfully signing the product, and further querying the specific rules;

[0097] Step S14: After the match is successful, the PCF authorizes the user to use the PCC policy;

[0098] Step S15, the database periodically detects the expiration event and detects that the user package has expired, deletes the record in the user contract package information table, and writes the change of the user contract package information table into the change information table;

[0099] Step S16, the PCF periodically checks the change information table for new change records, and the record is the operation of deleting the contracted package due to expiration;

[0100] Step S17: The PCF proactively specifies to terminate the expiration policy and the video and voice services of the terminal user according to the user IMSI in the change record.

[0101] As a specific implementation method, Figure 2 As shown in the figure, in a normal scenario, a user goes online and uses FTP to download. The contracted package to which the FTP download service belongs is about to expire. The steps are as follows:

[0102] Step S21, the terminal user initiates an FTP download service request;

[0103] Step S22, the PCF terminal user signs a package template or a product template;

[0104] Step S23, obtaining the contract package, or successfully signing the product, and further querying the specific rules;

[0105] Step S24: After the match is successful, the PCF authorizes the user to use the PCC policy;

[0106] Step S25, the database periodically detects expiration events and detects that the user package has expired, deletes the record of the user's contracted package information table, and writes the changes of the user's contracted package information table into the change information table;

[0107] Step S26, the PCF periodically checks the change information table to see if there is a new change record, and the record is an operation of deleting the contracted package due to expiration;

[0108] Step S27: PCF proactively specifies to terminate the expiration policy and FTP download voice service of the terminal user according to the user IMSI in the change record.

[0109] The present invention is not limited by the above embodiments. The above embodiments and descriptions are only for explaining the principle of the present invention. Without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, the present invention may be subject to various changes and improvements, which are within the scope of the present invention to be protected. The scope of protection of the present invention is defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method for PCF to actively terminate the terminal expiration policy, It is characterized in that include: Step 1: Configure session rules in the policy center, configure charging and control policy rules PCC, configure user-level policies and default policies; Step 2: The user triggers the policy matching and authorization process of the PCF network element video and voice service; Step 3: After PCF creates an event scheduler for deleting expired data in the cluster database, it starts the event scheduler. Step 4: The event scheduler automatically deletes the subscription package information record of the user whose subscription package has expired, and writes the deleted change action and the user IMSI to the database change table.

2. The method for PCF to actively terminate the terminal expiration policy according to claim 1, It is characterized in that Step 1: Configure session rules including: Step 1.1.1, configure the session rule set, configure the session rule set index, configure the session rule set name, and configure the associated session rules; Step 1.1.2, configure a single session rule, configure the session rule name, configure the maximum uplink bandwidth of session-level data services, configure the maximum downlink bandwidth of session-level data services, configure the data network name DNN as the matching condition of the session rule, configure the 5G service quality parameter 5QI, configure the priority level PL, preemption capability PC, preemption vulnerability or preemption capability PV.

3. The method for PCF to actively terminate the terminal expiration policy according to claim 1, It is characterized in that Step 1: Configure the accounting and control policy rules including: Configure the PCC service, configure the service index, specific service identifier, associated service description index and associated service policy index.

4. The method for PCF to actively terminate the terminal expiration policy according to claim 1, It is characterized in that Step 1: Configure the accounting and control policy rules including: Configure the service policy content, configure the association between the custom event index and the policy set index in policy derivation, and configure the associated PCC rules in the policy set.

5. The method for PCF to actively terminate the terminal expiration policy according to claim 1, It is characterized in that Step 1: Configure the accounting and control policy rules including: Configure the rule name in the PCC rule to obtain the conditions required to match the PCC rule.

6. The method for PCF to actively terminate the terminal expiration policy according to claim 1, It is characterized in that In step 1, in configuring the charging and control policy rules, if a match is successful in the process of obtaining the policy rules, the PCF network element authorizes the policy rules, wherein the authorization policy rules include the charging policy and the control rules.

7. The method for PCF to actively terminate the terminal expiration policy according to claim 1, It is characterized in that Step 2 includes: Step 2.1, PCF determines the characteristic configuration of the network element, wherein the current PCF is to authorize a user-level policy for the user. If the user-level policy is that the user conditions are not met and cannot be authorized, the default policy is authorized; Step 2.2, PCF performs user-level policy authorization; Step 2.3: User-level policy authorization fails. The package template in the database cluster is queried according to the default-level policy, and the default-level policy authorization is executed. Step 2.4: User-level policy authorization fails, default-level policy authorization also fails, and general-level policy authorization is executed.

8. The method for PCF to actively terminate the terminal expiration policy according to claim 7, It is characterized in that Step 2.2 includes: Step 2.2.1: PCF checks whether the user is a legitimate contracted user. If the user is legitimate, the process goes to step 2.2.

2. If the user is not legitimate, the policy authorization is rejected. Step 2.2.2, the PCF queries the user's contracted package content or contracted product content stored in the database cluster system according to the international mobile subscriber identity code of the terminal carried by the legal contracted user; Step 2.2.3: After successfully querying the content of the contracted package, query the content of the contracted product associated with the database cluster. If there is a contracted product, proceed to step 2.2.4; Step 2.2.4, query the associated product template, and query the policy template stored in the database cluster according to the policy template recorded in the product template; Step 2.2.5, query the policy template in the database cluster system, and query the configuration information according to the session rule set and PCC rule set content associated with the policy template; Step 2.2.6, query the content of the session rule set, first perform DNN condition matching according to the session rules associated with the session rule set, and if DNN is matched, record the session rule; Step 2.2.7, query the content of the PCC rule set, first match the service type according to the PCC rules associated with the PCC rule set, and if the video and voice service conditions are matched, record the PCC rules; Step 2.2.8, the session rules and PCC rules are obtained successfully, and the user-level policy is authorized for the user's terminal.

9. The method for PCF to actively terminate the terminal expiration policy according to claim 1, It is characterized in that Step 4 includes: Step 4.1: During the operation of PCF, a periodic task is started to check the database change table, and the user's IMSI is obtained according to the new content of the checked database change table; the expiration rule policy of the contract is obtained through the IMSI; Step 4.2: The PCF business process processing thread constructs a notification message based on the expired rule policy name recorded in the user's current context. The message carries the name of the rule to be deleted and sends it to SMF. Step 4.3: SMF receives a message from PCF notifying the deletion of the rule policy, checks the rule policy name, compares the bearer bound to the rule policy in this process, and deletes the rule and the bearer bound to the rule according to the PCF's requirements; Step 4.4: Delete the dedicated bearer, and terminate the services associated with the dedicated bearer.

10. The method for PCF to actively terminate the terminal expiration policy according to claim 9, Features Step 4.1 includes: Step 4.1.1: PCF detects that there is a record of deletion of user-related subscription package data in the database change table; Step 4.1.2, the PCF periodic detection thread sends a message that the user's contracted package has expired to the PCF business process processing thread; Step 4.1.3: The PCF business process processing thread receives a message that the user's subscription package has expired, and searches for all the user's current valid, non-expired subscription packages based on the user's IMSI information carried in the message; In step 4.1.4, the PCF business process worker thread compares the policy rules associated with the successfully authorized package recorded in the user context with the valid policy rules currently matched to the user, and the difference is the expired policy rules.

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