Dynamic policy and charging control framework

This paper presents a dynamic policy and charging control (PCC) framework to control and optimize network usage, to provide network bandwidth resources to subscribers when appropriate and according to the users' real time profile and subscription information, to avoid or minimize operators' network congestion, and to optimize the operator's existing and potential network investment. The key value of the solution is based on the convergent capability of the rating and charging functions on data service flows and the subscriber account profile and lifecycle. The PCC with real time rating of data services for monitoring spending limits, and the resulting value-added marketing use cases, are empowered by an extended online charging system (eOCS) and Policy Control Rule Function (PCRF) in the Long Term Evolution/Evolved Packet Core (LTE/EPC) network. The framework determines flexible dynamic policies with quality of service (QoS) throttling, loyalty upgrades, service-driven charging, service flow based Internet Protocol connectivity access network (IP-CAN) direction and redirection, network traffic and resource usage detection and control, and third party sponsored data service/application over operators' networks. © 2012 Alcatel-Lucent.