(19)
(11)EP 1 745 671 B1

(12)EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION

(45)Mention of the grant of the patent:
12.08.2015 Bulletin 2015/33

(21)Application number: 05737591.7

(22)Date of filing:  25.04.2005
(51)International Patent Classification (IPC): 
H04W 8/18(2009.01)
H04W 8/02(2009.01)
(86)International application number:
PCT/FI2005/000195
(87)International publication number:
WO 2005/104593 (03.11.2005 Gazette  2005/44)

(54)

PROVIDING ROAMING STATUS INFORMATION FOR SERVICE CONTROL IN A PACKET DATA BASED COMMUNICATION NETWORK

BEREITSTELLUNG VON ROAMING-STATUSINFORMATIONEN ZUR DIENSTSTEUERUNG IN EINEM AUF PAKETDATEN BASIERENDEN KOMMUNIKATIONSNETZ

FOURNITURE D'UNE INFORMATION DE STATUT D'ITINERANCE POUR UN CONTROLE DE SERVICE DANS UN RESEAU DE COMMUNICATION PAR PAQUETS DE DONNEES


(84)Designated Contracting States:
AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR

(30)Priority: 26.04.2004 FI 20040583

(43)Date of publication of application:
24.01.2007 Bulletin 2007/04

(73)Proprietor: Nokia Technologies Oy
02610 Espoo (FI)

(72)Inventor:
  • HURTTA, Tuija
    FI-02660 Espoo (FI)

(74)Representative: Papula Oy 
P.O. Box 981
00101 Helsinki
00101 Helsinki (FI)


(56)References cited: : 
WO-A2-2004/029854
US-A1- 2002 151 312
  
      
    Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention).


    Description

    BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:


    Field of the Invention:



    [0001] The invention relates to communication networks. In particular, the invention relates to providing roaming status information for controlling services in a packet data based communication network in a novel and improved way.

    Description of the Related Art:



    [0002] Recently also mobile communication networks have started to support transmission of packet switched data or packet data in addition to traditional circuit switched data transmission.

    [0003] An example of a technique allowing packet data transmission for mobile communication networks is General Packet Radio Service (GPRS). GPRS is designed to support e.g. digital mobile telecommunication networks based on the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) standard. However, GPRS is not restricted to only GSM networks but may support for example 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) based digital mobile telecommunication networks. Other examples of packet data based mobile communication networks are Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) and Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) based mobile communication networks.

    [0004] A GPRS enabled mobile communication network comprises supplementary network elements or nodes in addition to existing network elements. These include a Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) and a Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN). An SGSN typically delivers packets to and from GPRS enabled terminal devices within its service area. A GGSN is typically used as an interface to external IP networks such as the Internet, other mobile service providers' GPRS services, or enterprise intranets.

    [0005] The introduction of packet data based mobile communication networks has naturally resulted in various value-added subscriber services being provided for these packet data based mobile communication networks. Examples of such subscriber services are packet data based voice, email, content downloading, browsing, streaming and rich calls. Furthermore, packet data based mobile communication networks offer network services to support the usage of subscriber services. Such network services include e.g. rerouting, barring, accounting, content proxy services, content blocking services, firewall services, virus scanning services, performance enhancement proxy services, Virtual Private Network (VPN) services, various Quality of Service (QoS) related services and various charging related services for both online and offline charging.

    [0006] A recent trend is to provide the various subscriber services for packet data based mobile communication networks in a subscriber specific manner. For example, based on definitions in a subscription profile of a given subscriber, it may be determined whether the subscriber will be allowed a given subscriber service out of a plurality of subscriber services. Furthermore, if a given subscriber service is allowed, a Quality of Service class and bit rate(s) for the subscriber service may be determined based on the subscription profile. Furthermore, charging for the subscriber service may depend on data in the subscription profile. The subscription profile typically comprises a set of definitions or parameters defining which subscriber services and how are to be provided to the subscriber. Typically, when a subscriber subscribes to a new subscriber service or e.g. updates an already subscribed subscriber service, a network operator updates the subscription profile correspondingly.

    [0007] However, there is one parameter which today cannot be taken into account when determining which subscriber services and how are to be provided to a subscriber of packet data based mobile communication network. That parameter is roaming status of a subscriber. As is known in the art, in the context of mobile communication networks, when a subscriber connects via a service area that is managed by an operator other than the one with whom the subscriber originally registered with, the subscriber is said to be 'roaming'. A typical example of a subscriber roaming is when the subscriber is in a foreign country. In contrast, when the subscriber connects via a service area that is managed by the operator with whom the subscriber originally registered with, the subscriber is said to be at 'home'.

    [0008] Obviously, it would be highly desirable to be able to take into account roaming status of a subscriber at a given moment when determining which subscriber services and how are to be provided to the subscriber at that moment. For example, different subscriber services may be available when roaming or at home, different charging and/or QoS might be applied on a subscriber service depending on whether the subscriber is at home or roaming.

    [0009] Yet, today this is not possible for packet data based mobile communication networks since the existing packet data based mobile communication networks do not provide a mechanism that would allow providing roaming status information for service control.

    [0010] Prior art further includes US 2002/151312 A1 that discloses provisioning of subscribed Quality of Service or QoS guarantees for multimedia services to a user in a framework of telecommunication networks when this user communicates from a network different from his home network.

    [0011] Prior art further includes WO 2004/029854 A2 that discloses enhanced control of the Quality of Service (QoS) for wireless communications, wherein policy based admission QoS control of different networks or servers providing services is provided.

    [0012] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to alleviate the problems described above and to introduce a mechanism that allows providing roaming status information for service control.

    SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:



    [0013] A first aspect of the present invention is a method of providing roaming status information for service control in a packet data based mobile communication network comprising one or more terminal devices. The term 'subscriber service' is used to refer to a value-added subscriber service such as e.g. those described above.

    [0014] A change in the state of a connection between a terminal device and a gateway node of the mobile communication network is detected at the gateway node. In an embodiment of the invention the detected change is a received request for access bearer establishment, such as e.g. a received 'Create PDP Context Request' in case of GPRS. In another embodiment, the detected change is a received request for access bearer modification, such as e.g. a received `Update PDP Context Request' in case of GPRS. The term 'access bearer' is used to refer to an information transmission path of defined property, e.g. of a security tunnel, which access bearer is explicitly established across an access network, between a terminal device and an access terminating gateway. One example of access bearer is the PDP context in GPRS system. In another embodiment the detected change is a detected new service flow. The term 'service flow' is used to refer to a set of packet flows, defined by the L3-L7 and above lookup criteria. In the context of the present invention, a service flow is the lowest flow granulation to which a different set of service rules may be applied.

    [0015] In response to the detected change, roaming status information on the terminal device is derived at the gateway node. Next, a request for service policy for the subscriber of the terminal device is sent from the gateway node to a session control means of the mobile communication network. The request for service policy comprises the derived roaming status information.

    [0016] Based on the received request for service policy and the roaming status information comprised therein, a service policy is generated at the session control means. The service policy indicates which subscriber services are allowed for the subscriber and rules for the subscriber services. After the service policy has been generated, it is forwarded to the gateway node which may then proceed to support subscriber services according to the received service policy.

    [0017] The session control means may be comprised in a separate network element. Alternatively the session control means may be integrated with a network element that also has other functions besides those of the session control means. For example, the session control means may be integrated with the gateway node of the present invention.

    [0018] A second aspect of the present invention is a system of providing roaming status information for service control in a packet data based mobile communication network. The system comprises one or more terminal devices. The system further comprises a gateway node comprising a detecting means for detecting a change in the state of a connection between a terminal device and the gateway node. The gateway node further comprises a deriving means for deriving, in response to the detected change, roaming status information on a terminal device for which a change has been detected. The gateway node further comprises a policy request means for sending a request for service policy for the subscriber of the terminal device for which a change has been detected, which request for service policy comprises the derived roaming status information. The system further comprises a session control means for generating, based on the request for service policy received from the gateway node and the roaming status information comprised therein, a service policy indicating which subscriber services are allowed for the subscriber and rules for the subscriber services.

    [0019] A third aspect of the present invention is a gateway node of a mobile communication network, comprising a detecting means for detecting a change in the state of a connection between a terminal device of a packet data based mobile communication network and a gateway node of the mobile communication network. The gateway node further comprises a deriving means for deriving roaming status information on the terminal device in response to the detected change. The gateway node further comprises a policy request means for sending a request for service policy for the subscriber of the terminal device, which request comprises the derived roaming status information. The service policy is to indicate which subscriber services are allowed for the subscriber and rules for the subscriber services, and the request for service policy to be sent to an element of the mobile communication network for providing session control.

    [0020] A fourth aspect of the present invention is an element of a mobile communication network for providing session control, comprising a session control means for generating, based on a request received from a gateway node of a packet data based mobile communication network which request comprises roaming status information on a terminal device of the mobile communication network for which terminal device a change has been detected in the state of a connection between the terminal device and the gateway node, a service policy indicating which subscriber services are allowed for the subscriber and rules for the subscriber services, wherein the roaming status information has been derived in response to the detected change.

    [0021] A fifth aspect of the present invention is a computer program comprising code adapted to perform the following steps when executed on a data-processing device associated with a node of a mobile communication network. At a gateway node of a mobile communication network, a change is detected in the state of a connection between a terminal device of a packet data based mobile communication network and the gateway node. Roaming status information on the terminal device is derived in response to the detected change. A request for service policy for the subscriber of the terminal device is sent from the gateway node to a session control means of the mobile communication network, which request comprises the derived roaming status information. Based on the received request and the roaming status information comprised therein, a service policy indicating which subscriber services are allowed for the subscriber and rules for the subscriber services.

    [0022] In an embodiment of the invention, the packet data based mobile communication network is an Internet Protocol (IP) based mobile communication network.

    [0023] In an embodiment of the invention, the Internet Protocol based mobile communication network comprises a Wireless Local Area Network. In an embodiment of the invention, the gateway node is a Packet Data Gateway (PDG) of the Wireless Local Area Network.

    [0024] In an embodiment of the invention, the Internet Protocol based mobile communication network comprises a General Packet Radio Service enabled mobile telecommunication network. In an embodiment of the invention, the gateway node is a Gateway GPRS Support Node of the General Packet Radio Service enabled mobile telecommunication network.

    [0025] In an embodiment of the invention, the Internet Protocol based mobile communication network comprises a Code Division Multiple Access based network. In an embodiment of the invention, the gateway node is a Packet Data Serving Node (PDSN) of the Code Division Multiple Access based network.

    [0026] In an embodiment of the invention, the roaming status information is derived on the basis of location information received from a Serving GPRS Support Node of the General Packet Radio Service enabled mobile telecommunication network serving the terminal device.

    [0027] In an embodiment of the invention, the roaming status information is derived on the basis of a Routing Area Identity (RAI) information element received from a Serving GPRS Support Node of the General Packet Radio Service enabled mobile telecommunication network serving the terminal device.

    [0028] In an embodiment of the invention, the roaming status information is derived on the basis of an Internet Protocol address of a serving node serving the terminal device, e.g. on the basis of an Internet Protocol address of a Serving GPRS Support Node of the General Packet Radio Service enabled mobile telecommunication network serving the terminal device.

    [0029] In an embodiment of the invention, the roaming status information comprises information about whether the terminal device is roaming or not. In an embodiment of the invention, the roaming status information comprises information about the network in which terminal device is at that moment.

    [0030] In an embodiment of the invention, if the roaming status information changes during the established access bearer, the changes are forwarded to the session control means and the service policy is amended correspondingly. In another embodiment of the invention, if the roaming status information changes during the detected service flow, the changes are forwarded to the session control means and the service policy is amended correspondingly.

    [0031] In an embodiment of the invention, subscription data associated with the subscriber of the terminal device is acquired from a subscriber database of the mobile communication network to be utilized in generating the service policy, which subscription data comprises roaming status specific subscription attributes. The subscriber database may be, for example, a Home Location Register in a General Packet Radio Service enabled mobile telecommunication network.

    [0032] In an embodiment of the invention, the session control means comprises pre-configured data to be utilized in generating the service policy, which pre-configured data comprises roaming status specific attributes.

    [0033] In an embodiment of the invention, application session data is received from an application function means to be utilized in generating the service policy, which application session data comprises roaming status specific application session attributes. In an embodiment, `application function means' is a network element of a 3rd Generation Partnership Project telecommunication network called Application Function (AF), which provides applications that require control of Internet Protocol bearer resources.

    [0034] The present invention allows providing roaming status information for service control in a packet data based mobile communication network. As a result, decisions concerning which subscriber services to provide and how can be made in a more flexible manner. For example, different subscriber services may be available when roaming or at home, different charging and/or QoS may be applied when at home and when roaming.

    BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:



    [0035] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description help to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings:

    Fig 1 is a graphical representation illustrating a method according to an embodiment of the present invention, and

    Fig 2 is a block diagram illustrating a system according to an embodiment of the present invention.


    DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS:



    [0036] Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

    [0037] Figure 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the method of the present invention relating to providing roaming status information for service control in a packet data based mobile communication network. At step 10 a change in the state of a connection between a terminal device of a packet data based mobile communication network and a gateway node of the mobile communication network is detected.

    [0038] In response to the detected change, roaming status information on the terminal device is derived at the gateway node, step 11. Next, a request for service policy for the subscriber of the terminal device is sent from the gateway node to a session control means of the mobile communication network, step 12. The request for service policy comprises the derived roaming status information.

    [0039] At step 13, subscription data associated with the subscriber of the terminal device is acquired from a subscriber database of the mobile communication network. The acquired subscription data will be utilized in generating the service policy. The subscription data may comprise roaming status specific subscription attributes.

    [0040] At step 14, based on the received request and the roaming status information comprised therein as well as the acquired subscription data, a service policy is generated at the session control means. The generated service policy indicates which subscriber services are allowed for the subscriber and rules for the subscriber services. The session control means may further comprise pre-configured data which is utilized in generating the service policy. The pre-configured data may in turn further comprise roaming status specific attributes.

    [0041] After the service policy has been generated, it may be utilized in a suitable way to provide subscriber services. Figure 1 further illustrates an exemplary implementation of how to utilize the generated service policy. First, at step 15, the generated service policy is sent to the gateway node. The gateway node then enforces the generated service policy.

    [0042] Figure 2 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the system of the present invention relating to providing roaming status information for service control in a packet data based mobile communication network. The packet data based mobile communication network NW may be e.g. an Internet Protocol based mobile communication network, and it may comprise a General Packet Radio Service enabled mobile telecommunication network. Alternatively or additionally the mobile communication network NW may comprise e.g. a Wireless Local Area Network or Code Division Multiple Access based network.

    [0043] The exemplary system of Figure 2 comprises terminal devices MS, one of which is illustrated in Figure 2.

    [0044] The exemplary system of Figure 2 further comprises a gateway node GW. The gateway node GW may be e.g. a Gateway GPRS Support Node of the General Packet Radio Service enabled mobile telecommunication network. Alternatively the gateway node may be e.g. a Packet Data Gateway of the Wireless Local Area Network or a Packet Data Serving Node of the Code Division Multiple Access based network.

    [0045] The gateway node GW comprises a detecting means DCT for detecting a change in the state of a connection between a terminal device MS and the gateway node GW. The detected change may be a request for establishing or modifying an access bearer AccB between the terminal device MS and the gateway node GW received to the gateway node GW from the terminal device MS. If the mobile communication network NW comprises a General Packet Radio Service enabled mobile communication network, the received request for access bearer establishment may be e.g. a 'Create PDP Context Request' message received from the terminal device MS via a Serving GPRS Support Node to a Gateway GPRS Support Node acting as the gateway node GW of the present invention. And the received request for access bearer modification may be e.g. a 'Update PDP Context Request' message received from a Serving GPRS Support Node to a Gateway GPRS Support Node acting as the gateway node GW of the present invention. Alternatively the detected change may be a detected new service flow.

    [0046] The gateway node GW further comprises a deriving means DRV for deriving roaming status information on the terminal device MS in response to the detected change. The deriving means DRV may derive the roaming status information e.g. from location information, e.g. from a Routing Area Identity information element, which was comprised in the message for access bearer establishment, e.g. 'Create PDP Context Request', or in the message for access bearer modification, e.g. 'Update PDP Context Request', received above. As is known in the art, location information, e.g. a Routing Area Identity information element, typically comprises a Mobile Country Code (MCC) and a Mobile Network Code (MNC) which may be utilized in determining whether the terminal device MS is roaming or at home. If the received Mobile Country Code and the Mobile Network Code equals to the Mobile Country Code and the Mobile Network Code of the gateway node GW, the terminal device MS is considered to be at home. Otherwise, the terminal device is considered to be roaming. Alternatively, the deriving means DRV may derive the roaming status information based on the Internet Protocol address of the serving node, e.g. Serving GPRS Support Node, which is serving the terminal device MS at the moment.

    [0047] The derived roaming status information may comprise information about whether the terminal device is roaming or not. The roaming status information may comprise information about the network in which the terminal device is at that moment, e.g. in the form of the Mobile Country Code and the Mobile Network Code.

    [0048] The gateway node GW further comprises a policy request means POL_REQ for sending a request for service policy for the terminal device MS. The request for service policy comprises the derived roaming status information.

    [0049] The exemplary system of Figure 2 further comprises a session control means SC for generating a service policy based on the request for service policy received from the gateway node GW and the roaming status information comprised therein. The session control means may comprise an authorization function, a function for control of charging, e.g. the Service Data Flow Based Charging Rules Function of 3GPP, a function for control of QoS, e.g. the Policy Decision Function of 3GPP, and/or a credit control function, e.g. the Service Data Flow Based Credit Control of 3GPP. The service policy indicates which subscriber services are allowed for the subscriber and rules, e.g. charging rules and/or QoS rules, for the subscriber services. The session control means SC may further comprise pre-configured data which may be utilized in generating the service policy in addition to the data received from the gateway node GW in the request for service policy. The pre-configured data may comprise roaming status specific attributes.

    [0050] The session control means SC may be configured to send the generated service policy to the gateway node GW. The gateway node GW may in turn be configured to enforce the service policy.

    [0051] The gateway node GW may be further configured to forward, if the roaming status information changes during the established access bearer or during the detected service flow, the changes to the session control means SC and the session control means SC may be further configured to amend the service policy correspondingly.

    [0052] The exemplary system of Figure 2 further comprises a subscriber database SUB_DB. The subscriber database may be e.g. a Home Location Register of the mobile communication network. The session control means SC is further configured to acquire subscription data associated with the subscriber of the terminal device MS from the subscriber database SUB_DB to be utilized in generating the service policy. Alternatively, the gateway node GW may be configured to acquire subscription data associated with the subscriber from the subscriber database SUB_DB. In the exemplary system illustrated in Figure 2 the subscription data comprises roaming status specific subscription attributes.

    [0053] The exemplary system of Figure 2 further comprises an application function means AF. The session control means SC is further configured to receive application session data associated with the terminal device MS from the application function means AF to be utilized in generating the service policy. In the exemplary system illustrated in Figure 2 the application data comprises roaming status specific application session attributes.

    [0054] It is obvious to a person skilled in the art that with the advancement of technology, the basic idea of the invention may be implemented in various ways. The invention and its embodiments are thus not limited to the examples described above, instead they may vary within the scope of the claims.


    Claims

    1. A method of providing roaming status information for service control in a packet data based mobile communication network comprising one or more terminal devices, the method comprising the step of:

    detecting (10), at a gateway node of a mobile communication network, a change in a state of a connection between a terminal device and the gateway node;

    characterized in that the method further comprises the steps of:

    deriving (11), at the gateway node, roaming status information on the terminal device in response to the detected change;

    sending (12) a request for service policy for a subscriber of said terminal device from the gateway node to a session control means of the mobile communication network, said request comprising the roaming status information; and

    generating (14), at the session control means, based on the request and the roaming status information comprised therein, a service policy indicating which subscriber services are allowed for said subscriber and further indicating rules for the allowed subscriber services.


     
    2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of deriving (11) the roaming status information is performed based on a Routing Area Identity information element received from a Serving GPRS Support Node of a General Packet Radio Service enabled mobile telecommunication network, wherein the mobile communication network comprises the serving GPRS Support Node.
     
    3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of deriving (11) the roaming status information is performed based on an Internet Protocol address of a serving node serving the terminal device.
     
    4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of deriving (11) the roaming status information comprises deriving the roaming status information to comprise information about whether the terminal device is roaming.
     
    5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of deriving (11) the roaming status information comprises deriving the roaming status information to comprise information about the network in which the terminal device is at that moment.
     
    6. The method according to claim 1, wherein, in the detecting (10) step, the change comprises a received request for access bearer establishment.
     
    7. The method according to claim 1, wherein, in the detecting (10) step, the change comprises a detected new service flow.
     
    8. The method according to claim 6, further comprising the steps of:

    forwarding changes in the roaming status information during the access bearer establishment to the session control means; and

    amending the service policy correspondingly.


     
    9. The method according to claim 7, further comprising the steps of:

    forwarding changes in the roaming status information during the access bearer establishment to the session control means; and

    amending the service policy correspondingly.


     
    10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

    acquiring (13) subscription data associated with the subscriber of the terminal device from a subscriber database of the mobile communication network to be utilized in generating the service policy, said subscription data comprising roaming status specific subscription attributes.


     
    11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

    generating the service policy utilizing pre-configured data, wherein the session control means comprises the pre-configured data, said pre-configured data comprising roaming status specific attributes.


     
    12. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

    receiving application session data from an application function means, wherein said application session data is to be utilized in generating the service policy, said application session data comprising roaming status specific application session attributes.


     
    13. A system of providing roaming status information for service control in a packet data based mobile communication network (NW), the system comprising:

    at least one terminal device (MS);

    characterized in that the system further comprises:

    a gateway node (GW) comprising a detecting means (DCT) for detecting a change in a state of a connection between the at least one terminal device (MS) and the gateway node (GW), said gateway node (GW) further comprising a deriving means (DRV) for deriving, in response to the detected change, roaming status information on a particular terminal device of said at least one terminal device for which the change in the state of the connection has been detected, and said gateway node (GW) further comprising a policy request means (POL_REQ) for sending a request for a service policy for a subscriber of said particular terminal device, said request comprising the roaming status information; and

    a session control means (SC) for generating, based on said request received from the gateway node and the roaming status information, the service policy indicating which subscriber services are allowed for said subscriber and further indicating rules for the subscriber services.


     
    14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the packet data based mobile communication network (NW) comprises an Internet Protocol based mobile communication network.
     
    15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the Internet Protocol based mobile communication network comprises a Wireless Local Area Network.
     
    16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the gateway node (GW) comprises a Packet Data Gateway of the Wireless Local Area Network.
     
    17. The system according to claim 14, wherein the Internet Protocol based mobile communication network comprises a General Packet Radio Service enabled mobile telecommunication network.
     
    18. The system according to claim 17, wherein the gateway node (GW) comprises a Gateway GPRS Support Node of the General Packet Radio Service enabled mobile telecommunication network.
     
    19. The system according to claim 14, wherein the Internet Protocol based mobile communication network comprises a Code Division Multiple Access based network.
     
    20. The system according to claim 19, wherein the gateway node (GW) comprises a Packet Data Serving Node of the Code Division Multiple Access based network.
     
    21. The system according to claim 17, wherein the deriving means (DRV) is further configured to derive the roaming status information from a Routing Area Identity information element received from a Serving GPRS Support Node of the General Packet Radio Service enabled mobile telecommunication network serving the at least one terminal device (MS).
     
    22. The system according to claim 17, wherein the deriving means (DRV) is further configured to derive the roaming status information based on an Internet Protocol address of a serving node serving the at least one terminal device (MS).
     
    23. The system according to claim 13, wherein the roaming status information comprises information about whether the at least one terminal device (MS) is roaming.
     
    24. The system according to claim 13, wherein the roaming status information comprises information about the network in which the at least one terminal device (MS) is at that moment.
     
    25. The system according to claim 13, wherein said change comprises a received request for access bearer (AccB) establishment.
     
    26. The system according to claim 13, wherein said detected change comprises a detected new service flow.
     
    27. The system according to claim 25, wherein the gateway node (GW) is further configured to forward, responsive to changes in the roaming status information during the access bearer (AccB) establishment, changes in the roaming status information to the session control means (SC) and wherein the session control means (SC) is further configured to amend the service policy correspondingly.
     
    28. The system according to claim 26, wherein the gateway node (GW) is further configured to forward, responsive to changes in the roaming status information during the detected service flow, changes in the roaming status information to the session control means (SC) and wherein the session control means (SC) is further configured to amend the service policy correspondingly.
     
    29. The system according to claim 13, wherein the system further comprises:

    a subscriber database (SUB_DB) of the mobile communication network from which the system is configured to acquire subscription data associated with the subscriber of the at least one terminal device (MS) to be utilized in generating the service policy, said subscription data comprising roaming status specific subscription attributes.


     
    30. The system according to claim 13, wherein the session control means (SC) comprises pre-configured data to be utilized in generating the service policy, said pre-configured data comprising roaming status specific attributes.
     
    31. The system according to claim 17, wherein the system further comprises:

    an application function means (AF) from which the system is configured to obtain application session data to be utilized in generating the service policy, said application session data comprising roaming status specific application attributes.


     
    32. A gateway node (GW) of a mobile communication network (NW), comprising:

    detecting means (DCT) for detecting a change in a state of a connection between a terminal device (MS) of a packet data based mobile communication network (NW) and the gateway node (GW) of the mobile communication network (NW);

    deriving means (DRV) for deriving roaming status information on said terminal device (MS) in response to said detected change; and

    a policy request means (POL_REQ) for sending a request for service policy for a subscriber of said terminal device (MS), said request comprising the roaming status information, and said service policy indicating which subscriber services are allowed for said subscriber and further indicating rules for the subscriber services, said request for service policy to be sent to an element (SC) of the mobile communication network (NW) for providing session control.


     
    33. An element (SC) of a mobile communication network (NW) for providing session control, comprising:

    connection means for connecting said element (SC) to a packet data based mobile communication network (NW); and

    a session control means for generating a service policy indicating which subscriber services are allowed for a subscriber of a terminal device (MS) of said packet data based mobile communication network (NW) and further indicating rules for the subscriber services, wherein the service policy is based on a request received from a gateway node (GW) of said mobile communication network (NW) following detection of a change in a state of a connection between said terminal device (MS) and said gateway node (GW), wherein said request includes roaming status information on the terminal device (MS) said roaming status information having been derived in response to said detected change.


     
    34. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium, said computer program executing, when running on a computer associated with a gateway node and a session control means of a mobile communication network, a computer process comprising:

    detecting (10), at the gateway node of said mobile communication network, a change in a state of a connection between a terminal device of a packet data based mobile communication network and said gateway node of the mobile communication network;

    characterized in that the computer process further comprises:

    deriving (11), at the gateway node, roaming status information on the terminal device in response to the detected change;

    sending (12) a request for a service policy for a subscriber of said terminal device from the gateway node to said session control means of the mobile communication network, said request comprising the derived roaming status information; and

    generating (14), at the session control means, based on the request and the roaming status information, the service policy indicating which subscriber services are allowed for said subscriber and further indicating rules for the subscriber services.


     


    Ansprüche

    1. Verfahren zur Bereitstellung von Roaming-Statusinformationen zur Dienststeuerung in einem auf Paketdaten basierenden Mobilkommunikationsnetz, das ein oder mehrere Endgerät(e) umfasst, wobei das Verfahren den Schritt umfasst:

    an einem Netzübergangs (Gateway)-Knoten eines Mobilkommunikationsnetzes eine Änderung eines Status einer Verbindung zwischen einem Endgerät und dem Gateway-Knoten zu erkennen (10);

    dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Verfahren ferner die Schritte umfasst:

    am Gateway-Knoten Roaming-Statusinformationen über das Endgerät in Reaktion auf die erkannte Änderung abzuleiten (11);

    eine Anforderung von Dienstvorgaben (Service Policy) für einen Teilnehmer des Endgeräts vom Gateway-Knoten an ein Sitzungssteuerungsmittel des Mobilkommunikationsnetzes zu senden (12), wobei diese Anforderung die Roaming-Statusinformationen umfasst; und

    an dem Sitzungssteuerungsmittel basierend auf der Anforderung und den darin enthaltenen Roaming-Statusinformationen eine Service Policy zu erzeugen (14), die angibt, welche Teilnehmerdienste für den Teilnehmer zugelassen sind, und die ferner Regeln für die zugelassenen Teilnehmerdienste angibt.


     
    2. Verfahren gemäß Anspruch 1, wobei der Schritt des Ableitens (11) der Roaming-Statusinformationen basierend auf einem Informationselement mit einer Routing-Bereichskennung (Routing Area Identity) von einem bedienenden GPRS-Unterstützungsknoten (Serving GPRS Support Node) eines Mobilkommunikationsnetzes, das den allgemeinen Paketfunkdienst (General Packet Radio Service) unterstützt, wobei das Mobilkommunikationsnetz den bedienenden GPRS-Unterstützungsknoten (Serving GPRS Support Node) umfasst, durchgeführt wird.
     
    3. Verfahren gemäß Anspruch 1, wobei der Schritt des Ableitens (11) der Roaming-Statusinformationen basierend auf einer Internet-Protokolladresse eines bedienenden Knotens, der das Endgerät bedient, durchgeführt wird.
     
    4. Verfahren gemäß Anspruch 1, wobei der Schritt des Ableitens (11) der Roaming-Statusinformationen umfasst, die Roaming-Statusinformationen derart abzuleiten, dass sie Informationen dazu umfassen, ob das Endgerät den Rufbereich wechselt (Roaming).
     
    5. Verfahren gemäß Anspruch 1, wobei der Schritt des Ableitens (11) der Roaming-Statusinformationen umfasst, die Roaming-Statusinformationen derart abzuleiten, dass sie Informationen über das Netz umfassen, in dem sich das Endgerät gerade befindet.
     
    6. Verfahren gemäß Anspruch 1, wobei im Schritt des Erkennens (10) die Änderung eine empfangene Anforderung zum Aufbau eines Zugangsträgers umfasst.
     
    7. Verfahren gemäß Anspruch 1, wobei im Schritt des Erkennens (10) die Änderung einen erkannten neuen Dienstfluss umfasst.
     
    8. Verfahren gemäß Anspruch 6, wobei das Verfahren ferner die Schritte umfasst:

    Änderungen der Roaming-Statusinformationen während des Aufbaus des Zugangsträgers an das Sitzungssteuerungsmittel weiterzuleiten; und

    die Service Policy entsprechend zu ändern.


     
    9. Verfahren gemäß Anspruch 7, wobei das Verfahren ferner die Schritte umfasst:

    Änderungen der Roaming-Statusinformationen während des Aufbaus des Zugangsträgers an das Sitzungssteuerungsmittel weiterzuleiten; und

    die Service Policy entsprechend zu ändern.


     
    10. Verfahren gemäß Anspruch 1, ferner den Schritt umfassend:

    mit dem Teilnehmer des Endgeräts assoziierte Subskriptionsdaten aus einer Teilnehmerdatenbank des Mobilkommunikationsnetzes zu beschaffen (13), die zum Erzeugen der Service Policy genutzt werden sollen, wobei die Subskriptionsdaten für den Roaming-Status spezifische Subskriptionsattribute umfassen.


     
    11. Verfahren gemäß Anspruch 1, wobei das Verfahren ferner den Schritt umfasst:

    die Service Policy unter Verwendung vorkonfigurierter Daten zu erzeugen, wobei das Sitzungssteuerungsmittel die vorkonfigurierten Daten umfasst, wobei die vorkonfigurierten Daten für den Roaming-Status spezifische Attribute umfassen.


     
    12. Verfahren gemäß Anspruch 1, wobei das Verfahren ferner den Schritt umfasst:

    Anwendungssitzungsdaten von einem Anwendungsfunktionsmittel zu empfangen, wobei die Anwendungssitzungsdaten beim Erzeugen der Service Policy verwendet werden sollen, wobei die Anwendungssitzungsdaten für den Roaming-Status spezifische Anwendungssitzungsattribute umfassen.


     
    13. System zur Bereitstellung von Roaming-Statusinformationen zur Dienststeuerung in einem auf Paketdaten basierenden Mobilkommunikationsnetz (NW), wobei das System umfasst:

    wenigstens ein Endgerät (MS);

    dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das System ferner umfasst:

    einen Gateway-Knoten (GW), der ein Erkennungsmittel (Detecting Means, DCT) umfasst zum Erkennen einer Änderung eines Status einer Verbindung zwischen dem wenigstens einen Endgerät (MS) und dem Gateway-Knoten (GW), wobei der Gateway-Knoten (GW) ferner ein Ableitungsmittel (Deriving Means, DRV) umfasst zum Ableiten, in Reaktion auf die erkannte Änderung, von Roaming-Statusinformationen auf einem bestimmten Endgerät des wenigstens einen Endgeräts, für das die Änderung des Status der Verbindung erkannt wurde, und wobei der Gateway-Knoten (GW) ferner ein Policy-Anforderungsmittel (Policy Request Means, POL_REQ) zum Senden einer Anforderung einer Service Policy für einen Teilnehmer des bestimmten Endgeräts umfasst, wobei diese Anforderung die Roaming-Statusinformationen umfasst; und

    ein Sitzungssteuerungsmittel (Session Control Means, SC) zum Erzeugen, basierend auf der vom Gateway-Knoten empfangenen Anforderung und den Roaming-Statusinformationen, der Service Policy, die angibt, welche Teilnehmerdienste für den Teilnehmer zugelassen sind, und die ferner Regeln für die Teilnehmerdienste angibt.


     
    14. System gemäß Anspruch 13, wobei das auf Paketdaten basierende Mobilkommunikationsnetz (NW) ein auf dem Internet-Protokoll basierendes Mobilkommunikationsnetz umfasst.
     
    15. System gemäß Anspruch 14, wobei das auf dem Internet-Protokoll basierende Mobilkommunikationsnetz ein drahtloses Ortsnetz (Wireless Local Area Network) umfasst.
     
    16. System gemäß Anspruch 15, wobei der Gateway-Knoten (GW) ein Paketdaten-Gateway des drahtlosen Ortsnetzes umfasst.
     
    17. System gemäß Anspruch 14, wobei das auf dem Internet-Protokoll basierende Mobilkommunikationsnetz ein Mobilkommunikationsnetz umfasst, das den allgemeinen Paketfunkdienst (General Packet Radio Service) unterstützt.
     
    18. System gemäß Anspruch 17, wobei der Gateway-Knoten (GW) einen bedienenden GPRS-Unterstützungsknoten (Serving GPRS Support Node) des Mobilkommunikationsnetzes, das den allgemeinen Paketfunkdienst (General Packet Radio Service) unterstützt, umfasst.
     
    19. System gemäß Anspruch 14, wobei das auf dem Internet-Protokoll basierende Mobilkommunikationsnetz ein auf dem Codemultiplex-Vielfachzugriffsverfahren (Code Division Multiple Access) basierendes Netz umfasst.
     
    20. System gemäß Anspruch 19, wobei der Gateway-Knoten (GW) einen auf Paketdaten basierenden bedienenden Knoten (Packet Data Serving Node) des auf dem Codemultiplex-Vielfachzugriffsverfahren (Code Division Multiple Access) basierenden Netzes umfasst.
     
    21. System gemäß Anspruch 17, wobei das Ableitungsmittel (Deriving Means, DRV) ferner dafür ausgelegt ist, die Roaming-Statusinformationen aus einem Informationselement mit einer Routing-Bereichskennung (Routing Area Identity) abzuleiten, das von einem bedienenden GPRS-Unterstützungsknoten (Serving GPRS Support Node) eines Mobilkommunikationsnetzes, das den allgemeinen Paketfunkdienst (General Packet Radio Service) unterstützt, empfangen wurde, welcher das wenigstens eine Endgerät (MS) bedient.
     
    22. System gemäß Anspruch 17, wobei das Ableitungsmittel (Deriving Means, DRV) ferner dafür ausgelegt ist, die Roaming-Statusinformationen basierend auf einer Internet-Protokolladresse eines bedienenden Knotens, der das wenigstens eine Endgerät (MS) bedient, abzuleiten.
     
    23. System gemäß Anspruch 13, wobei die Roaming-Statusinformationen Informationen darüber umfassen, ob das wenigstens eine Endgerät (MS) den Rufbereich wechselt (Roaming).
     
    24. System gemäß Anspruch 13, wobei die Roaming-Statusinformationen Informationen zu dem Netz umfassen, in dem sich das wenigstens eine Endgerät (MS) gerade befindet.
     
    25. System gemäß Anspruch 13, wobei die Änderung eine empfangene Anforderung zum Aufbau eines Zugangsträgers (Access Bearer, AccB) umfasst.
     
    26. System gemäß Anspruch 13, wobei die erkannte Änderung einen erkannten neuen Dienstfluss umfasst.
     
    27. System gemäß Anspruch 25, wobei der Gateway-Knoten (GW) ferner dafür ausgelegt ist, in Reaktion auf Änderungen der Roaming-Statusinformationen während des Aufbaus des Zugangsträgers (Access Bearer, AccB), Änderungen der Roaming-Statusinformationen an das Sitzungssteuerungsmittel (SC) weiterzuleiten, und wobei das Sitzungssteuerungsmittel (SC) ferner dafür ausgelegt ist, die Service Policy entsprechend zu ändern.
     
    28. System gemäß Anspruch 26, wobei der Gateway-Knoten (GW) ferner dafür ausgelegt ist, in Reaktion auf Änderungen der Roaming-Statusinformationen während des erkannten Dienstflusses, Änderungen der Roaming-Statusinformationen an das Sitzungssteuerungsmittel (SC) weiterzuleiten, und wobei das Sitzungssteuerungsmittel (SC) ferner dafür ausgelegt ist, die Service Policy entsprechend zu ändern.
     
    29. System gemäß Anspruch 13, wobei das System ferner umfasst:

    eine Teilnehmerdatenbank (Subscriber Database, SUB_DB) des Mobilkommunikationsnetzes, aus der das System dafür ausgelegt ist, mit dem Teilnehmer des wenigstens einen Endgeräts (MS) assoziierte Subskriptionsdaten zu beschaffen, die zum Erzeugen der Service Policy genutzt werden sollen, wobei die Subskriptionsdaten für den Roaming-Status spezifische Subskriptionsattribute umfassen.


     
    30. System gemäß Anspruch 13, wobei das Sitzungssteuerungsmittel (SC) vorkonfigurierte Daten umfasst, die zum Erzeugen der Service Policy genutzt werden sollen, wobei die vorkonfigurierten Daten für den Roaming-Status spezifische Attribute umfassen.
     
    31. System gemäß Anspruch 17, wobei das System ferner umfasst:

    ein Anwendungsfunktionsmittel (Application Function Means, AF), von dem das System dafür ausgelegt ist, Anwendungssitzungsdaten zu erhalten, die zum Erzeugen der Service Policy genutzt werden sollen, wobei die Anwendungssitzungsdaten für den Roaming-Status spezifische Anwendungsattribute umfassen.


     
    32. Gateway-Knoten (GW) eines Mobilkommunikationsnetzes (NW), umfassend:

    Erkennungsmittel (Detecting Means, DCT) zum Erkennen einer Änderung eines Status einer Verbindung zwischen einem Endgerät (MS) eines auf Paketdaten basierenden Mobilkommunikationsnetzes (NW) und dem Gateway-Knoten (GW) des Mobilkommunikationsnetzes (NW);

    Ableitungsmittel (Deriving Means, DRV) zum Ableiten von Roaming-Statusinformationen auf dem Endgerät (MS) in Reaktion auf die erkannte Änderung; und

    ein Policy-Anforderungsmittel (Policy Request Means, POL REQ) zum Senden einer Anforderung einer Service Policy für einen Teilnehmer des Endgeräts (MS), wobei diese Anforderung die Roaming-Statusinformationen umfasst, und wobei die Service Policy angibt, welche Teilnehmerdienste für den Teilnehmer zugelassen sind, und ferner Regeln für die Teilnehmerdienste angibt, wobei die Anforderung einer Service Policy an ein Element (SC) des Mobilkommunikationsnetzes (NW) zum Bereitstellen von Sitzungssteuerung gesendet werden soll.


     
    33. Element (SC) eines Mobilkommunikationsnetzes (NW) zum Bereitstellen von Sitzungssteuerung, umfassend:

    Verbindungsmittel zum Verbinden des Elements (SC) mit einem auf Paketdaten basierenden Mobilkommunikationsnetz (NW); und

    ein Sitzungssteuerungsmittel zum Erzeugen einer Service Policy, die angibt, welche Teilnehmerdienste für einen Teilnehmer eines Endgeräts (MS) des auf Paketdaten basierenden Mobilkommunikationsnetzes (NW) zugelassen sind, und die ferner Regeln für die Teilnehmerdienste angibt, wobei die Service Policy auf einer Anforderung basiert, die von einem Gateway-Knoten (GW) des Mobilkommunikationsnetzes (NW) nach Erkennung einer Änderung eines Status einer Verbindung zwischen dem Endgerät (MS) und dem Gateway-Knoten (GW) empfangen wurde, wobei die Anforderung Roaming-Statusinformationen über das Endgerät (MS) beinhaltet, wobei die Roaming-Statusinformationen in Reaktion auf die erkannte Änderung abgeleitet worden sind.


     
    34. Computerprogramm, das auf einem computerlesbaren Datenträger ausgeführt ist, wobei das Computerprogramm, wenn es auf einem mit einem Gateway-Knoten und einem Sitzungssteuerungsmittel eines Mobilkommunikationsnetzes assoziierten Computer läuft, einen Computerprozess ausführt, der umfasst:

    am Gateway-Knoten des Mobilkommunikationsnetzes eine Änderung eines Status einer Verbindung zwischen einem Endgerät eines auf Paketdaten basierenden Mobilkommunikationsnetzes und dem Gateway-Knoten des Mobilkommunikationsnetzes zu erkennen (10);

    dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Computerprozess ferner umfasst:

    am Gateway-Knoten die Roaming-Statusinformationen über das Endgerät in Reaktion auf die erkannte Änderung abzuleiten (11);

    eine Anforderung einer Service Policy für einen Teilnehmer des Endgeräts vom Gateway-Knoten an das Sitzungssteuerungsmittel des Mobilkommunikationsnetzes zu senden (12), wobei diese Anforderung die abgeleiteten Roaming-Statusinformationen umfasst; und

    an dem Sitzungssteuerungsmittel basierend auf der Anforderung und den Roaming-Statusinformationen die Service Policy zu erzeugen (14), die angibt, welche Teilnehmerdienste für den Teilnehmer zugelassen sind, und die ferner Regeln für die Teilnehmerdienste angibt.


     


    Revendications

    1. Procédé de fourniture d'une information de statut d'itinérance pour un contrôle de service dans un réseau de communication mobile par paquets de données comprenant un ou plusieurs dispositifs terminaux, le procédé comprenant les étapes suivantes :

    détecter (10), au niveau d'un noeud de passerelle d'un réseau de communication mobile, un changement dans un état d'une connexion entre un dispositif terminal et le noeud de passerelle ;

    caractérisé en ce que le procédé comprend en outre les étapes suivantes :

    dériver (11), au niveau du noeud de passerelle, l'information de statut d'itinérance sur le dispositif terminal en réponse au changement détecté ;

    envoyer (12) une demande pour une politique de service pour un abonné dudit dispositif terminal depuis le noeud de passerelle à un moyen de contrôle de session du réseau de communication mobile, ladite demande comprenant l'information de statut d'itinérance ; et

    générer (14), au niveau du moyen de contrôle de session, sur la base de la demande et de l'information de statut d'itinérance s'y trouvant, une politique de service indiquant quels services d'abonné sont autorisés pour ledit abonné et indiquant en outre des règles pour les services d'abonné autorisés.


     
    2. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel l'étape comprenant de dériver (11) l'information de statut d'itinérance est exécutée sur la base d'un élément d'information d'identité de zone de routage reçu d'un noeud de support GPRS de service d'un réseau de télécommunication mobile actif de service général de radiocommunication par paquets, où le réseau de communication mobile comprend le noeud de support GPRS de service.
     
    3. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel l'étape comprenant de dériver (11) l'information de statut d'itinérance est exécutée sur la base d'une adresse de protocole Internet d'un noeud de service desservant le dispositif terminal.
     
    4. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel l'étape comprenant de dériver (11) l'information de statut d'itinérance comprend de dériver l'information de statut d'itinérance pour comprendre une information indiquant si le dispositif terminal est itinérant.
     
    5. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel l'étape comprenant de dériver (11) l'information de statut d'itinérance comprend de dériver l'information de statut d'itinérance pour comprendre une information concernant le réseau dans lequel le dispositif terminal se trouve à cet moment là.
     
    6. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel, dans l'étape de détection (10), le changement comprend une demande reçue pour un établissement de support d'accès.
     
    7. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel dans l'étape de détection (10), le changement comprend un nouveau flux de service détecté.
     
    8. Procédé selon la revendication 6, comprenant en outre les étapes suivantes :

    transmettre des changements dans l'information de statut d'itinérance au cours de l'établissement du support d'accès au moyen de contrôle de session ; et

    modifier la politique de service de manière correspondante.


     
    9. Procédé selon la revendication 7, comprenant en outre les étapes suivantes :

    transmettre des changements dans l'information de statut d'itinérance au cours de l'établissement du support d'accès au moyen de contrôle de session ; et

    modifier la politique de service de manière correspondante.


     
    10. Procédé selon la revendication 1, comprenant en outre l'étape suivante.
    acquérir (13) des données d'abonnement associées à l'abonné du dispositif terminal à partir d'une base de données d'abonnés du réseau de communication mobile à utiliser pour générer la politique de service, lesdites données d'abonnement comprenant des attributs d'abonnement spécifiques de statut d'itinérance.
     
    11. Procédé selon la revendication 1, comprenant en outre l'étape suivante :

    générer la politique de service en utilisant des données préconfigurées, où le moyen de contrôle de session comprend les données préconfigurées, lesdites données préconfigurées comprenant des attributs spécifiques de statut d'itinérance.


     
    12. Procédé selon la revendication 1, comprenant en outre l'étape suivante :

    recevoir des données de session d'application à partir d'un moyen de fonction d'application, où lesdites données de session d'application sont à utiliser pour générer la politique de service, lesdites données de session d'application comprenant des attributs de session d'application spécifiques de statut d'itinérance.


     
    13. Système pour fournir une information de statut d'itinérance pour un contrôle de service dans un réseau de communication mobile par paquets de données (NW), le système comprenant :

    au moins un dispositif terminal (MS) ;

    caractérisé en ce que le système comprend en outre :

    un noeud de passerelle (GW) comprenant un moyen de détection (DCT) pour détecter un changement dans un état d'une connexion entre l'au moins un dispositif terminal (MS) et le noeud de passerelle (GW), ledit noeud de passerelle (GW) comprenant en outre un moyen de dérivation (DRV) pour dériver, en réponse au changement détecté, une information de statut d'itinérance sur un dispositif terminal particulier dudit au moins un dispositif terminal pour lequel le changement dans l'état de la connexion a été détecté, et ledit noeud de passerelle (GW) comprenant en outre un moyen de demande de politique (POL REQ) pour envoyer une demande pour une politique de service pour un abonné dudit dispositif terminal particulier, ladite demande comprenant l'information de statut d'itinérance ; et

    un moyen de contrôle de session (SC) pour générer, sur la base de ladite demande reçue du noeud de passerelle et de l'information de statut d'itinérance, la politique de service indiquant quels services d'abonné sont autorisés pour ledit abonné et indiquant en outre des règles pour les services d'abonné.


     
    14. Système selon la revendication 13, dans lequel le réseau de communication mobile par paquets de données (NW) comprend un réseau de communication mobile par protocole Internet.
     
    15. Système selon la revendication 14, dans lequel le réseau de communication mobile par protocole Internet comprend un réseau local sans fil.
     
    16. Système selon la revendication 15, dans lequel le noeud de passerelle (GW) comprend une passerelle de données en paquets du réseau local sans fil.
     
    17. Système selon la revendication 14, dans lequel le réseau de communication mobile par protocole Internet comprend un réseau de télécommunication mobile actif de service général de radiocommunication par paquets.
     
    18. Système selon la revendication 17, dans lequel le noeud de passerelle (GW) comprend un noeud de support GPRS de passerelle du réseau de télécommunication mobile actif de service général de radiocommunication par paquets.
     
    19. Système selon la revendication 14, dans lequel le réseau de communication mobile par protocole Internet comprend un réseau par accès multiple par répartition en code.
     
    20. Système selon la revendication 19, dans lequel le noeud de passerelle (GW) comprend un noeud de service de données en paquets du réseau par accès multiple par répartition en code.
     
    21. Système selon la revendication 17, dans lequel le moyen de dérivation (DRV) est en outre configuré pour dériver l'information de statut d'itinérance d'un élément d'information d'identité de zone de routage reçu d'un noeud de support GPRS de service du réseau de télécommunication mobile actif de service général de radiocommunication par paquets desservant l'au moins un dispositif terminal (MS).
     
    22. Système selon la revendication 17, dans lequel le moyen de dérivation (DRV) est en outre configuré pour dériver l'information de statut d'itinérance sur la base d'une adresse de protocole Internet d'un noeud de service desservant l'au moins un dispositif terminal (MS).
     
    23. Système selon la revendication 13, dans lequel l'information de statut d'itinérance comprend une information indiquant si l'au moins un dispositif terminal (MS) est itinérant.
     
    24. Système selon la revendication 13, dans lequel l'information de statut d'itinérance comprend une information concernant le réseau dans lequel l'au moins un dispositif terminal (MS) se trouve à ce moment là.
     
    25. Système selon la revendication 13, dans lequel ledit changement comprend une demande reçue pour un établissement de support d'accès (AccB).
     
    26. Système selon la revendication 13, dans lequel ledit changement détecté comprend un nouveau flux de service détecté.
     
    27. Système selon la revendication 25, dans lequel le noeud de passerelle (GW) est en outre configuré pour transmettre, en réponse à des changements dans l'information de statut d'itinérance au cours de l'établissement du support d'accès (AccB), des changements dans l'information de statut d'itinérance au moyen de contrôle de session (SC) et où le moyen de contrôle de session (SC) est en outre configuré pour modifier la politique de service de manière correspondante.
     
    28. Système selon la revendication 26, dans lequel le noeud de passerelle (GW) est en outre configuré pour transmettre, en réponse à des changements dans l'information de statut d'itinérance au cours du flux de service détecté, des changements dans l'information de statut d'itinérance au moyen de contrôle de session (SC) et où le moyen de contrôle de session (SC) est en outre configuré pour modifier la politique de service de manière correspondante.
     
    29. Système selon la revendication 13, dans lequel le système comprend en outre :

    une base de données d'abonnés (SUB_DB) du réseau de communication mobile à partir duquel le système est configuré pour acquérir des données d'abonnement associées à l'abonné de l'au moins un dispositif terminal (MS) à utiliser pour générer la politique de service, lesdites données d'abonnement comprenant des attributs d'abonnement spécifiques de statut d'itinérance.


     
    30. Système selon la revendication 13, dans lequel le moyen de contrôle de session (SC) comprend des données préconfigurées à utiliser pour générer la politique de service, lesdites données préconfigurées comprenant des attributs spécifiques de statut d'itinérance.
     
    31. Système selon la revendication 17, dans lequel le système comprend en outre :

    un moyen de fonction d'application (AF) à partir duquel le système est configuré pour obtenir des données de session d'application à utiliser pour générer la politique de service, lesdites données de session d'application comprenant des attributs d'application spécifiques de statut d'itinérance.


     
    32. Noeud de passerelle (GW) d'un réseau de communication mobile (NW), comprenant :

    un moyen de détection (DCT) pour détecter un changement dans un état d'une connexion entre un dispositif terminal (MS) d'un réseau de communication mobile par paquets de données (NW) et le noeud de passerelle (GW) du réseau de communication mobile (NW) ;

    un moyen de dérivation (DRV) pour dériver une information de statut d'itinérance sur ledit dispositif terminal (MS) en réponse audit changement détecté ; et

    un moyen de demande de politique (POL_REQ) pour envoyer une demande de politique de service pour un abonné dudit dispositif terminal (MS), ladite demande comprenant l'information de statut d'itinérance, et ladite politique de service indiquant quels services d'abonné sont autorisés pour ledit abonné et indiquant en outre des règles pour les services d'abonné, ladite demande de politique de service devant être envoyée à un élément (SC) du réseau de communication mobile (NW) pour fournir un contrôle de session.


     
    33. Élément (SC) d'un réseau de communication mobile (NW) pour fournir un contrôle de session, comprenant :

    un moyen de connexion pour connecter ledit élément (SC) à un réseau de communication mobile par paquets de données (NW) ; et

    un moyen de contrôle de session pour générer une politique de service indiquant quels services d'abonné sont autorisés pour un abonné d'un dispositif terminal (MS) dudit réseau de communication mobile par paquets de données (NW) et indiquant en outre des règles pour les services d'abonné, où la politique de service est basée sur une demande reçue d'un noeud de passerelle (GW) dudit réseau de communication mobile (NW), suite à la détection d'un changement dans un état d'une connexion entre ledit dispositif terminal (MS) et ledit noeud de passerelle (GW), où ladite demande comprend une information de statut d'itinérance sur le dispositif terminal (MS), ladite information de statut d'itinérance ayant été dérivée en réponse audit changement détecté.


     
    34. Programme informatique intégré sur un support lisible par ordinateur, ledit programme informatique exécutant, lorsqu'il est exécuté sur un ordinateur associé à un noeud de passerelle et à un moyen de contrôle de session d'un réseau de communication mobile, un traitement informatique comprenant les étapes suivantes :

    détecter (10), au niveau du noeud de passerelle dudit réseau de communication mobile, un changement dans un état d'une connexion entre un dispositif terminal d'un réseau de communication mobile par paquets de données et ledit noeud de passerelle du réseau de communication mobile ;

    caractérisé en ce que le traitement informatique comprend en outre les étapes suivantes :

    dériver (11), au niveau du noeud de passerelle, une information de statut d'itinérance sur le dispositif terminal en réponse au changement détecté ;

    envoyer (12) une demande pour une politique de service pour un abonné dudit dispositif terminal depuis le noeud de passerelle audit moyen de contrôle de session du réseau de communication mobile, ladite demande comprenant l'information de statut d'itinérance dérivée ; et

    générer (14), au niveau du moyen de contrôle de session, sur la base de la demande et de l'information de statut d'itinérance s'y trouvant, la politique de service indiquant quels services d'abonné sont autorisés pour ledit abonné et indiquant en outre des règles pour les services d'abonné autorisés.


     




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    Cited references

    REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION



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    Patent documents cited in the description