Method and system for policy-based control in a distributed network

Abstract

A method and a system is disclosed for policy-based control of a communication network having a distributed architecture, including at least one heterogeneous communication network, which network elements provide for registering events, sending notifications of the occurrence of events and enforcing a policy upon said events if certain conditions are met, wherein the PEP serves as a server towards a PDP, being a client. By applying the method and system of the invention, multiple Stakeholders, having each at least one Policy Decision Point, can influence policy enforcements carried out at a Policy Enforcement Point.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for policy-based control of a communication network having a distributed architecture, including at least one heterogeneous communication network comprising:
 messaging between network elements, said network elements comprising at least one policy enforcement point (PEP), one or more policy decision points (PDPs), which network elements provide for registering events;   sending notifications of the occurrence of events; and   enforcing a policy upon said events if certain conditions are met wherein said at least one PEP serves as a server towards at least one PDP, being a client.   
     
     
         2 . A method for policy-based control of a communication network according to  claim 1 , wherein the policies of a PEP are available to the one or more PDPs. 
     
     
         3 . A method for policy-based control of a communication network according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more PDPs subscribe to one or more PEP policy enforcement capabilities outside the service domain of a PDP. 
     
     
         4 . A method for policy-based control of a communication network according to  claim 1 , where, in case of multiple PDPs having registered to the same event, a preference- or priority scheme is applied by the PEP for sending the notifications to one or more of said multiple PDPs. 
     
     
         5 . A method for policy-based control of a communication network according to  claim 1 , where, in case of a PEP receiving from multiple PDPs, multiple suggestions to enforce a policy, a preference- or priority scheme is applied by said PEP for selecting such a suggestion to enforce a policy upon. 
     
     
         6 . A method for policy-based control of a communication network according to  claim 1 , wherein, after the occurrence of the event, said messaging is synchronous, wherein event data are sent together with the notifications from the PEP to the PDP. 
     
     
         7 . A method for policy-based control of a communication network according to  claim 1 , wherein, after occurrence of the event, said messaging is asynchronous, wherein event data are sent from the PEP to the PDP after a request by the PDP for sending said event data. 
     
     
         8 . A method for policy-based control of a communication network according to  claim 1 , wherein the method comprises the steps of:
 a PEP registering events that a PDPs can subscribe to;   the PEP registering policy enforcements that the PDP may suggest to the PEP;   the PDP obtaining said registered events;   the PDP obtaining said registered policy enforcements;   
     
     
         9 . A method for policy-based control of a communication network according  claim 8 , wherein the method further comprises the steps of:
 the PDP requesting a PEP to be notified of a specified event;   the PDP requesting a PEP for a possibility to enforce a policy;   the PEP notifying a PDP that the specified event has occurred;   the PDP suggesting to said PEP a policy enforcement appropriate for said specified event; and   the PEP enforcing said policy enforcement.   
     
     
         10 . A system for policy-based control of a communication network having a distributed architecture, including at least one heterogeneous communication network comprising:
 means for messaging between network elements, said network elements comprising at least one policy enforcement point (PEP), one or more policy decision points (PDPs), which network elements provide for registering events;   means for sending notifications of the occurrence of events; and   means for enforcing a policy upon said events if certain conditions are met, wherein said at least one PEP is arranged as a server towards at least one PDP, being a client.   
     
     
         11 . A system for policy-based control of a communication network according to  claim 10 , having access means for making the policies of a PEP available to the one or more PDPs. 
     
     
         12 . A system for policy-based control of a communication network according to  claim 10 , having subscribing means for the one or more PDPs to subscribe to one or more PEP policy enforcement capabilities outside their own service domain. 
     
     
         13 . A system for policy-based control of a communication network according to  claim 10 , where, in case of multiple PDPs having registered to the same event, prioritizing means are provided for applying a preference- or priority scheme by the PEP for sending the notifications to one or more of said multiple PDPs. 
     
     
         14 . A system for policy-based control of a communication network according to  claim 10 , where, in case of a PEP receiving multiple suggestions from multiple PDPs, selecting means are provided for applying a preference- or priority scheme by said PEP for selecting a suggestion to enforce a policy upon. 
     
     
         15 . A system for policy-based control of a communication network according to  claim 10 , wherein synchronous messaging means are provided to enable, after the occurrence of the event, synchronous messaging, wherein event data are sent together with the notifications from the PEP to the PDP. 
     
     
         16 . A system for policy-based control of a communication network according to  claim 10 , wherein asynchronous messaging means are provided to enable, after occurrence of the event, asynchronous messaging, wherein event data are sent from the PEP to the PDP after a request by the PDP for sending said event data. 
     
     
         17 . A system for policy-based control of a communication network according to  claim 10 , having a register arranged for:
 a PEP to register events that a PDP can subscribe to;   the PEP to register policy enforcements that the PDP may suggest to the PEP;   the PDP to obtain said registered events; and   the PDP to obtain said registered policy enforcements.   
     
     
         18 . A system for policy-based control of a communication network according to  claim 10 , wherein PDPs comprise stakeholders such as operators, application developers, vendors, governmental organizations, end-users or service providers.