Machine-to-Machine Network Optimization and Online Charging

Abstract

Systems and methods for improving efficiency in a mobile communications network are described. In one embodiment, a method for conserving network resources comprises releasing network resources related to a User Equipment (“UE”) session at one or more network nodes without notifying the UE. A subset of the session information that can be used to connect with the UE is stored at a network node. If data is received for the UE, the stored subset of information can be used to 1) establish network resources related to the UE that were previously released and 2) deliver the data to the UE. In another embodiment, shared data resources are granted to one or more subscribers associated with a Designated User Group (“DUG”). An online charging session is assigned to the DUG that identifies policy data for granting shared data resources to the Designated User Group.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method for terminating an online charging session that is allocated to a device user group (DUG), the method being implemented by a first network node, the method comprising:
 receiving a first delete session request message from a second network node, wherein the first delete session request message comprises a first request to delete the online charging session, and wherein the first delete session request message further comprises a first subscriber identifier corresponding to a first subscriber that belongs to the DUG;   determining that there is at least one additional subscriber besides the first subscriber in the DUG when the first delete session request message is received;   sending a first delete session response message to the second network node in response to the first delete session request message, wherein the first delete session response message declines to terminate the online charging session;   receiving a second delete session request message from the second network node, wherein the second delete session request message comprises a second request to delete the online charging session, and wherein the second delete session request message further comprises a second subscriber identifier corresponding to a second subscriber that belongs to the DUG;   determining that the second subscriber is the last subscriber in the DUG when the second delete session request message is received; and   sending a terminate request message to an online charging node in response to determining that the second subscriber is the last subscriber in the DUG when the second delete session request message is received.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the terminate request message comprises an indication of used service units for members of the DUG. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the first network node comprises a packet gateway (PGW);   the second network node comprises a serving gateway (SGW); and   the online charging node comprises an online charging system (OCS) server.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising sending a second delete session response message to the second network node in response to the second delete session request message, wherein the second delete session response message indicates that the online charging session is terminated. 
     
     
         6 . A system for tracking resource usage of a device user group (DUG), the system comprising:
 one or more processors;   memory communicatively coupled to the one or more processors; and   instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable by the one or more processors to:
 receive a first data packet corresponding to a first subscriber that belongs to the DUG; 
 send a first request message that identifies the DUG to an online charging node, the first request message initiating an online charging session; 
 receive a first answer in response to the first request message, the first answer being received from the online charging node, the first answer comprising a first resource grant for the DUG; 
 receive a second data packet corresponding to a second subscriber that belongs to the DUG; 
 determine that a combined usage of the first subscriber and the second subscriber exceeds the first resource grant for the DUG; 
 send a second request message that identifies the DUG to the online charging node, the second request message requesting an additional resource grant for the DUG; and 
 receive a second answer in response to the second request message, the second answer being received from the online charging node, the second answer comprising a second resource grant for the DUG. 
   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the second request message comprises:
 a first indication of a first session usage corresponding to the first subscriber; and   a second indication of a second session usage corresponding to the second subscriber.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , further comprising additional instructions stored in the memory, the additional instructions being executable by the one or more processors to update at least one of a traffic detection function or a policy and charging enforcement function based at least in part on the second resource grant. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the online charging node comprises an online charging system (OCS) server. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the first data packet and the second data packet are received at a packet gateway (PGW) from a serving gateway (SGW). 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the first request message comprises a first credit control request initialization (CCR-I) message;   the second request message comprises a second CCR-I message;   the first answer comprises a first credit control answer initialization (CCA-I) message; and   the second answer comprises a second CCA-I message.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 6 , further comprising additional instructions stored in the memory, the additional instructions being executable by the one or more processors to:
 update a local memory in response to receiving the first data packet, the local memory being updated to reflect a first session usage corresponding to the first subscriber; and   update the local memory in response to receiving the second data packet, the local memory being updated to reflect a second session usage corresponding to the second subscriber.   
     
     
         13 . A computer-readable medium comprising instructions that are executable by one or more processors to cause a computing system to:
 receive a first create session request message identifying a first subscriber that belongs to a device user group (DUG);   determine that no existing online charging session is associated with the DUG when the first create session request message is received;   send a request message that identifies the DUG to an online charging node, the request message initiating an online charging session;   receive an answer in response to the request message, the answer being received from the online charging node, the answer comprising policy information associated with the DUG;   apply the policy information to the first subscriber;   receive a second create session request message identifying a second subscriber that belongs to the DUG;   determine that the online charging session associated with the DUG is still active when the second create session request message is received; and   apply the policy information that was previously received from the online charging node to the second subscriber.   
     
     
         14 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein in response to determining that the online charging session associated with the DUG is still active when the second create session request message is received, a first network node applies the policy information that was previously received from the online charging node to the second subscriber without communicating with the online charging node. 
     
     
         15 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein the policy information comprises one or more quotas, and wherein each quota is associated with one or more services or rating groups. 
     
     
         16 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein the policy information comprises subscriber policy data and default quality of service (QoS) data. 
     
     
         17 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , further comprising additional instructions that are executable by the one or more processors to cause the computing system to periodically check for updates to the policy information at predetermined time intervals. 
     
     
         18 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein the online charging node comprises a policy and charging rules function (PCRF). 
     
     
         19 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein the first create session request message and the second create session request message are received from a second network node, and further comprising additional instructions that are executable by the one or more processors to cause the computing system to:
 send a first create session response message to the second network node in response to the first create session request message; and   send a second create session response message to the second network node in response to the second create session request message.   
     
     
         20 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the first create session request message and the second create session request message are received from a serving gateway (SGW) at a packet gateway (PGW); and   the online charging node comprises a policy and charging rules function (PCRF).   
     
     
         21 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the request message comprises a credit control request initialization (CCR-I) message; and   the answer comprises a credit control answer initialization (CCA-I) message.