Method and system for using policy to handle packets

Abstract

An aspect of the disclosure provides a method for handling delayed packets in a mobile wireless network performed by a PCF. The method includes receiving information pertaining to packet handling policy (PHP) parameters for a PDU session; and sending the PHP to other network functions for instructing devices in the user plane of the mobile wireless network how to handle delayed packets.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method by a user equipment (UE) for handling packets in a mobile wireless network, the method comprising:
 receiving a packet handling instruction for a quality of service (QoS) flow of a protocol data unit (PDU) session from a session management function (SMF);   obtaining at least one of a packet delay threshold (PDT) and a maximum packet delay threshold (MPDT) based on the packet handling instruction; wherein MPDT is larger than PDT; and   performing one of delivering and dropping a packet according to the packet handling instruction.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the packet handling instruction comprises at least one of:
 a parameter indicating the UE not to discard a delayed measurement packet; and   a parameter indicating the UE when to discard a delayed measurement packet.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the packet handling instruction comprises at least one of:
 a parameter indicating to drop or deliver a packet when a packet delay of the packet exceeds the PDT; and   a parameter indicating to drop or deliver a packet when a packet delay of the packet exceeds the MPDT.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the packet handling instruction further comprises:
 a first packet priority parameter indicating a first scheduling priority for scheduling transmission of a packet, by the UE, when a packet delay of the packet is less than or equal to the PDT; and   a second packet priority parameter indicating a second scheduling priority for scheduling transmission of the packet, by the UE, when the packet delay is greater than the PDT and less than or equal to a maximum packet delay threshold (MPDT).   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the obtaining at least one of the PDT and the MPDT comprises one of:
 creating one of a PDT and a MPDT according to the received packet handling instruction; and   setting one of an existing PDT and an existing MPDT according to the received packet handling instruction.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the receiving comprises receiving one or more quality of service (QoS) rules. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the packet handling instruction are part of one or more quality of service (QoS) rules. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the packet handling instruction are based on a packet handling policy (PHP) indicating how to handle packets. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising:
 sending, to the SMF, a message indicating the UE's capability for the packet handling instruction. 
 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the UE's capability for the packet handling instruction is indicated in a UE-specific database. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the UE's capability for the packet handling instruction is part of the UE's session management (SM) core network capability stored in at least one of: a unified data management function (UDM), a user data repository (UDR), and the SMF. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the UE's capability for the packet handling instruction is indicated in UE subscription data stored in a unified data management function (UDM) or a user data repository (UDR). 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the packet handling instruction are based on at least the UE's capability for the packet handling instruction. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising:
 sending, to the SMF, a message comprising a packet handling indication indicating that a delayed packet should be dropped or delivered, wherein the packet handling instruction is based on at least the packet handling indication. 
 
     
     
         35 . A method by an application function (AF) for handling packets in a mobile wireless network, the method comprising:
 sending, to a policy control function (PCF), a request indicating one or more packet handling parameters for a quality of service (QoS) flow of a protocol data unit (PDU) session, the one or more packet handling parameters indicating how to handle packets; and   receiving a response from the PCF based on the request.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein:
 the request indicates that a packet handling instruction be created according to the one or more packet handling parameters included in the request; and   the one or more packet handling parameters comprises at least one of:
 a parameter indicating to drop or deliver a packet when a packet delay of the packet exceeds a packet delay threshold (PDT); and 
 a parameter indicating to drop or deliver a packet when a packet delay of the packet exceeds a maximum threshold larger than the PDT. 
   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein:
 the request is sent to the PCF via a network exposure function (NEF);   the request indicates creation of a packet handling instruction based on the one or more packet handling parameters; and   the request based on a service operation of the NEF that permits the creation of the packet handling instruction.   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein:
 the request is sent to the PCF via a network exposure function (NEF);   the request indicates that an existing packet handling instruction be modified according to the one or more packet handling parameters; and   the request based on a service operation of the NEF that permits modifying the existing packet handling instruction.   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein:
 the request is sent to the PCF via a network exposure function (NEF);   the request indicates that an existing packet handling instruction be deleted; and   the request based on a service operation of the NEF that permits deletion of the existing packet handling instruction.   
     
     
         40 . An apparatus comprising:
 a processor; and   non-transient machine readable memory storing machine readable instructions which when executed by the processor configure a user equipment for:
 receiving a packet handling instruction for a quality of service (QoS) flow of a protocol data unit (PDU) session from a session management function (SMF); 
 obtaining at least one of a packet delay threshold (PDT) and a maximum packet delay threshold (MPDT) based on the packet handling instruction, wherein MPDT is larger than PDT; and 
 performing one of delivering and dropping a packet according to the packet handling instruction.