Efficient data delivery method and apparatus

摘要

A method of delivering data to user terminals connected to an Internet Protocol Connectivity Access Network, IP-CAN, wherein the IP-CAN implements a Policy and Charging Control, PCC, architecture. The method comprises caching data within an IP-CAN cache server upon a decision made by a Policy and Charging Rules Function, PCRF, of the PCC architecture. The cached data is then identified to a Policy and Charging Enforcement Function, PCEF, of the PCC architecture. At the PCEF, data requests made by user terminals are monitored and a determination made as to whether or not a request relates to cached data. If a request does relate to cached data, then that cached data is delivered from the IP-CAN cache server to the requesting user terminal.

主权项

1. A method of delivering user-requested content data to user terminals connected to an Internet Protocol Connectivity Access Network, IP-CAN, in response to data requests made by user terminals for accessing the content data, wherein the IP-CAN implements a Policy and Charging Control, PCC, architecture, the method comprising:
performing Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) on certain traffic flows through the IP-CAN; reporting the DPI results to a Policy and Charging Rules Function, PCRF, of the PCC architecture; caching a copy of the user-requested content data within an IP-CAN cache server upon a decision made by the PCRF, of the PCC architecture; identifying the cached copy of the user-requested content data to a Policy and Charging Enforcement Function, PCEF, of the PCC architecture; at the PCEF, monitoring the data requests made by user terminals and determining if a request relates to a cached copy of user-requested content data; and if a request does relate to a cached copy of user-requested content data, then delivering that cached copy of user-requested content data from the IP-CAN cache server to the requesting user terminal, wherein the user-requested content data is not user specific because the user-requested content data is content data requestable by multiple different user terminals, wherein the PCRF makes the decision to cache a copy of user-requested content data in the IP-CAN cache server on the basis of said DPI results, and wherein said step of identifying the cached copy of user-requested content data to the PCEF includes sending the identification of the cached copy of user-requested content data from the PCRF to the PCEF.