Session based support of multiple 3GPP standards versions

摘要

Embodiments are disclosed that enable a device such as a policy and charging rules function (PCRF) node to operate with other nodes in a long term evolution (LTE) network that are operating at different respective major-minor release combinations of the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) standards. Some embodiments enable such a device to operate with another network node at a given major-minor release combination of the 3GPP standards with respect to one session being managed by the device and at another major-minor release combination of the 3GPP standards with respect to another session. Some embodiments enable the major-minor release combination to be specified by first and second attribute value pairs (AVPs) respectively indicating the major and minor release identifiers of the major-minor release combination when a new session is requested, thereby providing greater flexibility for establishing sessions.

主权项

1. A device for controlling sessions in a network comprising:
an interface for communicating with an entity operable to send and receive messages regarding a session; data storage adapted to store session data related to the session and to store configuration data corresponding to the entity; and a controller configured to: determine, during the establishment of a new session, a major-minor release combination of a protocol version to be used in the new session from first and second attribute value pairs (AVPs) of a message received from the entity requesting establishment of the new session, and determine, during an existing session, the major-minor release combination of a protocol version to be used in the existing session from the session data responsive to receiving, from the entity, a message regarding the existing session, wherein the first and second AVPs respectively indicate a major release and a minor release corresponding to the major-minor release combination.