Patent ID: 8144591
Filing Date: 2012-03-27
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A network device providing integrated functionality comprising: a policy agent that is configured to store in a computer readable memory policy information including local policy information and network policy information configured in a hierarchy, wherein the local policy information includes device-level policies and the network policy information includes network-level policies, and wherein the local policy information and the network policy include polices based on call session control function (CSCF) information; a policy charging and enforcement function (PCEF) residing in the network device that is configured to manage at least one packet flow through the network device using a first policy information received from the policy agent; a call session control function (CSCF) residing in the network device that is configured to handle call session setup and teardown and analyze requested media parameters against a second policy information received from the policy agent; the policy agent in response to receiving a request to provide the first policy information to the PCEF, searching the computer readable memory to determine if the computer readable memory stores the first policy information; if the computer readable memory stores the first policy information, retrieving the first policy information from the computer readable memory and providing the first policy information to the PCEF; and if the computer readable memory does not store the first policy information, receiving the first policy information from a policy server, storing the first policy information in the computer readable memory, and providing the first policy information to the PCEF.