Patent ID: 8693401

Claim:
A machine-implemented method performed within a network element for processing network signaling of a packet core network, the method comprising: configuring a hierarchical subscription information in such a way there are group level subscription data and an user device level subscription data, and a logic to link the user device level subscription data to a group level subscription data; configuring a hierarchical policy information in such a way there are group level policy information and an user device level policy information, and a logic to link the user device level policy information to a group level policy information; providing access, by a first hierarchical subscription information, to the network to one or more remote nodes via access network interface logic; creating a hierarchical context information in such a way there are group level context information and a user device level context information, and a logic to link the user device level context information to a group level context information; updating a hierarchical context information for the whole group or one or more remote nodes upon change of remote node's status such as establishing a new session or changing the location; referring to a first hierarchical context information to handle control data and user data for the remote nodes that are given access by a first access logic; routing a network traffic to and from a remote node by a first hierarchical policy information and a first hierarchical context information.