8 import org.pcmm.concurrent.IWorker;
9 import org.pcmm.state.IStateful;
13 * As discussed in RFC 2753 [11], the policy management framework underlying
14 * PacketCable Multimedia is based on the work of the IETF's Resource Allocation
15 * Protocol (RAP) working group. Since the Policy Server is situated between the
16 * Application Manager and the CMTS, it simultaneously plays a dual role as a
17 * "proxy" for AM-initiated session requests and as a "sentry" for defining and
18 * enforcing Resource Control Domain policy.
21 * As described in [11] and in keeping with the PacketCable 1.x DQoS model, the
22 * Policy Server serves as Policy Decision Point (PDP) in relation to the CMTS
23 * resource-management procedures. Conversely, the Policy Server assumes the
24 * role of Policy Enforcement Point (PEP) in relation to the Application Manager
25 * as it proxies Gate Control messages to and from the CMTS element.
28 * To revisit the interaction scenario, the Application Manager issues policy
29 * requests to the Policy Server. The Policy Server acting as a "sentry" for
30 * these requests, and applies a set of policy rules that have been
31 * pre-provisioned by the MSO. Upon passing the checks, the Policy Server then
32 * acts as a "proxy" with respect to the Application Manager and the CMTS,
33 * forwarding the policy request and returning any associated response. Each
34 * policy request transaction must be processed individually.
37 * Policy decisions may be based on a number of factors, such as:
39 * <li>Parameters associated with the request and the status of available
41 * <li>Identity of the particular client and associated profile information</li>
42 * <li>Application parameters</li>
43 * <li>Security considerations</li>
44 * <li>Time-of-day</li>
46 * The primary functions of the Policy Server include:
48 * <li>A policy decision request mechanism, invoked by Application Managers</li>
49 * <li>A policy decision request 'policing' mechanism, enforcing installed
51 * <li>A policy decision delivery mechanism, used to install policy decisions on
53 * <li>A mechanism to allow for the proxying of QoS management messages to the
54 * CMTS on behalf of the Application Manager</li>
55 * <li>An event recording interface to a Record Keeping Server that is used to
56 * log policy requests, which may in turn be correlated with network resource
60 * Since the Policy Server functions as a proxy between the AM and CMTS elements
61 * (with complementary client and server interfaces) some MSOs may elect to
62 * deploy multiple layers of Policy Servers and to delegate certain policy
63 * decisions among these servers in order to satisfy requirements associated
64 * with scalability and fault-tolerance.
70 public interface IPCMMServer extends IStateful {
83 * When a client connects to the server, a handler is needed to manage the
84 * exchange of the messages between this client and the server.
88 public static interface IPCMMClientHandler extends IWorker, IPCMMClient {