Backup PCRF Failover via Independent Message Copying
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Solution Overview
Problem
In telecommunications networks, particularly those using VoLTE standards, the failure of a Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) node can lead to call failures due to unavailability or errors, with existing redundancy mechanisms impacting performance and requiring synchronization that may introduce corruption or downtime.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a backup PCRF node that receives a copy of messages from a Diameter Routing Agent (DRA) independently, maintaining session information without synchronization with the primary PCRF, allowing seamless failover and reducing the impact of primary PCRF failures, including data corruption and natural disasters, while allowing the primary PCRF to be updated without affecting the backup.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a backup PCRF node is implemented with independent message reception from DRA, then failover reliability is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The backup PCRF node receives a copy of the session information message directly from the DRA, creating an independent duplicate of the primary PCRF's data. This copying mechanism ensures the backup node has current session information without requiring complex synchronization protocols, thereby improving failover reliability while managing system complexity through a straightforward replication approach.
2Reliability
If the backup PCRF maintains session information independently without synchronization, then data corruption risk is reduced, but information consistency between nodes becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The DRA acts as an intermediary that distributes session information messages to both the primary and backup PCRF nodes simultaneously. This mediator approach ensures both nodes receive identical information directly from the source, maintaining data integrity and consistency without requiring complex inter-node synchronization that could introduce corruption risks.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the primary PCRF can be updated independently without affecting the backup, then maintenance flexibility is improved, but coordination between nodes becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the PCRF functionality into independent primary and backup nodes, each capable of receiving session information directly from the DRA. This segmentation allows the primary PCRF to be updated, maintained, or replaced independently without affecting the backup node's operation, thereby improving maintenance flexibility while managing coordination complexity through architectural independence.
Data Source
AI summary
A telecommunication network associated with a wireless telecommunication provider can be configured to use a backup PCRF when a primary PCRF is detected as exhibiting a failure condition. Instead of the backup PCRF synchronizing with the primary PCRF as in a redundancy mode, the backup PCRF receives a copy of messages sent to the primary PCRF and maintains session information independently from the primary PCRF. In some configurations, a node within the call flow, such as a Diameter Routing Agent (DRA) transmits a copy of the message sent to the primary PCRF to the backup PCRF. In this way, the backup PCRF will not receive data from the primary PCRF that may be corrupted. When a routing agent detects a failure condition of the primary PCRF, the routing agent seamlessly transitions to use of the backup PCRF.