Diameter Agent for Location-Based Roaming Cost Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems lack the ability to differentiate and control inter-carrier roaming costs based on location, as they apply the same policy to subscribers whether they are roaming in-network or out-of-network, without integrating roaming agreement intelligence into policy decisions.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a Diameter agent that extracts subscriber identification and roaming information from signaling messages and communicates this information to a policy control function to select appropriate policy rules, allowing for location-based policy application, enabling separate policies for in-network and out-of-network roaming.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the same policy is applied to subscribers whether they are roaming in-network or out-of-network, then system simplicity is maintained, but inter-carrier roaming cost containment is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the policy management system by introducing a Diameter agent that separates in-network and out-of-network roaming detection and policy application. This segmentation allows the system to apply different policies for different roaming scenarios, enabling cost containment through location-based differentiation while maintaining manageable complexity through modular architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The Diameter agent acts as an intermediary component between the existing PCRF and the roaming networks. It intercepts Diameter signaling messages, extracts roaming information, and provides location-based policy decisions to the PCRF. This intermediary approach enables sophisticated roaming cost management without requiring fundamental changes to the existing policy framework.
2Loss of energy
If location-based policy differentiation is implemented, then inter-carrier roaming cost containment is achieved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The Diameter agent serves as a specialized intermediary that handles the complexity of location-based policy differentiation. By concentrating roaming detection and policy selection logic in this single component, the patent isolates complexity to a manageable module while leaving the rest of the system architecture relatively simple and unchanged.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent leverages existing Diameter signaling message formats and protocols to carry location information. By reusing established communication protocols and message structures, the system avoids creating entirely new complex communication frameworks, thereby reducing overall system complexity while still achieving location-based policy capabilities.
3Measurement precision
If roaming information is extracted and communicated to policy control function, then policy selection accuracy is improved, but information processing overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The Diameter agent extracts roaming information from Diameter signaling messages at the earliest possible point in the roaming establishment process. By performing this extraction preliminary to policy decision-making, the system ensures accurate location information is available when needed without requiring re-processing or additional querying later in the call flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The Diameter agent autonomously extracts roaming information from incoming signaling messages using predefined rules and protocols. This self-service approach eliminates the need for separate querying mechanisms or manual configuration of roaming status, reducing processing overhead while maintaining high detection accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and computer readable media for enabling location-based policy in a mobile communication network are disclosed. According to one method, a first Diameter signaling message is received at a Diameter agent. Subscriber identification information and roaming information are extracted from the first Diameter message and the extracted information is communicated to a policy control function.