Diameter Agent Routing Zones for Scalable Subscriber Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing communication systems face inefficiencies and high costs due to slow adaptation and unnecessary redundancy when expanding to meet growing demand, leading to obsolescence.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a communication system architecture that utilizes routing zones with specialized Diameter agents, such as relay, proxy, and translation agents, to manage subscriber information without maintaining session state and selectively adjust routing information within the Diameter protocol, allowing for scalable and efficient communication session management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If communication systems expand by providing redundancy to accommodate growing demand, then system capacity increases, but system cost and efficiency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem capacityVSAvoidsystem cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system is segmented into multiple routing zones, each with specialized Diameter agents that handle specific routing functions. This segmentation allows the system to scale capacity by adding zones rather than duplicating entire system functions, reducing redundancy and cost while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Diameter agents are designed with multi-functionality, serving as relay, proxy, and translation agents across different routing zones. This universality allows a single agent type to perform multiple roles, reducing the need for redundant specialized components and lowering system cost while maintaining flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If systems adjust to incorporate improved technology, then system obsolescence is prevented, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetechnology adaptationVSAvoidsystem structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Diameter agents act as intermediaries between network elements and the core routing infrastructure. This intermediary layer allows technology improvements to be implemented in the agent software without requiring changes to the underlying network elements, enabling technology adaptation while maintaining stable system structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The routing zone architecture is designed to be dynamic, allowing zones to be added, removed, or modified based on technological advancements and demand changes. This dynamic structure enables the system to adapt to improved technology without requiring complete system redesign, balancing adaptability with structural stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS9912488B2System and apparatus for providing subscriber management to support communications

Publication Date: 2018.03.06 AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I L P

AI summary

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, utilizing a first diameter agent function to route messages between network elements that provide subscriber management for a communication session, utilizing the first agent function to maintain transaction state during the communication session without maintaining session state, and utilizing the first server to selectively adjust routing information for the messages without adjusting non-routing information for the messages. Other embodiments are disclosed.