Diameter Redirect Agent Cross-Realm Client Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication network systems lack the ability to redirect clients to servers in different realms without requiring clients to be upgraded, leading to significant workload and maintenance challenges when operators need to switch service providers or manage resources across different realms.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that allows clients to be redirected to servers in new realms by using a redirect agent that determines and communicates the necessary realm and server information within Diameter protocol messages, enabling clients to reroute requests directly to servers in the new realm without needing upgrades or maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the existing redirect agent returns only server address in the current realm, then the redirection process is simple, but the client cannot be redirected to servers in new realms requiring client upgrades and heavy maintenance workload
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the redirection information into two distinct parts: the server address (Redirect-Host) and the realm identification (Redirect-Realm). This segmentation allows the redirect agent to provide comprehensive redirection information without overcomplicating the message structure, enabling clients to be redirected to any realm while maintaining a clean, organized protocol format.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a new dimension to the redirection mechanism by introducing the Redirect-Realm field. Previously, redirection was limited to a single dimension (server address within the same realm). By adding the realm dimension, the system enables cross-realm redirection without fundamentally changing the existing redirection framework, thus improving versatility while controlling complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If clients are upgraded to support redirection to new realms, then cross-realm redirection is enabled, but the maintenance workload increases significantly due to the large number of clients
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces the Redirect-Realm field as an intermediary information element that carries realm identification in the redirect response message. This intermediary allows the redirect agent to convey cross-realm redirection information without requiring any modifications to the client software, thereby enabling cross-realm redirection while avoiding the maintenance burden of upgrading numerous clients.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the existing Diameter protocol message structure and creates a copy/extension of the Redirect-Host attribute by adding Redirect-Realm. This copying approach leverages the established protocol framework, allowing cross-realm redirection to be implemented through a simple message format extension rather than requiring complex client modifications.
3Ease of operation
If routing is performed first by realm and then by server, then the routing process is organized, but the redirect agent and server must be in the same realm limiting flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the routing information into two distinct components: the realm identification (Redirect-Realm) and the server address (Redirect-Host). This segmentation allows the routing process to first determine the target realm and then locate the specific server within that realm, maintaining organized routing while enabling flexibility to redirect to any realm, not just the current one.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and a system for redirecting a client are disclosed, the method including: sending by the client a request message to a redirect agent; returning by the redirect agent a first response message to the client, an identification of a second realm being carried in the first response message; sending by the client the request message to a second server in the second realm. The data are maintained and modified only on the redirect agent, so that the redirection service between different realms may be realized without upgrading or maintaining the client. In addition, because the number of redirect agents is much smaller than the number of clients, the operation and maintenance costs may be reduced greatly.