Diameter Relay Agent for PCRF Selection in AAA Networks
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current 3GPP standards lack a consistent mechanism for PCRF selection, leading to inefficient client-based proprietary algorithms that fail to scale well, especially in large Diameter protocol networks, affecting interoperability and Operations & Maintenance (O&M) in environments with multiple vendors and large networks.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a relay agent that performs lookups in local or external registers to determine existing Diameter sessions, selects or chooses a Diameter server, relays requests, receives answers, and registers server selections, allowing for efficient session binding and correlation across multiple applications, thereby centralizing PCRF selection and session management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If client-based proprietary algorithms are used for PCRF selection, then server selection can be performed, but scalability deteriorates in large Diameter protocol networks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a relay agent as an intermediary component that centralizes the PCRF selection function. Instead of each client performing proprietary selection algorithms, the relay agent receives Diameter protocol messages and autonomously selects appropriate PCRFs using standardized criteria (subscriber identity, service type, network location). This mediator approach resolves the contradiction by providing systematic server selection while eliminating the scalability problems of distributed client-based algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the PCRF selection function from the client domain and relocates it to the network infrastructure (relay agent). By separating the selection logic from clients and concentrating it in a dedicated network element, the system achieves both operational capability (standardized selection process) and scalability (centralized management that doesn't burden clients in large networks).
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple vendors are used in the network, then interoperability challenges arise, but vendor diversity provides flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The relay agent implements universal, standardized PCRF selection criteria that work across multiple vendor implementations. By using common Diameter protocol attributes (subscriber identity, service type, network location) rather than vendor-specific parameters, the system achieves interoperability while maintaining the flexibility to support diverse vendor equipment. The standardized approach ensures consistent behavior regardless of which vendor's PCRF or client is involved.
3Extent of automation
If session binding and correlation functions are distributed across clients, then client autonomy is maintained, but network performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The relay agent serves as a mediator that centralizes session binding and correlation functions. By consolidating these operations in a dedicated network element rather than distributing them across clients, the system improves network performance through efficient centralized management while the relay agent maintains autonomy in making binding decisions based on standardized criteria.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts session binding and correlation functions from the client domain and relocates them to the relay agent in the network infrastructure. This extraction improves network performance by eliminating redundant client-side processing and enabling efficient centralized session management, while the relay agent operates autonomously using standardized Diameter protocol information.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention handles Authentication, Authorization and Accounting (AAA) applications in an efficient manner. The present invention is a session aware Diameter relay agent that correlates sessions that require binding and relay sessions to the same AAA server, such as a Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) server. In one embodiment, the relay agent may be arranged to select a Diameter server and forward the user equipment (UE) request to the respective server while registering the server selection. The Diameter server may be a PCRF server.