Diameter Routing Node Enriches Signaling Messages

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current Diameter-based network service nodes face challenges in communicating effectively, leading to unnecessary network traffic and resource consumption due to the need for additional information about other network service nodes servicing a common mobile subscriber, which requires query messages to database nodes.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that enriches Diameter signaling messages by using a Diameter routing node to query a Diameter binding repository for preferred network service node information, which is then incorporated into the signaling message, reducing the need for query messages and minimizing network traffic.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If network service nodes query database nodes for additional network service node information, then the required information is obtained, but unnecessary network traffic and resource consumption are generated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork service node informationVSAvoidnetwork resource consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-fetching and caching network service node information from database nodes before it is actually needed. The DSR node proactively queries the DBR for binding records associated with a mobile subscriber and stores this information locally, so that when subsequent Diameter signaling messages require this information, it is already available without generating additional network traffic.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the information retrieval function into the existing Diameter signaling message flow. Instead of separate query messages being sent to database nodes, the binding record information is integrated into the Diameter signaling messages themselves through the DSR node, which modifies the messages to include the necessary network service node information based on previously cached binding records.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Loss of information

If query messages are sent to database nodes to obtain additional network service node information, then the required information is obtained, but network traffic increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork service node informationVSAvoidnetwork traffic
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The DSR node performs preliminary queries to the DBR to obtain binding records before they are needed for processing Diameter signaling messages. By caching this information in advance, the system eliminates the need for subsequent query messages, thereby reducing overall network traffic while ensuring information is available when required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates local copies of binding record information from the database nodes and stores them in the DSR node's cache. These copied records contain network service node information that can be referenced locally without requiring additional network communication, thus reducing network traffic while maintaining information availability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Loss of energy

If binding record information is pre-emptively provisioned in Diameter signaling messages, then network traffic is reduced, but additional processing at the DSR node is required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork resource consumptionVSAvoidDSR node processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The DSR node is designed to perform multiple functions: it acts as a Diameter signaling router, a binding record cache, and a message modification function. By consolidating these functions in a single node, the patent reduces the need for separate query messages to database nodes, and the same node structure that routes messages also enriches them with binding record information, thereby managing complexity through multi-functionality rather than adding separate specialized components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2681940B1Methods, systems, and computer readable media for enriching a diameter signaling message
Publication Date: 2016.05.25 TEKELEC INC
  • EP2681940B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2681940B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2681940B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Methods, systems, and computer readable media for enriching a Diameter signaling message are disclosed. In one example, the method comprises receiving, at a Diameter routing node, a Diameter signaling message that is associated with a mobile subscriber and includes mobile subscriber related information and querying a Diameter binding repository (DBR) using the mobile subscriber related information to select a network service node from a plurality of network service nodes configured to process the Diameter signaling message. The method further includes obtaining DBR information associated with the mobile subscriber from the DBR, wherein the DBR information includes an identifier associated with the selected network service node and modifying the Diameter signaling message to include at least a portion of the DBR information.