Diameter Workload Balancer for Long-Lived Connection Load Sharing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing Diameter message processing architectures face load imbalances due to varying traffic over long-lived connections, leading to overburdened processors and the need for undesirable connection teardown and re-establishment for load balancing.

Innovation Solution

A workload balancer system with connection front end processors terminating Diameter connections and load-sharing messages among multiple back end processors for routing and application processing, allowing for dynamic load balancing without disconnecting existing connections.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If Diameter connections are tied to the same processors that perform routing and application processing, then connection processing and message processing are simplified, but load balancing capability is lost when traffic varies over time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing architecture complexityVSAvoidload balancing capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the processing architecture into three distinct functional layers: connection processing (handled by connection processors), routing processing (handled by routing processors), and application processing (handled by application processors). This segmentation allows each layer to be optimized independently and enables load balancing at the routing/application layer without affecting connection stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces routing processors as intermediary components between connection processors and application processors. These routing processors act as mediators that receive messages from connection processors and distribute them to appropriate application processors, enabling load balancing while maintaining stable long-lived Diameter connections.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If load balancing is achieved by tearing down and re-establishing Diameter connections, then message traffic can be balanced between processors, but connection overhead increases and connection stability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveload balancing effectivenessVSAvoidconnection overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

By separating connection processing from routing and application processing into distinct processor types, the system can balance loads at the routing/application layer without touching the connection layer. This segmentation enables load balancing while preserving stable long-lived connections.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic load balancing by allowing routing processors to dynamically distribute messages to different application processors based on current traffic conditions. This dynamic distribution occurs without tearing down connections, as the connection processors maintain stable connections while the routing layer adapts to traffic variations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Device complexity

If all message processing is performed by the same processor that handles connections, then processing simplicity is maintained, but processor overburdening occurs during traffic spikes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing architecture simplicityVSAvoidprocessor load balance

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides processing responsibilities across three processor types: connection processors handle connection management, routing processors handle message routing, and application processors handle application-specific processing. This segmentation prevents any single processor from being overburdened during traffic spikes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements partial processing distribution where connection processing is handled by connection processors, but routing and application processing are distributed across multiple routing and application processors. This partial distribution of processing tasks prevents overburdening while maintaining architectural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS9729454B2Methods, systems, and computer readable media for balancing diameter message traffic received over long-lived diameter connections

Publication Date: 2017.08.08 ORACLE INT CORP

AI summary

Methods, systems, and computer readable media for providing a workload balancer for balancing message traffic received over long-lived Diameter connections are disclosed. One exemplary workload balancer includes at least one connection front end processor for terminating Diameter connections with external nodes. The workload balancer further includes a plurality of Diameter back end processors for performing application or routing processing for the Diameter messages received over the Diameter connections. The at least one connection front end processor load shares Diameter messages received over existing Diameter connections among the back end processors.