Diameter Routing Agent Traffic Diversion for PCRF Overload

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods fail to effectively divert Diameter traffic from overloaded Policy and Charging Rules Functions (PCRFs), leading to service denial for subscribers during capacity bursts, as they respond with busy codes and reject requests, especially for previously assigned subscribers.

Innovation Solution

Implementing intelligent routing at a Diameter Routing Agent (DRA) to divert traffic from an overloaded PCRF to an alternate, minimally loaded PCRF within the same pool or a remote pool, using overload information to manage routing entries and split associations, thereby ensuring continuous service.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a PCRF responds to requests with a busy result code when overloaded, then the PCRF protects itself from further load, but subscribers are denied service for an extended period

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice continuityVSAvoidrequest completion rate

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The DRA acts as an intermediary between subscribers and PCRFs, monitoring load conditions and dynamically routing requests away from overloaded PCRFs to alternative PCRFs, thereby preventing service denial while maintaining request completion rates

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The routing configuration is made dynamic by continuously monitoring PCRF load conditions and automatically updating routing entries to divert traffic from overloaded PCRFs to underloaded PCRFs in real-time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If a DRA assigns sessions to PCRFs using conventional routing, then new subscriber sessions are assigned to non-overloaded PCRFs, but previously assigned subscribers are denied service when their assigned PCRF becomes overloaded

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverouting flexibilityVSAvoidservice availability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The routing table is made dynamic with automatic update mechanisms that monitor PCRF load conditions and reassign subscribers from overloaded PCRFs to alternative PCRFs without requiring manual intervention or session termination

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system pre-configures multiple routing entries for each subscriber associated with different PCRFs, and pre-monitors load conditions on all PCRFs, enabling immediate traffic diversion when overload is detected without service interruption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS9800504B2Methods, systems, and computer readable media diverting diameter traffic from an overloaded policy and charging rules function (PCRF)

Publication Date: 2017.10.24 ORACLE INT CORP

AI summary

The subject matter described herein includes methods, systems, and computer readable media for implementing intelligent routing via diverting Diameter traffic from an overloaded Policy and Rules Charging Function (PCRF). An exemplary method includes receiving, at a Diameter Routing Agent (DRA), a first session establishment request for a subscriber and generating a routing entry in a routing table that associates the subscriber with a first destination identifier identifying a first PCRF. The method also includes receiving an indication that the first PCRF is overloaded, receiving a second session establishment request for the subscriber, and generating a new routing entry in the routing table that associates the subscriber with a second destination identifier that does not identify the first PCRF.