Intelligent Selection Engine for Mobile Network Session Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mobile network systems face challenges in load balancing and session management due to static assumptions about network element capacity and signaling rates, lack of real-time load information, and difficulties in handling subscriber roaming and billing reconciliation, especially when dealing with multiple vendors and virtualized environments.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of an intelligent selection engine within the network to dynamically manage load balancing, path management, and billing reconciliation by selecting the most suitable gateway nodes based on real-time availability and load, and integrating with existing DNS systems to handle changes in network topology and subscriber characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If simple round-robin algorithm is used for load balancing, then device complexity is reduced, but network efficiency deteriorates due to static assumptions about capacity and signaling rates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic selection of gateway nodes based on real-time network conditions including actual capacity utilization, signaling rates, and load information. The MME dynamically queries DNS to obtain multiple gateway node options and selects the most appropriate node for each PDN-session based on current network state, replacing the static round-robin approach with a dynamic, condition-based selection mechanism that optimizes network efficiency while maintaining manageable complexity.
2Ease of operation
If static list of gateway nodes is used, then ease of operation is improved, but adaptability deteriorates as changing conditions are not considered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the MME continuously queries the DNS system to obtain updated information about gateway node availability, capacity, and status. The DNS system returns dynamic information about which gateway nodes are currently suitable for handling PDN-sessions, allowing the MME to adapt its selections based on real-time network conditions, node failures, capacity changes, and load variations, thereby achieving both ease of operation and high adaptability.
3Productivity
If multiple gateway nodes are deployed to handle capacity, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases due to load balancing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces the DNS system as an intermediary between the MME and the gateway nodes. The DNS system maintains and distributes information about multiple gateway nodes, their capacities, and their current status. This intermediary absorbs the complexity of tracking and managing multiple gateway nodes, allowing the MME to simply query DNS for suitable nodes without implementing complex load balancing logic itself, thereby enabling high productivity through multiple nodes while keeping MME complexity manageable.
Data Source
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AI summary
Systems and methods are described for intelligently managing sessions in a mobile network. A selection engine receives a trigger to select a peer node for a subscriber session. The selection engine chooses a peer selector among one or more available peer selectors in response to the trigger and determines whether the chosen peer selector is associated with a fully qualified domain name (FQDN). In response to determining that the chosen peer selector is associated with the FQDN, the selection engine determines whether a domain name system (DNS) server is configured. In response to determining that the DNS server is configured, the selection engine requests a peer list associated with the FQDN from the DNS server and selects the peer node from the peer list.