Network Element Session Recovery via Centralized Repository
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing network element recovery methods in packet-based mobile networks, such as 3GPP SAE, face challenges in minimizing disruption to ongoing user sessions during failures and restarts of critical components like PCRF, requiring complex restoration procedures that can lead to network incompatibilities and increased load on connected elements.
Innovation Solution
The method involves negotiating and implementing a recovery mechanism between network elements to restore session statuses and data with minimal impact, using protocols like Diameter to manage user and control sessions, and employing a soft recovery approach where restoration actions are triggered only when necessary, reducing the load on the network and avoiding mixing of management issues within user plane protocols.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If complex restoration procedures are used to restore session statuses after network element failure, then session recovery completeness is improved, but network element load and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having network elements proactively send session status information to a centralized repository before failures occur. This pre-positioning of data eliminates the need for complex post-failure restoration procedures, as the restarted element can simply retrieve pre-collected session information from the repository, thereby reducing both recovery complexity and network load while maintaining complete session recovery.
2Reliability
If active restoration measures are implemented in connected network elements, then session status restoration is improved, but network load and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the restoration complexity from individual network elements by centralizing session information collection in a dedicated repository. Instead of requiring connected elements to actively participate in complex restoration procedures, the system separates the information gathering function from the restoration execution function, allowing restarted elements to simply retrieve pre-collected data, thereby simplifying operations while maintaining reliable session restoration.
3Measurement precision
If comprehensive session information is collected and stored for recovery, then restoration accuracy is improved, but information storage requirements and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a centralized repository that serves multiple functions: storing session status information, maintaining element identification data, and providing a recovery mechanism for various failure scenarios. This multi-functional approach consolidates what could be multiple separate storage systems into a single repository, reducing overall information volume requirements while maintaining comprehensive session information for accurate restoration.
Data Source
AI summary
It is disclosed a method (and related apparatus) comprising establishing a control session by transmitting and receiving control session-related messages, transmitting restart information indicating a restart of a network element, receiving at least one protocol-related message of a first control session including session-related detail information, transmitting a restoration request message based on the session-related detail information, receiving at least one session parameter necessary for restoring the at least one first session, and restoring the at least one first session based on the received session-related detail information and the at least one session parameter. It is further disclosed a method (and related apparatus) comprising receiving restart information indicating a restart of a network element, processing at least one protocol-related message of a first control session to include session-related detail information, and transmitting at least one session parameter necessary for restoring the at least one first session, and the at least one protocol related message.