PCRF Load Balancing via CPU and Session Metrics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current load balancing methods for PCRFs rely solely on session utilization, which fail to account for spikes in processor utilization and changes in processing capacity due to non-session tasks, leading to potential overloading and inefficient resource allocation.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a load balancing system that considers both CPU and session utilization to dynamically assign new sessions to PCRFs, using a load factor that weights CPU utilization and session capacity, ensuring both short and long-term balanced processing loads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If load balancing is based solely on session utilization, then long-term session distribution is improved, but short-term processing capacity and reliability deteriorate due to not accounting for CPU spikes and background tasks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic load balancing by continuously monitoring both session utilization and CPU utilization metrics, and adjusting session assignment in real-time based on current system state. The load balancing algorithm dynamically weights the two metrics to reflect changing conditions, allowing the system to adapt to both long-term session patterns and short-term CPU spikes or background task impacts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter set used for load balancing from solely session utilization to a combination of session utilization and CPU utilization. By introducing CPU utilization as a second parameter and weighting it according to current system conditions, the system can account for processing capacity constraints and background task impacts that session utilization alone cannot capture.
2Device complexity
If session utilization is used as the only load balancing metric, then session assignment is simplified, but accurate reflection of actual processing load is lost due to ignoring CPU utilization and background tasks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges two previously separate monitoring dimensions - session utilization and CPU utilization - into a unified load balancing decision process. By combining these metrics and weighting them according to current system conditions, the system achieves more accurate processing load reflection without requiring completely complex rearchitecture, maintaining practical implementability while improving measurement precision.
3Reliability
If CPU utilization is added as a load balancing factor, then short-term processing capacity is improved, but system complexity and monitoring requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where PCRFs continuously report their session utilization and CPU utilization status to the load balancing system. This feedback loop enables real-time adjustment of session assignment based on current system state, allowing the system to respond to CPU spikes or background task impacts dynamically while maintaining manageable complexity through standardized monitoring protocols.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for assigning new Diameter sessions to policy and charging rules functions (PCRFs) may be performed at a Diameter routing agent including at least one processor. The method includes receiving input regarding central processing unit (CPU) and session utilization of each of a plurality of PCRFs. The method further includes receiving Diameter message traffic requiring processing by one of the PCRFs. The method further includes identifying, from the Diameter message traffic, traffic for new sessions that have not been assigned to one of the PCRFs. The method further includes assigning the new sessions to the PCRFs based on the input regarding the CPU and session utilizations of the PCRFs. The method further includes routing the received Diameter message traffic for the new sessions to the PCRFs assigned to the new sessions.