Core Signaling Network Overload Control via Queue Delay
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Solution Overview
Problem
Telephony networks are not optimized to handle extremely large traffic surges caused by exceptional events, leading to congestion and potential catastrophic failures in core signaling network elements, especially in packet-based networks like SIP networks, which experience increased message volumes and varied routing capacities.
Innovation Solution
A method where a core signaling network element dynamically advertises a target rate to edge signaling network elements to throttle signaling traffic, using queue delay measurements to prevent overload by calculating and communicating a call target rate when queueing delays exceed predefined thresholds, allowing edge elements to control and reduce incoming traffic.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If network capacity is optimized to carry load during busy hour traffic, then normal traffic handling is improved, but the network cannot handle extremely large traffic surges caused by exception events
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic target rate adjustment where the core signaling network element continuously monitors queueing delay and adjusts the advertised target rate in real-time. During normal conditions, the network operates at high capacity, but during exception events with large traffic surges, the target rate is dynamically reduced to prevent overload, allowing the system to adapt its capacity to current load conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes a feedback loop where the core signaling network element measures total queueing delay, compares it against thresholds, and adjusts the advertised target rate accordingly. When queueing delay exceeds a high threshold, the target rate is reduced; when it falls below a low threshold, the target rate is increased. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures the network maintains stability while maximizing throughput during exception events
2Productivity
If the core signaling network element processes all incoming signaling traffic, then call processing throughput is maximized, but the network element becomes overloaded during traffic surges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the core signaling network element proactively advertise a target rate to edge signaling network elements before overload occurs. The edge elements use this target rate to throttle their signaling traffic generation in advance, preventing the core element from becoming overloaded while still allowing maximum sustainable throughput
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary control mechanism where the core signaling network element acts as a mediator by advertising target rates to edge signaling network elements. These edge elements then independently control their own traffic generation based on the advertised target rate, distributing the overload control function and preventing congestion at the core element
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for handling an overload condition in a communication network are disclosed. For example, the method calculates a call target rate by at least one core signaling network element for at least one edge signaling network element. The method then sends the call target rate by the at least one core signaling network element to the at least one edge signaling network element, when a total queueing delay of the at least one core signaling network element exceeds a predefined high threshold in a measurement interval, wherein the call target rate is used by the at least one edge signaling network element in an overload control that throttles signaling traffic.