Stateless Charging Message Handling in 5G Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing 5G charging systems face latency issues due to their rigid architecture, which is exacerbated in high-speed networks as session information is not replicated across multiple locations, leading to session failures and increased latency when accessing services or data not locally available.
Innovation Solution
The system transitions from session-based to stateless message handling by refactorizing the monolith architecture into microservices that process messages independently, using a common information layer for subscriber account data and a backend storage system to harmonize data across sites, allowing messages to be processed at the nearest site without relying on session states.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If session-based charging is implemented with monolith architecture, then service delivery control is achieved, but latency increases and service access speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the monolith architecture into distributed microservices that can independently process charging messages. This segmentation allows parallel processing of service requests across multiple nodes, eliminating the single-point bottleneck and reducing both latency and access time for service delivery control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new dimensional approach by implementing stateless message handling with content-based routing. Instead of traditional session-based sequential processing, messages are routed to appropriate microservices based on their content and requirements, enabling concurrent processing across multiple dimensions of the system architecture.
2Reliability
If session information is replicated across multiple locations, then service availability improves, but system complexity and data synchronization overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the session state management from the message processing logic itself. By making the message handling stateless and using content-based routing, the system eliminates the need for complex session information replication and synchronization mechanisms, while maintaining service availability through distributed microservice deployment.
Solution Approach 2:
Each microservice in the patent is self-sufficient and can independently handle charging messages without requiring session state from other services. The services discover and route messages based on their content, enabling the system to maintain high availability without complex inter-service state synchronization.
3Adaptability or versatility
If rigid architecture is used for charging system, then service delivery control is precise, but adaptability to different service types decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal stateless message handling framework that can process multiple service types through a common architecture. The content-based routing mechanism enables the same infrastructure to adapt to different service types (data services, voice services, etc.) while maintaining precise delivery control through message content analysis and appropriate service routing.
Data Source
AI summary
A method performed by a charging system includes receiving a message related to delivery of a service to an end user device. The charging system searches a local storage system to find a session identifier associated with the message. In response to determining that the session identifier is not at the local storage system, a backend storage system is queried for subscriber account data associated with the session identifier. As a result, despite the absence of the session identifier and associated subscriber account data at the local storage system, the charging system can grant service units for the end user device based on the subscriber account data retrieved from the backend storage system.