Virtualized Offline Charging System Software Upgrade via Skeletal vCCF
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing offline charging systems in communication networks face challenges with software upgrades, often requiring service interruptions and reduced system capacity, as they typically need to take systems or portions of systems out of service to perform upgrades.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a virtualized offline charging system using a skeletal Charging Collection Function (vCCF) with iterative upgrades, where the skeletal vCCF is initially provisioned with low priority and gradually brought online to handle accounting sessions, allowing for software upgrades without service interruptions by redistributing resources and minimizing capacity reduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the system is taken out of service for software upgrade, then the upgrade can be performed, but service interruption occurs and system capacity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into multiple vCCF instances, allowing individual instances to be upgraded without affecting the overall system operation. Each vCCF can be updated independently while others continue to handle accounting sessions, thus maintaining service continuity and system capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
A skeletal vCCF is pre-provisioned in the network with low priority before the upgrade process begins. This preliminary setup allows the skeletal vCCF to be gradually brought online and have software installed without disrupting existing services, as it initially handles minimal traffic.
2Productivity
If in-place software upgrade is performed on VMs, then capacity is maintained during upgrade, but operator intervention and supervision are required
Solution Approach 1:
The upgrade process is designed to be automated with minimal operator intervention. The skeletal vCCF automatically drains accounting sessions, installs software updates, and redistributes traffic. The system self-manages the upgrade process through automated session draining and traffic redistribution mechanisms.
3Speed
If traffic is diverted away during upgrade, then upgrade speed is improved, but the upgraded system cannot handle traffic during upgrade
Solution Approach 1:
The skeletal vCCF acts as an intermediary during the upgrade process. It receives accounting sessions from CTFs and gradually takes on traffic handling responsibilities as it is brought online. This intermediary approach allows the system to maintain functionality while transitioning upgraded instances into service.
4Reliability
If new system is set up in parallel with old system, then seamless upgrade is achieved, but additional standby resources are required
Solution Approach 1:
The system recycles existing vCCF instances for the upgrade process rather than creating entirely new parallel systems. Antiquated vCCFs are drained of sessions and repurposed as skeletal vCCFs for the next upgrade iteration, recovering resources and avoiding the need for additional standby resources.
Data Source
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AI summary
Systems, methods, and software for implementing a software upgrade in a virtualized Offline Charging System (OFCS) that includes a pool of Virtualized Charging Collection Functions (vCCF). In one embodiment, a software upgrade is identified for the virtualized OFCS, and installed with an upgrade process. The upgrade process includes developing a skeletal vCCF, installing the software upgrade in the skeletal vCCF, and communicating with a DNS server to modify the priority in a DNS resource record for the skeletal vCCF to equal at least one of the other vCCFs. The upgrade process includes designating an antiquated vCCF in the pool as the (next) skeletal vCCF, draining the accounting sessions from the skeletal vCCF, and communicating with the DNS server to set a priority in the DNS resource record for the skeletal vCCF so that the skeletal vCCF is selected last by the CTFs for accounting sessions.