Methods, systems, and computer readable media for implementing intelligent policy and charging rules function (PCRF) overload control

• US 9,699,076 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2015
• Issued: 07/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Abou-Assali, Tarek, Renzullo, Jared Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Chi H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kumar, Shailendra
• Application Number:
  US14/735,072
• Publication Number:
  US 20160366061A1
• Time in Patent Office: 756 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/125 based on throughput or bandwidth
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/304 Route determination for signalling traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1001 for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1008 based on parameters of servers, e.g. available memory or workload monitoring of computer activity G06F11/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1029 using data related to the state of servers by a load balancer

Abstract

The subject matter described herein includes methods, systems, and computer readable media for implementing intelligent PCRF overload control. A method may be performed at a Diameter Routing Agent (DRA) including at least one processor. The method includes receiving an indication of a first overload level for at least a first PCRF of a plurality of PCRFs and determining, from the first overload level, a first routing rule for routing message traffic to the first PCRF. The method further includes receiving message traffic requiring processing by the first PCRF and performing a first action specified by the first routing rule to accept the message traffic, reject the message traffic, or send a response on behalf of the first PCRF.

Claims

1. A method for implementing intelligent Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) overload control, the method comprising:

at a Diameter Routing Agent (DRA) including at least one processor;

receiving an indication of a first overload level for at least a first PCRF of a plurality of PCRFs;

utilizing the indication of the first overload level received from the first PCRF to lookup a first routing rule stored locally on the DRA for routing message traffic to the first PCRF;

receiving message traffic requiring processing by the first PCRF; and

performing a first action specified by the first routing rule to accept the message traffic, reject the message traffic, or send a response on behalf of the first PCRF.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising configuring a plurality of routing rules, wherein each of the plurality of routing rules specifies an action based upon a message type, an application type, or an Access Point Name (APN).

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the message type includes a Credit Control Request-Initiate (CCR-I) message, a CCR-Update (CCR-U) message, a CCR-Terminate (CCR-T) message, an AA-Request (AAR) message, a Rx Session-Termination-Request (STR) message, a Sh Push-Notification-Requests (PNR) message, or a Sy Status Notification Request (SNR) message.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the application type includes a Gx message, a Gxx message, an Rx message, a Sh message, or a Sy message.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the APN includes a network identifier, an operator identifier, an operator'"'"'s web address, a Packet Data Network (PDN) identifier, or a service identifier.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing the first routing rule in a memory of the DRA.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the overload level includes a whole number integer used for looking up the first routing rule.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising subscribing to each PCRF of the plurality of PCRFs.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising receiving notifications from at least some of the plurality of PCRFs, and wherein the notifications include overload levels for the at least some of the PCRFs.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising updating the first overload level in response to receiving a notification that the first overload level has changed.

11. A system for implementing intelligent Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) overload control, the system comprising:

a Diameter Routing Agent (DRA) including at least one processor, wherein the DRA is configured to receive an indication of a first overload level for at least a first PCRF of a plurality of PCRFs and to utilize the indication of the first overload level received from the first PCRF to lookup a first routing rule stored locally on the DRA for routing traffic to the first PCRF;

a routing engine configured to receive message traffic requiring processing by the first PCRF and route the message traffic according to a first action specified by the first routing rule;

wherein the DRA accepts the message traffic, rejects the message traffic, or sends a response on behalf of the first PCRF.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the DRA is configured with a plurality of routing rules, and wherein each of the plurality of routing rules specifies an action based upon a message type, an application type, or an Access Point Name (APN).

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the message type includes a Credit Control Request-Initiate (CCR-I) message, a CCR-Update (CCR-U) message, a CCR-Terminate (CCR-T) message, an AA-Request (AAR) message, a Rx Session-Termination-Request (STR) message, a Sh Push-Notification-Request (PNR) message, or a Sy Status Notification Request (SNR) message.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the application type includes a Gx message, a Gxx message, an Rx message, a Sh message, or a Sy message.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the APN includes a network identifier, an operator identifier, an operator'"'"'s web address, a Packet Data Network (PDN) identifier, or a service identifier.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the first routing rule is stored in a memory of the DRA.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the overload level includes a whole number integer used for looking up the first routing rule.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the DRA subscribes to each PCRF of the plurality of PCRFs.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the DRA is configured to receive notifications from at least some of the plurality of PCRFs, and wherein the notifications include overload levels for the at least some of the PCRFs.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the first overload level is updated in response to receiving a notification that the first overload level has changed.

21. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon executable instructions that when executed by the processor of a computer control the computer to perform steps comprising:

receiving an indication of a first overload level for at least a first PCRF of a plurality of PCRFs;

utilizing the indication of the first overload level received from the first PCRF to lookup a first routing rule stored locally on the DRA for routing traffic to the first PCRF;

receiving message traffic requiring processing by the first PCRF; and

performing a first action specified by the first routing rule to either accept the message traffic or reject the message traffic on behalf of the first PCRF.