Abstract: A method for applying or overriding a preferred-locality attribute during network function (NF) discovery includes, at a service communications proxy (SCP) or security edge protection proxy (SEPP) including at least one processor, receiving, from an NF, an NF discovery request including a preferred-locality attribute or lacking a preferred-locality attribute. The method further includes selecting, by the SCP or SEPP, a value for the preferred-locality attribute for the NF discovery request. The method further includes inserting, by the SCP or SEPP, the value for the preferred-locality attribute into the NF discovery request. The method further includes transmitting, by the SCP or SEPP, the NF discovery request to a network function repository function (NRF).

Abstract: A method for obtaining and maintaining Internet protocol (IP) address pools and using the IP address pools to respond to IP address allocation requests from service management functions (SMFs) includes, at an IP address provider microservice implemented using at least one processor, obtaining from dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) servers, a plurality of IP addresses and corresponding IP address leases and storing the IP addresses in IP address pools. The steps further include maintaining the IP address leases. The method further includes receiving, from an SMF, a request for allocation of an IP address. The method further includes allocating one of the IP addresses from one of the pools to the SMF. The method further includes communicating the IP address to the SMF.

Abstract: A method for obtaining and maintaining Internet protocol (IP) address pools and using the IP address pools to respond to IP address allocation requests from service management functions (SMFs) includes, at an IP address provider microservice implemented using at least one processor, obtaining from dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) servers, a plurality of IP addresses and corresponding IP address leases and storing the IP addresses in IP address pools. The steps further include maintaining the IP address leases. The method further includes receiving, from an SMF, a request for allocation of an IP address. The method further includes allocating one of the IP addresses from one of the pools to the SMF. The method further includes communicating the IP address to the SMF.

Abstract: A method for discovering and tracking addresses associated with 4G service endpoints includes receiving, from a requesting node, a first domain name system (DNS) resolution or monitoring request including a fully qualified domain name (FQDN) of a 5G service endpoint. The method further includes querying a DNS server using the FQDN from the first DNS resolution request. The method further includes receiving, from the DNS server, a first response including an address associated with the 4G service endpoint and storing the address associated with the 4G service endpoint in a database. The method further includes communicating the address associated with the 4G service endpoint to the requesting node. The method further includes monitoring the FQDN for changes in address associated with the FQDN. The method further includes notifying the requesting node of the changes in address associated with the FQDN.

Abstract: A method for distributing connections to mobility management node instances includes publishing IP addresses for receiving connection requests and ingress messages from RAN nodes. The method further includes maintaining connection loading measurements of the mobility management node instances, receiving a connection request message generated by a RAN node for initiating a connection with one of the mobility management node instances, applying a connection distribution algorithm to select a mobility management node instance to handle the connection request message, and creating an association between an IP address of the selected mobility management node instance and an IP address and port of the RAN node extracted from a source IP address and source port field of the connection request. The method further includes forwarding the connection request message to the selected mobility management node instance.

Abstract: A method for policing APN-AMBR includes, at P-GW including plural P-GW DP worker instances: receiving, uplink data to be transmitted over a non-GBR bearer associated with a first PDN session from a first UE via an AP or downlink data to be transmitted over the non-GBR bearer to the first UE via the AP; forwarding the uplink or downlink data to a first P-GW DP worker instance of the plurality of P-GW DP worker instances that is assigned to the PDN session; and, at the first P-GW DP worker instance, transmitting, to an APN-AMBR policer separate from the P-GW, a request for a slice of APN-AMBR capacity for processing the uplink or downlink data. The method further includes, at the APN-AMBR policer: maintaining records of APN-AMBR capacity used by UEs having PDN sessions assigned to different ones of the P-GW DP worker instances; and granting or denying the request based on the APN-AMBR capacity used by the PDN sessions assigned to the different ones of the P-GW DP worker instances.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media for Diameter-peer-wide egress rate limiting include a process performed at a Diameter relay agent (DRA) and at a rate limiting policer. The process includes receiving service requests from Diameter-based consumers and forwarding the service requests to DRA worker instances. The process further includes, at the DRA worker instances, requesting, from the rate limiting policer, which is separate from the DRA worker instances, Diameter peer capacity for handling the service requests. The process includes, at the rate limiting policer, performing Diameter-peer-wide egress rate limiting between the DRA worker instances and Diameter peer instances by granting or denying requests for Diameter peer capacity from the DRA worker instances such that combined egress traffic from the DRA worker instances does not exceed rate capacities of the Diameter peers.

Abstract: A method for discovering and tracking addresses associated with producer network function (NF) service endpoints includes receiving a first domain name system (DNS) resolution request from a requesting node. The method further includes querying a DNS server using a fully qualified domain name (FQDN) extracted from the first DNS resolution request. The method further includes receiving a first response from the DNS server, the first response including an associated with a producer NF service endpoint associated with the FQDN and storing the address associated with the producer NF service endpoint in a database. The method further includes communicating the address associated with the producer NF service endpoint to the requesting node. The method further includes monitoring the FQDN for changes in address associated with the FQDN. The method further includes notifying the requesting node of the changes in address associated with the FQDN.

Abstract: A method for distributing Sigtran connections among signal transfer point (STP) message processors includes providing a connection load balancer as a front end to plural message processors of an STP. The method further includes publishing, by the connection load balancer, an Internet protocol (IP) address to SS7 peers. The method further includes initializing the message processors of the STP to listen on the IP address published by the connection load balancer. The method further includes receiving, at the connection load balancer, a Sigtran message addressed to the IP address. The method further includes determining, by the connection load balancer, whether the Sigtran message is an initial message for a Sigtran connection or a subsequent message for a Sigtran connection and whether the Sigtran connection has been assigned to one of the message processors.

Abstract: A method for policing APN-AMBR includes, at P-GW including plural P-GW DP worker instances: receiving, uplink data to be transmitted over a non-GBR bearer associated with a first PDN session from a first UE via an AP or downlink data to be transmitted over the non-GBR bearer to the first UE via the AP; forwarding the uplink or downlink data to a first P-GW DP worker instance of the plurality of P-GW DP worker instances that is assigned to the PDN session; and, at the first P-GW DP worker instance, transmitting, to an APN-AMBR policer separate from the P-GW, a request for a slice of APN-AMBR capacity for processing the uplink or downlink data. The method further includes, at the APN-AMBR policer: maintaining records of APN-AMBR capacity used by UEs having PDN sessions assigned to different ones of the P-GW DP worker instances; and granting or denying the request based on the APN-AMBR capacity used by the PDN sessions assigned to the different ones of the P-GW DP worker instances.

Abstract: A method for discovering and tracking addresses associated with 4G service endpoints includes receiving, from a requesting node, a first domain name system (DNS) resolution or monitoring request including a fully qualified domain name (FQDN) of a 5G service endpoint. The method further includes querying a DNS server using the FQDN from the first DNS resolution request. The method further includes receiving, from the DNS server, a first response including an address associated with the 4G service endpoint and storing the address associated with the 4G service endpoint in a database. The method further includes communicating the address associated with the 4G service endpoint to the requesting node. The method further includes monitoring the FQDN for changes in address associated with the FQDN. The method further includes notifying the requesting node of the changes in address associated with the FQDN.

Abstract: A method for discovering and tracking addresses associated with producer network function (NF) service endpoints includes receiving a first domain name system (DNS) resolution request from a requesting node. The method further includes querying a DNS server using a fully qualified domain name (FQDN) extracted from the first DNS resolution request. The method further includes receiving a first response from the DNS server, the first response including an associated with a producer NF service endpoint associated with the FQDN and storing the address associated with the producer NF service endpoint in a database. The method further includes communicating the address associated with the producer NF service endpoint to the requesting node. The method further includes monitoring the FQDN for changes in address associated with the FQDN. The method further includes notifying the requesting node of the changes in address associated with the FQDN.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media for Diameter-peer-wide egress rate limiting include a process performed at a Diameter relay agent (DRA) and at a rate limiting policer. The process includes receiving service requests from Diameter-based consumers and forwarding the service requests to DRA worker instances. The process further includes, at the DRA worker instances, requesting, from the rate limiting policer, which is separate from the DRA worker instances, Diameter peer capacity for handling the service requests. The process includes, at the rate limiting policer, performing Diameter-peer-wide egress rate limiting between the DRA worker instances and Diameter peer instances by granting or denying requests for Diameter peer capacity from the DRA worker instances such that combined egress traffic from the DRA worker instances does not exceed rate capacities of the Diameter peers.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media for network function (NF) service instance wide egress rate limiting include a process performed at a service communication proxy (SCP) and at a rate limiting policer. The process includes receiving service requests from consumer NFs and forwarding the service requests to SCP worker instances. The process further includes, at the SCP worker instances, requesting, from the rate limiting policer, which is separate from the SCP worker instances, producer NF service instance capacity for handling the service requests. The process includes, at the rate limiting policer, performing producer NF service instance wide egress rate limiting between the SCP worker instances and producer NF instances by granting or denying requests for producer NF service instance capacity from the SCP worker instances such that combined egress traffic from the SCP worker instances does not exceed rate capacities of the producer NF service instances.

Abstract: A method for distributing Sigtran connections among signal transfer point (STP) message processors includes providing a connection load balancer as a front end to plural message processors of an STP. The method further includes publishing, by the connection load balancer, an Internet protocol (IP) address to SS7 peers. The method further includes initializing the message processors of the STP to listen on the IP address published by the connection load balancer. The method further includes receiving, at the connection load balancer, a Sigtran message addressed to the IP address. The method further includes determining, by the connection load balancer, whether the Sigtran message is an initial message for a Sigtran connection or a subsequent message for a Sigtran connection and whether the Sigtran connection has been assigned to one of the message processors.