Abstract: Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method and related network node including one or more of the following: receiving a Diameter message at the DRA from an origin device, wherein the Diameter message includes a first destination address; establishing a context object based on receiving the Diameter message, wherein the context object is associated with a copy of the Diameter message; evaluating at least one rule, comprising modifying, based on a first reference to the context object, the copy to include a second destination address, and transmitting the copy to another device based on the second destination address.

Abstract: Various embodiments relate to a system and related method of handling a plurality of user messages originating from a user device in a communications network. Various embodiments relate to a Policy Charging and Rules Node (PCRN) receiving an initial message from a first device, while anticipating a complementary message from a second device. Upon receipt of the complementary message, the PCRN may pair the messages and generate a rule from the paired message. If the PCRN does not receive the complementary message, the PCRN may generate the rule from only the initially-received message or may ignore the message. The PCRN may treat each received message independent from each other so that lack of receipt of a complementary message does not affect the creation of rules from another paired message.

Abstract: Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method, network component and machine-readable storage medium for validating a message received at a network component. Embodiments may include one or more of the following: receiving a message at the network component, determining a validation scenario, determining a set of validation conditions associated with the determined validation scenario, and determining whether the message passes the validation condition. Various exemplary embodiments may further include extensible condition definitions that include one or more of the following: validation fragments, element validation definitions, and element definitions. Various exemplary embodiments may use XML to define condition definitions.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a flexible Diameter command dictionary for 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) network nodes wherein context-specific definitions are defined to apply to different versions and releases of 3GPP standards.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide an improved major release negotiation mechanism between an initiating node and a receiving node during Diameter session establishment in a 3GPP network.

Abstract: Various embodiments relate to a system and related method of handling a plurality of user messages originating from a user device in a communications network. Various embodiments relate to a Policy Charging and Rules Node (PCRN) receiving an initial message from a first device, while anticipating a complementary message from a second device. Upon receipt of the complementary message, the PCRN may pair the messages and generate a rule from the paired message. If the PCRN does not receive the complementary message, the PCRN may generate the rule from only the initially-received message or may ignore the message. The PCRN may treat each received message independent from each other so that lack of receipt of a complementary message does not affect the creation of rules from another paired message.

Abstract: Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method and related network node including one or more of the following: receiving, at a policy and charging rules node (PCRN), a request from a requesting node for an establishment of a first service data flow (SDF); generating a first rule set for implementing the first SDF in response to the request; transmitting a first rule of the rule set to a first node for installation of the first rule; waiting for a period of time for a response from the first node; determining from the response whether installation of the first rule at the first node failed or succeeded; and if installation of the first rule succeeded, transmitting a second rule of the first rule set to a second node for installation of the second rule.

Abstract: Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method performed by a policy and charging rules node of provisioning event triggers. The method may include: receiving, from a requesting node, a request to provision a set of event triggers on a primary gateway; forwarding, to the primary gateway, the set of event triggers; storing the set of event triggers in association with a session; detecting a handover of the session; determining a new primary gateway; and forwarding, to the new primary gateway, the set of event triggers. The method may further include: receiving a message; determining whether the message includes the same set of event triggers; if the message includes the same set of event triggers, refraining from sending the set of event triggers to the primary gateway; and if the message includes a different set of event triggers, forwarding the different set of event triggers to the primary gateway.

Abstract: Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method, policy and charging rules node (PCRN) and machine-readable storage medium for creating policy and control charging rules with minimal rule instantiation latency. Embodiments may include one or more of the following: receiving at a PCRN from an application node a first service request message, determining whether the PCRN should wait for a mate message for the service flow, if the PCRN should not wait for a mate message, immediately generating at least one PCC rule, and immediately pushing the first PCC rule to at least one gateway. Various exemplary embodiments may further include using subscriber preferences and/or a record of previous decisions to determine whether the PCRN should wait for a mage message. In various embodiments, the PCRN may disable a timer when it determines it should not wait for a mate message.

Abstract: Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method and related network node including one or more of the following: receiving, at a policy and charging rules node (PCRN), a request from a requesting node for an establishment of a first service data flow (SDF); generating a first rule set for implementing the first SDF in response to the request; transmitting a first rule of the rule set to a first node for installation of the first rule; waiting for a period of time for a response from the first node; determining from the response whether installation of the first rule at the first node failed or succeeded; and if installation of the first rule succeeded, transmitting a second rule of the first rule set to a second node for installation of the second rule.

Abstract: Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method and related network node and machine-readable storage medium including a policy and charging rules node (PCRN) receiving a plurality of related service requests from different devices. The PCRN may proceed to generate a policy and charging control (PCC) rule based on at least one service request and other information stored in the PCRN if a mate service request does not arrive during the duration of a waiting timer. If the mate service request arrives subsequent to the expiry of the waiting timer, the PCRN may then generate a subsequent PCC rule to replace the previously generated rule, with the new PCC rule incorporating information from both of the mate service requests.

Abstract: Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method and related network node including one or more of the following: receiving, at a policy and charging rules node (PCRN), a request from a requesting node for an establishment of a first service data flow (SDF); generating a first rule set for implementing the first SDF in response to the request; transmitting a first rule of the rule set to a first node for installation of the first rule; waiting for a period of time for a response from the first node; determining from the response whether installation of the first rule at the first node failed or succeeded; and if installation of the first rule succeeded, transmitting a second rule of the first rule set to a second node for installation of the second rule.

Abstract: Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method and related network node including one or more of the following: receiving, at a policy and charging rules node (PCRN), a request from a requesting node for an establishment of a first service data flow (SDF); generating a first rule set for implementing the first SDF in response to the request; transmitting a first rule of the rule set to a first node for installation of the first rule; waiting for a period of time for a response from the first node; determining from the response whether installation of the first rule at the first node failed or succeeded; and if installation of the first rule succeeded, transmitting a second rule of the first rule set to a second node for installation of the second rule.

Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed that enable a device such as a policy and charging rules function (PCRF) node to operate with other nodes in a long term evolution (LTE) network that are operating at different respective major-minor release combinations of the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) standards. Some embodiments enable such a device to operate with another node at a given major-minor release combination of the 3GPP standards with respect to an existing session being managed by the device and at another major-minor release combination of the 3GPP standards when a new session is established by the device. Advantageously, such embodiments mitigate the risk of adversely affecting the existing session after a minor release upgrade of the node associated with the session is performed.

Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed that enable a device such as a policy and charging rules function (PCRF) node to operate with other nodes in a long term evolution (LTE) network that are operating at different respective major-minor release combinations of the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) standards. Some embodiments enable such a device to operate with another network node at a given major-minor release combination of the 3GPP standards with respect to one session being managed by the device and at another major-minor release combination of the 3GPP standards with respect to another session. Some embodiments enable the major-minor release combination to be specified by first and second attribute value pairs (AVPs) respectively indicating the major and minor release identifiers of the major-minor release combination when a new session is requested, thereby providing greater flexibility for establishing sessions.

Abstract: Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method and related network node including one or more of the following: receiving, at a policy and charging rules node (PCRN), a request from a requesting node for an establishment of a first service data flow (SDF); generating a first rule set for implementing the first SDF in response to the request; transmitting a first rule of the rule set to a first node for installation of the first rule; waiting for a period of time for a response from the first node; determining from the response whether installation of the first rule at the first node failed or succeeded; and if installation of the first rule succeeded, transmitting a second rule of the first rule set to a second node for installation of the second rule.

Abstract: Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method, policy and charging rules node (PCRN) and machine-readable storage medium for creating policy and control charging rules with minimal rule instantiation latency. Embodiments may include one or more of the following: receiving at a PCRN from an application node a first service request message, determining whether the PCRN should wait for a mate message for the service flow, if the PCRN should not wait for a mate message, immediately generating at least one PCC rule, and immediately pushing the first PCC rule to at least one gateway. Various exemplary embodiments may further include using subscriber preferences and/or a record of previous decisions to determine whether the PCRN should wait for a mage message. In various embodiments, the PCRN may disable a timer when it determines it should not wait for a mate message.

Abstract: Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method, network component and machine-readable storage medium for validating a message received at a network component. Embodiments may include one or more of the following: receiving a message at the network component, determining a validation scenario, determining a set of validation conditions associated with the determined validation scenario, and determining whether the message passes the validation condition. Various exemplary embodiments may further include extensible condition definitions that include one or more of the following: validation fragments, element validation definitions, and element definitions. Various exemplary embodiments may use XML to define condition definitions.

Abstract: Various embodiments relate to a system and related method of handling a plurality of user messages originating from a user device in a communications network. Various embodiments relate to a Policy Charging and Rules Node (PCRN) receiving an initial message from a first device, while anticipating a complementary message from a second device. Upon receipt of the complementary message, the PCRN may pair the messages and generate a rule from the paired message. If the PCRN does not receive the complementary message, the PCRN may generate the rule from only the initially-received message or may ignore the message. The PCRN may treat each received message independent from each other so that lack of receipt of a complementary message does not affect the creation of rules from another paired message.

Abstract: Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method and related network node and machine-readable storage medium including one or more of the following: receiving a message at the PCRN, the message comprising at least one content element; inferring a message type of the message based on the at least one content element; and responding to the message based on the message type of the message and the at least one content element of the message. Inferring a message type may include applying a set of inference rules to content elements of the message to determine a message type. Various exemplary embodiments further include validating a message received at the PCRN, receiving an incomplete message at the PCRN, and inferring a value of a missing element of an incomplete message. Incomplete messages may include messages where the missing element is a message type element that indicates the type of the message.