Abstract: Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method and related network node including one or more of the following: receiving, via a user interface of the DRA, a request to define a rule; retrieving metadata associated with a context object; determining that a component specified by the metadata is an enumerated type component; presenting, via the user interface, a first displayed component for the enumerated type component, wherein the first displayed component is associated with a numeric value; presenting, via the user interface, a second displayed component for the enumerated type component, wherein the second displayed component is associated with an alphanumeric value; and receiving, via the user interface, a rule definition, wherein receiving the rule definition comprises receiving a selection of at least one of the first displayed component and the second displayed component.

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; establishing a context object in response to receiving the Diameter message; evaluating a rule that includes a context object reference, wherein the evaluation includes accessing the context object based on the context object reference; and transmitting a message based on the evaluation of the rule.

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; determining a message type of the Diameter message; establishing a message context object based on the message type, wherein the message context object provides access to the Diameter message; processing the Diameter message, wherein processing includes accessing the message context object; and transmitting a message based on the processing.

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; determining a received message type of the received Diameter message; determining an inverse message type based on the received message type; establishing an inverse message context object based on the inverse message type, wherein the inverse message context object provides access to a related Diameter message of the received Diameter message; processing the received Diameter message, wherein processing includes accessing the inverse message context object; and transmitting a message based on the processing.

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 is associated with a subscriber; establishing a subscriber record context object in response to receiving the Diameter message, wherein the subscriber record context object is associated with a subscriber record of the subscriber; evaluating a rule that includes a context object reference, wherein the evaluation includes accessing the subscriber record. context object based on the context object reference; and transmitting a message based on the evaluation of the rule.

Abstract: Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method and related network node including one or more of the following: identifying a context artifact, wherein the context artifact defines a context object type for use by the DRA; receiving a Diameter message at the DRA from an origin device; establishing a context object of the context object type defined by the context artifact; evaluating a rule that includes a context object reference, wherein the evaluation includes accessing the context object based on the context object reference; and transmitting a message based on the evaluation of the rule.

Abstract: A method for per-peer request delivery timeouts includes receiving a DIAMETER message at a DIAMETER Routing Agent, testing if the DIAMETER message is a request message destined for an associated peer, and if said test is affirmative, then retrieving a preset timeout associated with that peer; initiating a timeout timer with said preset timeout; and forwarding the DIAMETER request message to said peer. The disclosure provides additional steps with respect to stopping the timer in the event that a response message is received prior to the timer expiring; or alternatively, either resending the request or providing an unable to deliver response in the event the timer does expire. The method for per-peer request delivery timeouts provides for fine tuning timeout periods according to the networks to which the DIAMETER peers are connected. The method is particularly useful for reducing the amount of time waiting for response messages which will not be forthcoming.

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 an attribute-value pair (AVP) having a first value represented according to a first data type; establishing a context object in response to receiving the Diameter message; establishing, within the context object, a custom attribute object that corresponds to the AVP and provides access to at least a portion of the first value represented according to a second data type, wherein the second data type is different from the first data type; evaluating a rule that includes a context object reference, wherein the evaluation includes accessing the custom attribute object based on the context object reference; and transmitting a message based on the evaluation of the rule.

Abstract: Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method and related network node including one or more of the following: receiving a first Diameter message at the DRA from a first origin device; determining a first message type associated with the first Diameter message; identifying a first set of rules of a plurality of sets of rules as being associated with the first message type; evaluating a first rule of the first set of rules; and transmitting a message based on the evaluation of the first rule.

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 exemplary embodiments relate to a method and related network node including one or more of the following: receiving a first Diameter message at the DRA; evaluating a first rule, including accessing data from a generic binding context object including: locating a record associated with a key specified by the first rule, and retrieving the data from the record; and transmitting a message based on the evaluation of the first rule. Various embodiments additionally relate to receiving a second Diameter message at the DRA; and evaluating a second rule, including accessing the generic binding context object, including storing the data in the record associated with the key.

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; establishing a routing decision context object in response to receiving the Diameter message, wherein the routing decision context object is associated with a destination device chosen to receive a previous message; evaluating a rule that includes a context object reference, wherein the evaluation includes accessing the routing decision context object based on the context object reference; and transmitting a message based on the evaluation of the rule.

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; encountering an instruction to perform load balancing; locating an applicable load balancing pool of a plurality of load balancing pools for the Diameter message; identifying a pool host from the applicable load balancing pool to receive the Diameter message; modifying a destination address of the Diameter message to include an address of the identified pool host; and transmitting the Diameter message based on the modified destination address.

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; establishing a message context object in response to receiving the Diameter message, wherein the message context object includes a first collection of child objects; evaluating at least one rule, including: modifying, based on a first instruction, a first index value associated with the first collection of child objects, accessing, based on a second instruction and from the first collection of child objects, a child object corresponding to the first index value; and transmitting a message based on the evaluation of the at least one rule.

Abstract: Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method and related network node including one or more of the following: determining by the network device that an S9 session should be audited; determining that the S9 session is a suspect session; transmitting an S9 message to a partner device, wherein the S9 message includes an innocuous instruction; receiving, at the network device, a response message from the partner device; determining, based on the response message, whether the suspect session is orphaned; and if the suspect session is orphaned, removing an S9 session record associated with the suspect session.

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: Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method performed by a policy and charging rules node (PCRN) for managing a session for a roaming subscriber. The method may include: defining a roaming agreement associated with at least one roaming partner and including at least one limitation; receiving a session establishment request; extracting a subscription identifier; determining an active roaming partner by comparing the subscription identifier to the roaming partner profile; selecting the roaming agreement including the active roaming partner; and enforcing the at least one limitation when processing the session establishment request.

Abstract: Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method and related network node including one or more of the following: determining by the network device that an S9 session should be audited; determining that the S9 session is a suspect session; transmitting an S9 message to a partner device, wherein the S9 message includes an innocuous instruction; receiving, at the network device, a response message from the partner device; determining, based on the response message, whether the suspect session is orphaned; and if the suspect session is orphaned, removing an S9 session record associated with the suspect session.

Abstract: Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method performed by a policy and charging rules node (PCRN) of communicating with a roaming partner. The method may include: defining a roaming partner profile including a network identifier and a primary realm; receiving a session establishment request at the PCRN; extracting a subscription identifier from the session establishment request; determining an active roaming partner by comparing the subscription identifier to the network identifier; and establishing an S9 session with the primary realm of the active roaming partner. Another method may include: defining a roaming partner profile including a primary realm and at least one secondary realm; receiving an S9 session establishment request; extracting an origin realm from the S9 session establishment request; determining an active roaming partner by comparing the origin realm to the primary realm and the secondary realms of the roaming partner profile; and responding to the S9 session establishment request.

Abstract: Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method of protecting against resource overload. The method may include: setting a resource critical threshold level of usage for a monitored resource; setting an overload rejection level for a plurality of operations; measuring a level of usage; determining an overload usage state based on the level of usage; shedding an operation if the overload usage state equals or exceeds the overload rejection level for the operation; determining whether the level of usage exceeds the resource critical threshold level; and if the level of usage exceeds the resource critical threshold level: changing the overload usage state to a resource critical overload usage state, and shedding an operation unless the overload rejection level indicates that the operation should never be shed. Various exemplary embodiments relate to a network element including: a monitored resource; a rejection level mapping; a status monitor; and an overload manager.