Methods, systems, and computer readable media for multi-protocol stateful routing

A system for multi-protocol routing, the system comprising:

• a multi-protocol stateful router including at least one processor;
• at least one network interface configured to receive a first message from a first user device of a client session that is communicated using a first communication protocol, wherein the first message requires processing by one or more policy servers, and wherein a first client identifier is obtained from the first message, wherein the client session is a remote authentication dial in user service (RADIUS) session, the first communication protocol is RADIUS, and the first message is a RADIUS message;
• and
• a memory element having binding information stored therein for determining a first policy server from a pool of policy servers that is assigned to the client session, wherein the first client identifier and a first policy server identifier that is associated with the first policy server are stored within the memory element as a multi-protocol binding record, wherein the first policy server is a multi-protocol policy and charging rules function (PCRF);
• and
• wherein the multi-protocol stateful router is configured to route the first message to the first policy server in response to determining that the first policy server is assigned to the client session and to receive a second message from a second user device that is communicated using a second protocol that is different from the first protocol, wherein the second message belongs to a Diameter session, the second protocol is Diameter, and the second message is a Diameter message, and
• wherein the multi-protocol stateful router is configured to determine, using the multi-protocol binding record, that the second message is assigned to the first policy server by determining that the second message includes the first client identifier and looking up the first policy server identifier in the multi-protocol binding record using the first client identifier, and
• wherein the multi-protocol stateful router is configured to determine that the second message includes a second client identifier in addition to the first identifier and add the second client identifier to the multi-protocol binding record and to route, in response to determining that the second message from the second user device is assigned to the first policy server, the Diameter message to the multi-protocol PCRF, causing the multi-protocol PCRF to change one or more policy parameters for the RADIUS session with the first user device in response to the Diameter message from the second user device, and to receive, in response to the Diameter message, a RADIUS response message specifying the one or more policy parameters from the multi-protocol PCRF and route the RADIUS response message to the RADIUS session using the multi-protocol binding record.

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

• receiving a first message from a first user device of a client session that is communicated using a first communication protocol, wherein the first message requires processing by one or more policy servers, wherein the client session is a remote authentication dial in user service (RADIUS) session, the first communication protocol is RADIUS, and the first message is a RADIUS message;
• obtaining, from the first message, a first client identifier;
• determining that the client session is assigned to a first policy server from a pool of different policy servers and routing, in response to determining that the client session is assigned to the first policy server, the first message to the first policy server, wherein the first policy server is a multi-protocol policy and charging rules function (PCRF);
• storing the first client identifier and a first policy server identifier that is associated with the first policy server as a multi-protocol binding record;
• receiving a second message from a second user device that is communicated using a second protocol that is different from the first protocol, wherein the second message belongs to a Diameter session, the second protocol is Diameter, and the second message is a Diameter message;
• determining, using the multi-protocol binding record, that the second message is assigned to the first policy server by determining that the second message includes the first client identifier and looking up the first policy server identifier in the multi-protocol binding record using the first client identifier;
• determining that the second message includes a second client identifier in addition to the first identifier and adding the second client identifier to the multi-protocol binding record;
• routing, in response to determining that the second message from the second user device is assigned to the first policy server, the Diameter message to the multi-protocol PCRF, causing the multi-protocol PCRF to change one or more policy parameters for the RADIUS session with the first user device in response to the Diameter message from the second user device;
• and
• receiving, in response to the Diameter message, a RADIUS response message specifying the one or more policy parameters from the multi-protocol PCRF and routing the RADIUS response message to the RADIUS session using the multi-protocol binding record.