Dynamic PCRF/PCF selection

A system for initiating a network session for a user equipment (UE) on a network, the system comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a computer-readable medium storing instructions that are operative upon execution by the processor to:
• receive a session initiation protocol (SIP) register message at a session management function (SMF) node;
• append, by the SMF node, to the SIP register message, an identification of a policy charging function (PCF) node;
• pass, by the SMF node, the appended SIP register message from the SMF node to a proxy-call session control function (P-CSCF) node, without passing the appended SIP register message through the UE;
• extract, by the P-CSCF node, the identification of the PCF node from the appended SIP register message;
• select, by the P-CSCF node, the identified PCF node in accordance with the extracted identification of the PCF node;
• and
• based at least upon selecting the identified PCF node, initiate the network session for the UE.

One or more computer storage devices having computer-executable instructions stored thereon for initiating a network session for a user equipment (UE) on a network, which, on execution by a computer, cause the computer to perform operations comprising:

• receiving a session initiation protocol (SIP) register message at a session management function (SMF) node;
• appending, by the SMF node, to the SIP register message, and identification of a poly charging function (PCT) node;
• passing, by the SMF node, the appended SIP register message from the SMF node to a proxy-call session control function (P-CSCF) node, without passing the appended SIP register message through the UE;
• extracting, by the P-CSCF node, the identification of the PCF node from the appended SIP register message;
• selecting, by the P-CSCF node, the identified PCF node in accordance with the extracted identification of the PCF node;
• and
• based at least upon selecting the identified PCF node, initiating the network session for the UE.