Methods, systems, and computer readable media for policy and charging rules function (PCRF) fault tolerance

A system for policy and charging rules function (PCRF) fault tolerance, the system comprising:

• a PCRF, including:
• a Diameter application session state information request module embodied on the PCRF for sending from the PCRF to a Diameter peer, a message concerning Diameter application session state information associated with Diameter application sessions currently or previously managed by the PCRF;
• and
• a Diameter application session state information validation module embodied on the PCRF for receiving a response from a Diameter peer in response to the message concerning the Diameter application session state information, wherein the response indicates a number of active Gx sessions associated with the Diameter peer and for determining, based on the response, whether the Diameter application session state information maintained by the PCRF is accurate with regard to Diameter application session state information maintained by the Diameter peer, wherein, in response to a determination that the Diameter application session state information is not accurate, the Diameter application session state information request module is configured to request accurate Diameter application state information from the Diameter peer.

A system for policy and charging rules function (PCRF) fault tolerance, the system comprising:

• a Diameter signaling router (DSR) including:
• a Diameter application session state information cache for maintaining Diameter application session state information concerning Diameter application sessions currently or previously managed by a PCRF;
• and
• a Diameter application session state information cache interface module for receiving, from the PCRF, a message concerning Diameter application session state information maintained by the PCRF regarding application sessions currently or previously managed by the PCRF and for responding to the message based on the Diameter application session state information stored in the cache, wherein responding to the message includes a response that indicates a number of active Gx sessions associated with the PCRF.

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

• sending, from a policy and charging rules function (PCRF) to a Diameter peer, a message concerning Diameter application session state information maintained by the PCRF regarding Diameter application sessions currently or previously managed by the PCRF;
• receiving, by the PCRF, a response from the Diameter peer in response to the message concerning the Diameter application session state information, wherein the response indicates a number of active Gx sessions associated with the Diameter peer;
• determining, by the PCRF and based on the response, whether the Diameter application session state information maintained by the PCRF is accurate with regard to Diameter application session state information maintained by the Diameter peer;
• and
• in response to determining that the Diameter application session state information maintained by the PCRF is not accurate, requesting, by the PCRF, accurate Diameter application session state information from by the Diameter peer.