Customized diameter performance metrics

Abstract

Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method performed by a Diameter node, the method including: receiving a Diameter message at the Diameter node; evaluating a custom metric rule to identify a metric to be collected; and collecting the metric related to the received Diameter message based upon the evaluation of the custom metric rule.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method performed by a Diameter node, the method comprising:
 receiving a Diameter message at the Diameter node;   evaluating a custom metric rule to identify a metric to be collected; and   collecting the metric related to the received Diameter message based upon the evaluation of the custom metric rule.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the Diameter node is a diameter routing agent (DRA). 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the Diameter node is a policy and charging rules node (PCRN). 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, receiving, via a user interface, a definition of the custom metric rule, wherein the definition specifies the metric and a condition when the metric is to be collected. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising,
 receiving a plurality of Diameter messages at the Diameter node;   collecting a plurality of values of the specified metric from a set of Diameter messages in the plurality of Diameter messages that meet the specified condition; and   transmitting via a user interface the collected plurality of values.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising,
 interfacing with an external node using a custom plugin; and   wherein,   the Diameter message is received from the external node,   the custom metric rule is related to Diameter messages from the external node, and   the collected metric relates to the received Diameter message from the external node.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the definition of the custom metric rule modifies a preexisting custom metrics scenario. 
     
     
         8 . A Diameter node (DN) for processing a Diameter message, the DN comprising:
 a rule storage configured to store a custom metrics rule that defines a custom metrics scenario;   a Diameter stack configured to receive a Diameter message from another Diameter node;   a rule engine configured to evaluate the custom metric rule to identify a metric to be collected; and   a metrics collector configured to collect the metric related to the received Diameter message based upon the evaluation of the custom metric rule.   
     
     
         9 . The DN of  claim 8 , wherein the Diameter node is a diameter routing agent (DN). 
     
     
         10 . The DN of  claim 8 , wherein the Diameter node is a policy and charging rules node (PCRN). 
     
     
         11 . The DN of  claim 8 , further comprising, a user interface configured to receive a definition of the custom metric rule, wherein the definition specifies the metric and a condition when the metric is to be collected. 
     
     
         12 . The DN of  claim 11 , wherein,
 the Diameter stack is configured to receive a plurality of Diameter messages from other nodes,   the metrics collector is configured to collect a plurality of values of the specified metric related to the received Diameter message based upon the evaluation of the custom metric rule, and   a user interface configured to transmit the collected plurality of values.   
     
     
         13 . The DN of  claim 11 , wherein,
 the Diameter stack is configured to interface with an external node using a custom plugin,   the Diameter message is received from the external node,   the custom metric rule is related to Diameter messages from the external node, and   the collected metric relates to the received Diameter message from the external node.   
     
     
         14 . The DN of  claim 11 , wherein the definition of the custom metric rule modifies a preexisting custom metrics scenario. 
     
     
         15 . A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium encoded with instructions for execution by a Diameter node (DN) for processing a Diameter message, the medium comprising:
 instructions for receiving a Diameter message at the Diameter node;   instructions for evaluating a custom metric rule to identify a metric to be collected; and   instructions for collecting the metric related to the received Diameter message based upon the evaluation of the custom metric rule.   
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the Diameter node is a diameter routing agent (DN). 
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the Diameter node is a policy and charging rules node (PCRN). 
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , further comprising, instructions for receiving, via a user interface, a definition of the custom metric rule, wherein the definition specifies the metric and a condition when the metric is to be collected. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of  claim 18 , further comprising,
 instructions for receiving a plurality of Diameter messages at the Diameter node;   instructions for collecting a plurality of values of the specified metric from a set of Diameter messages in the plurality of Diameter messages that meet the specified condition; and   instructions for transmitting via a user interface the collected plurality of values.   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of  claim 18 , wherein the definition of the custom metric rule modifies a preexisting custom metrics scenario.