Systems and methods for evolved packet core cluster and session handling

1. A method in a network component for cluster and session handling comprising:

receiving, by a mobile core controller (MC-C) in a first resource pool in a cluster of resources, an attach request from a service-oriented radio controller (SORC) for a packet data network (PDN) connection for a user equipment (UE), the MC-C and the first resource pool selected by the SORC according to a UE address, a load experienced by the cluster of resources, and at least one operator policy;

configuring, by the MC-C, session control and gateway resources for a session for the UE, a selection of the session control received by the MC-C from the SORC;

negotiating, by the MC-C, with a follower site to determine state information for a bearer context of the UE, the follower site comprising a second resource pool belonging to the cluster of resources;

synchronizing, by the MC-C, the state information with follower sites when a state is agreed upon by at least some of the follower sites; and

forming an availability group according to a set of servers that hold replicated state information for the UE.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

responsive to a trigger, migrating the session of the UE from the first resource pool to the second resource pool.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the trigger comprises a handover request from the UE.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the trigger comprises at least a partial failure of at least one resource in the first resource pool.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein moving a session of the UE from the first resource pool to the second resource pool comprises copying a session context for the UE from the first resource pool to the second resource pool.

6. The method of claim 2 , wherein moving the session of the UE from the first resource pool to the second resource pool comprises modifying gateway states with a software defined networking (SDN) controller in the second resource pool to handle PDN.

7. The method of claim 2 , wherein moving the session of the UE from the first resource pool to the second resource pool comprises signaling, with an MC-C in the second resource pool, an application utilized by the UE in the session of the migrating.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the MC-C in the second resource pool provides the application with at least one of relocation information and resource-state information.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the resource-state information comprises session specific information on path congestion or path failure.

10. A mobile core controller (MC-C) in a first resource pool in a cluster of resources, the MC-C comprising:

a processor; and

a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing programming for execution by the processor, the programming including instructions to:

receive an attach request from a service-oriented radio controller (SORC) for a packet data network (PDN) connection for a user equipment (UE), the MC-C deployed in a first resource pool in a cluster of resources, the MC-C and the first resource pool selected by the SORC according to a UE address, a load experienced by the cluster of resources, and at least one operator policy;

configure session control and gateway resources for a session for the UE, a selection of the session control received by the MC-C from the SORC;

negotiate with a follower site to determine state information for a bearer context of the UE, the follower site comprising a second resource pool belonging to the cluster of resources;

synchronize the state information with follower sites when a state is agreed upon by at least some of the follower sites; and

form an availability group according to a set of servers that hold replicated state information for the UE.

11. The MC-C of claim 10 , wherein the programming further comprises instructions to:

migrate, responsive to a trigger, the session of the UE from the first resource pool to the second resource pool.

12. The MC-C of claim 11 , wherein the trigger comprises a handover request from the UE.

13. The MC-C of claim 11 , wherein the trigger comprises at least a partial failure of at least one resource in the first resource pool.

14. The MC-C of claim 11 , wherein the instructions to move the session of the UE from the first resource pool to the second resource pool comprises copying a session context for the UE from the first resource pool to the second resource pool.

15. The MC-C of claim 11 , wherein the instructions to move the session of the UE from the first resource pool to the second resource pool comprises modifying gateway states with a software defined networking (SDN) controller in the second resource pool to handle PDN.

16. The MC-C of claim 11 , wherein the instructions to move the session of the UE from the first resource pool to the second resource pool comprises signaling, with an MC-C in the second resource pool, an application utilized by the UE in the session of the migrate.

17. The MC-C of claim 16 , wherein the MC-C in the second resource pool provides the application with at least one of relocation information and resource-state information.

18. The MC-C of claim 17 , wherein the resource-state information comprises session specific information on path congestion or path failure.

19. A method in a network component for evolved packet core (EPC) cluster and session handling comprising:

receiving, at the network component, an attach request for a packet data network (PDN) connection from a user equipment (UE);

determining, by the network component, resource load for resources in a cluster of resources;

determining a pool of resources to serve the UE according to the resource load, a location of the UE, and at least one operator policy;

selecting a session control for the PDN connection;

identifying a mobile core controller (MC-C) from the determined pool or resources;

sending the session control to the MC-C; and

instructing the MC-C to initiate procedures to authenticate the UE, set up gateway resources from the pool of resources, and perform UE context replication among the pool of resources according to the pool of resources and the session control.

20. A network component comprising:

a processor; and

a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing programming for execution by the processor, the programming including instructions to:

receive an attach request for a packet data network (PDN) connection from a user equipment (UE);

determine a resource load for resources in a cluster of resources;

determine a pool of resources to serve the UE according to the resource load, a location of the UE, and at least one operator policy;

select session control for the PDN connection;

identify a mobile core controller (MC-C) from the determined pool or resources;

send the session control to the MC-C; and

instruct the MC-C to initiate procedures to authenticate the UE, set up gateway resources from the pool of resources, and perform UE context replication among the pool of resources according to the pool of resources and the session control.