Patent ID: 8644324

Claim:
A method for routing Diameter messages using a Diameter Signaling Router (DSR) based on priority information, the method comprising: receiving, at a Diameter message processor associated with a DSR, a Diameter message from a first Diameter node; assigning, at the Diameter message processor, a priority level indicator to the Diameter message; selecting a route over which to send the Diameter message based at least in part on the assigned priority level indicator to a second Diameter node; and routing the Diameter message with the priority level indicator to the second Diameter node, wherein routing the Diameter message includes selecting the second Diameter node as the destination for the Diameter message based at least in part on the assigned priority level indicator, wherein routing the Diameter message includes routing the Diameter message to the second Diameter node if the assigned priority level indicator exceeds a priority threshold contained in a priority routing rules database, and discarding the Diameter message if the assigned priority level indicator fails to exceed the priority threshold contained in the priority routing rules database.