Patent ID: 8155128

Claim:
A method for establishing DIAMETER associations between nodes of a network using a DIAMETER application server, comprising: receiving, at the DIAMETER application server from an originating node, a DIAMETER connection establishment request configured to request establishment of a DIAMETER association between the originating node and a destination node for supporting propagation of DIAMETER signaling messages from the originating node toward the destination node; terminating the DIAMETER connection establishment request at the DIAMETER application server; obtaining, at the DIAMETER application server, a first DIAMETER association between the originating node and the DIAMETER application server; obtaining, at the DIAMETER application server, a second DIAMETER association between the destination node and the DIAMETER application server; linking the obtained first and second DIAMETER associations at the DIAMETER application server, the linked first and second DIAMETER associations configured to support propagation of DIAMETER signaling messages from the originating node toward the destination node; and storing the linked first and second DIAMETER associations at the DIAMETER application server.