Network element discovery method for 4G/5G fusion networking and NRF device

Abstract

The invention discloses a network element discovery method for 4G / 5G fusion networking and an NRF device used in the 4G / 5G fusion networking, the device is used for realizing the method, the method comprises the following steps that an EPC sends a registration request message to the NRF, wherein the registration request message comprises configuration parameters of the EPC; the NF sends a registration request message to the NRF, wherein the registration request message comprises the NF configuration parameters; a conversion module of the NRF converts the configuration parameters of the EPC into corresponding NF configuration parameter according to the parameter attributes and writes the NF configuration parameter into a cache list of an NF / NF service configuration file; the NRF writes the NF configuration parameter in the NF registration request message into the cache list of an NF / NF service configuration file; the NRF receives a network element service discovery request and / or a subscription request, and retrieves the cache list of the NF / NF service configuration file to determine whether to authorize service discovery; and if it is determined that the service discovery is authorized, the NRF returns a request response message to perform target network element instance selection according to the request response message. According to the invention, multi-network element management of 4G / 5G fusion networking is realized, and the user experience is improved.

Description

technical field [0001] The invention relates to the field of mobile communications, in particular to a network element discovery method and an NRF device for 4G / 5G converged networking. Background technique [0002] Based on factors such as the stock status of the current communication network and future network development trends, in the early stage of 5G deployment, there will inevitably be a considerable period of time when 4G / 5G integration is required to transition to ensure the network experience of new and old users. Based on the 4G core network architecture, the 5G core network architecture is built. Based on the purpose of separating the control plane and the user plane, network element functions are subdivided to evolve into new network functions (NF). The NFs on the control plane mainly include: access and mobility management functional entity AMF, session management functional entity SMF, application functional entity AF, network slice selection functional entity...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

4G / 5G integration will inevitably lead to an increase in the number of network elements, more complex networking, an increase in the number of network elements, an increase in the difficulty of discovering and selecting between network elements, and an increase in the management workload involving multiple network elements

However, at present, NRF only stores and manages 5GC NFs in a single way, and the EPC and 5G NFs of the 4G core network are not managed in a unified manner, which leads to the inflexibility and low efficiency of the discovery and selection of network elements in the converged network.

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