A network element discovery method and nrf device for 4G/5G converged networking

Abstract

The invention discloses a network element discovery method for 4G / 5G converged networking and an NRF device used in 4G / 5G converged networking. The device is used to implement the method. The method includes the EPC sending a registration request message to the NRF, wherein Including EPC configuration parameters; NF sends a registration request message to NRF, including NF configuration parameters; NRF's conversion module converts EPC configuration parameters into corresponding NF configuration parameters based on parameter attributes and writes them into the NF / NF service configuration file cache list; NRF writes the NF configuration parameters in the NF registration request message into the cache list of NF / NF service configuration files; NRF receives network element service discovery requests and / or subscription requests, and retrieves the cache list of NF / NF service configuration files to determine whether service discovery is authorized; if it is determined that service discovery is authorized, NRF returns a request response message to select a target network element instance based on the request response message. The invention realizes multi-network element management of 4G / 5G integrated networking and improves user experience.

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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