Fault handling method for nf, network system, and medium

Abstract

Embodiments of the present application disclose a fault processing method for NF, a network system and a medium. The fault processing method for NF comprises the following steps performed at the NF side of a request for discovery: when it is detected that a discovered NF fails, performing fault processing on a user session related to the discovered NF based on an NF fault processing capability indication of the discovered NF obtained from a network repository function (NRF), so that the NFs in the surrounding of the 5G network system can be guaranteed to perform fault processing based on the NF fault processing capability indication of the different discovered NFs after the NF fails, and the processing requirement of differentiated NF faults in the network system is met.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of 5G mobile communication network technology, and in particular to a fault handling method, network system and medium for NF. Background Technology

[0002] 5G mobile communication networks are the next generation of mobile communication technology, employing software-defined networking and network function virtualization (NF) technologies to decouple network functions from hardware systems. This places higher demands on the disaster recovery capabilities of network systems, especially the disaster recovery capabilities of NFs, to ensure user sessions remain as uninterrupted as possible.

[0003] However, 5G networks are self-organizing networks, and network function areas (NFs) can dynamically join or leave the 5G network at any time. Current 5G standards do not provide clear procedures for disaster recovery of NFs such as SMF (Session Management Function), PCF (Policy Control Function), and UDM (Unified Data Management). The disaster recovery capabilities of NFs from different equipment vendors and operators are inconsistent, and the network system cannot effectively coordinate and handle these issues. Therefore, how to coordinate the working relationship between the failed NF and surrounding NFs to handle NF failures has become an urgent problem to be solved. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of one or more embodiments of this specification is to provide a fault handling method, network system, and medium for NFs, which can ensure that after an NF fails in a 5G network system, surrounding NFs can perform fault handling based on the NF fault handling capability indications of different discovered NFs, thus meeting the differentiated NF fault handling requirements in the network system.

[0005] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, one or more embodiments of this specification are implemented as follows: In a first aspect, a fault handling method for a network function (NF) is provided, wherein the steps performed on the side of the requested NF include: when a fault is detected in the discovered NF, fault handling is performed on the user session related to the discovered NF based on an NF fault handling capability indication obtained from an NRF corresponding to the discovered NF.

[0006] Secondly, a fault handling method for NF is proposed. The steps performed on the NRF side include: in response to a registration request sent by a discovered NF, registering an NF fault handling capability indication corresponding to the discovered NF, so that the NF requesting discovery can discover the NF fault handling capability indication, wherein the NF fault handling capability indication includes a fault handling indication of the NF requesting discovery for the discovered NF when the discovered NF fails.

[0007] Thirdly, a fault handling method for NFs is proposed. The steps performed on the discovered NF side include: sending registration request information to the Network Repository Function (NRF), wherein the registration request information includes at least an NF fault handling capability indication, so that the requested NF can discover the NF fault handling capability indication, wherein the NF handling capability indication includes a fault handling indication of the requested NF for the user session of the discovered NF when the discovered NF fails.

[0008] Fourthly, a network system is proposed, which includes at least a request-discovery NF, wherein the request-discovery NF performs the fault handling method described above.

[0009] Fifthly, a network system is proposed, which includes at least an NRF that performs the fault handling method described above.

[0010] In a sixth aspect, a network system is proposed, which includes at least a discovered NF, wherein the discovered NF performs the fault handling method described above.

[0011] In a seventh aspect, a storage medium is proposed for computer-readable storage, wherein the storage medium stores one or more programs, which, when executed by one or more processors, implement the steps of the fault handling method for network function (NF) as described above.

[0012] As can be seen from the technical solutions provided in one or more embodiments of this specification, the fault handling method for NFs provided in this embodiment of the invention, when a requested-discovery NF detects a fault in a discovered NF, performs fault handling on the user sessions of the relevant discovered NF based on the NF fault handling capability indication of the corresponding discovered NF obtained from the NRF. This NF fault handling capability indication includes a processing indication for the user sessions of the discovered NF. The requested-discovery NF can perform fault handling based on this NF fault handling capability indication, ensuring that after an NF fault occurs in the 5G network system, surrounding NFs can perform fault handling based on different NF fault handling capability indications of the discovered NFs, and different other NFs can be selected to replace the original faulty NF, meeting the differentiated NF fault handling requirements in the network system. Furthermore, when the NF fault handling capability of the discovered NF changes, a dynamic method is used to notify the surrounding requested-discovery NFs in real time, ensuring that the surrounding requested-discovery NFs can perform fault handling based on the latest NF fault handling capability indication. Attached Figure Description

[0013] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in one or more embodiments or prior art of this specification, the accompanying drawings used in the description of one or more embodiments or prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the accompanying drawings described below are only some embodiments recorded in this specification. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0014] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the steps of a fault handling method for NF provided by an embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the steps of another fault handling method for NF provided by an embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the steps of another fault handling method for NF provided by an embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the steps of another fault handling method for NF provided by an embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the steps of another fault handling method for NF provided by an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the steps of another fault handling method for NF provided by an embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 7This is a schematic diagram of the steps of another fault handling method for NF provided by an embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the steps of another fault handling method for NF provided by an embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the steps of another fault handling method for NF provided by an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the steps related to three-party interaction in another fault handling method for NF provided by an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a network system provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of another network system provided by an embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of another network system provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0027] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the technical solutions in this specification, the technical solutions in one or more embodiments of this specification will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described one or more embodiments are merely some embodiments of this specification, and not all embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on one or more embodiments of this specification without creative effort should fall within the protection scope of this document.

[0028] The fault handling method for NFs provided in this invention applies different NF fault handling capability indications to the user sessions of the relevant discovered NFs when different discovered NFs fail. Therefore, after an NF fails in a 5G network system, surrounding NFs can perform differentiated NF fault handling based on the different NF fault handling capabilities of the failed NF, meeting the differentiated NF fault handling requirements of 5G network systems. The fault handling method for NFs and its various steps provided in this specification will be described in detail below.

[0029] It should be noted that the fault handling method for NFs provided in this embodiment of the invention is applicable to 5G network systems. NFs are similar to 4G network elements. The disaster recovery capability of an NF involves how it is backed up. Disaster recovery is supported by corresponding NFs for backup. If it is a hot backup, the NF fault handling capability for that NF is reselection; if it is a cold backup, the NF fault handling capability for that NF is session release. Furthermore, the surrounding NFs mentioned in this application can be related NFs other than the NF that failed, where the user session exists.

[0030] Example 1 Reference Figure 1 The diagram illustrates the steps of a fault handling method for a Network Function (NF) according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is understood that the fault handling method for NFs provided in this embodiment is applicable to the processing of user sessions related to a faulty NF in a 5G network system. This 5G network system includes discovered NFs, requested-discovery NFs, and NRFs. Requested-discovery NFs and discovered NFs are relative concepts; the same NF can be both a requested-discovery NF and a discovered NF requested by other NFs. Therefore, for a faulty NF, it can itself be considered a discovered NF, and surrounding NFs can be considered requested-discovery NFs, thereby distinguishing the faulty NF from its surrounding NFs. The steps performed on the requested-discovery NF side of this fault handling method for NFs include: Step 100: When a fault is detected in a discovered NF, the user session of the discovered NF is fault-handled based on the NF fault handling capability indication obtained from the NRF.

[0031] The discovered NF needs to send a registration request to the Network Repository Function (NRF) to register with the NRF. This registration request includes an indication of the discovered NF's NF fault handling capability. If the discovered NF subsequently fails, the requesting NF will handle the fault for the user sessions related to the discovered NF based on this NF fault handling capability indication.

[0032] Every NF (Network Function) can fail. Since the registration information sent by each discovered NF to the NRF includes its NF failure handling capability indication, a failed NF can be described using the term "discovered NF." A requested discovery NF, on the other hand, is suitable for describing surrounding NFs. Normally, a requested discovery NF periodically checks for failures in discovered NFs. When a failure is detected, it handles the user sessions of the relevant discovered NF based on the NF failure handling capability indication previously obtained from the NRF. Once the NRF obtains the corresponding NF failure handling capability indication, it notifies the requested discovery NF, dynamically and in real-time notifying surrounding NFs. This ensures that surrounding NFs can handle the services of the discovered NF according to the correct strategy after a failure. Furthermore, different discovered NFs correspond to different NF failure handling capability indications, thus ensuring that surrounding NFs can handle services based on the corresponding NF failure handling capability indication after a failure in the 5G network system.

[0033] 5G networks are self-organizing networks, where network elements (NFs) can dynamically join or leave the network at any time. Static configuration is essentially impractical when changes are frequent or not communicated to neighboring NFs in real time. This invention addresses the need for handling differentiated NF failures in 5G network systems. The embodiments of this invention can perform different NF fault handling for different NF failures, meeting the differentiated fault recovery requirements in the network.

[0034] See Figure 2 As shown, in some embodiments, the present invention provides a fault handling method for NFs, step 100: fault handling is performed on the user sessions related to the discovered NFs based on the NF fault handling capability indication of the corresponding discovered NF obtained from the NRF, specifically including: Step 101: The NF fault handling capability indication includes at least NF reselection. When a user session that has been connected needs to send a message to the discovered NF, another NF is selected to replace the discovered NF and continue sending the message. When a discovered NF first applies for registration with the NRF, the registration message it sends includes an NF fault handling capability indication. When a neighboring NF applies to the NRF to discover the discovered NF, it obtains information about the discovered NF that includes the NF fault handling capability indication. When the discovered NF experiences a fault, it requests the discovering NF to perform subsequent processing on the user sessions of the discovered NF according to the NF fault handling capability indication.

[0035] If the NF fault handling capability indicator includes NF reselection, meaning that when the requested NF (i.e., a neighboring NF) needs to send a message to the faulty NF, it selects another NF to replace the discovered NF before continuing message transmission, thus meeting the needs of handling differentiated NF faults in the network system. The other NF can be one of the surrounding NFs, excluding the requested NF itself.

[0036] See Figure 3 As shown, in some embodiments, the present invention provides a fault handling method for NFs, step 100: fault handling is performed on the user sessions related to the discovered NFs based on the NF fault handling capability indication of the corresponding discovered NF obtained from the NRF, specifically including: Step 102: The NF fault handling capability indication includes at least releasing the session when an already connected user session needs to send a message to the discovered NF.

[0037] The registration request message sent by the discovered NF to the NRF includes an NF fault handling capability indication. When the NF that requested the discovery, i.e. the surrounding NF, discovers the discovered NF to the NRF, it carries the NF fault handling capability indication. When the discovered NF fails, the surrounding NFs can perform subsequent processing according to the corresponding NF fault handling capability indication.

[0038] The NF fault handling capability indication can include session release. When a fault is discovered in an NF, if a nearby NF needs to send a message to the faulty NF because a user session that has already been connected needs to do so, the user session will be released directly and the current user session will end. The user's terminal will then initiate the user session again.

[0039] See Figure 4 As shown, in some embodiments, step 100: when a fault is detected in a discovered NF, before performing fault handling on the user session related to the discovered NF based on the NF fault handling capability indication obtained from the NRF, the fault handling method provided in this embodiment of the invention includes: Step 110: Based on the information of the discovered NF sent by the NRF, obtain the NF fault handling capability indication of the corresponding discovered NF. The NF handling capability indication includes the fault handling indication requested by the discovered NF for the user session of the relevant discovered NF when the discovered NF fails.

[0040] When a discovered NF applies for registration with the NRF, it carries an NF fault handling capability indication. When the discovered NF, i.e. the surrounding NFs, discovers the discovered NF with the NRF, it carries an NF fault handling capability indication. When the discovered NF fails, the surrounding NFs handle the fault for the user sessions of the relevant discovered NF according to the corresponding NF fault handling capability indication.

[0041] When a neighboring NF requests the NRF to discover a discovered NF, the NRF returns information about the discovered NF to the surrounding NFs. This information includes an indication of the discovered NF's NF failure handling capabilities. This allows for preparation of actions to be taken in case of a failure in the discovered NF before such a failure actually occurs.

[0042] See Figure 5 As shown, in some embodiments, after step 110: obtaining the NF fault handling capability indication of the corresponding discovered NF based on the information of the discovered NF sent by the NRF, the fault handling method provided by the embodiments of the present invention further includes: Step 120: Subscribe to NRF for notifications of discovered changes in the fault handling capabilities of NFs; When the fault handling capability of a discovered NF changes, the discovered NF sends an update message to the NRF to update the original NF fault handling capability indication and requests the discovered NF, i.e. the surrounding NFs, to obtain the latest NF fault handling capability indication of the discovered NF by subscribing to the fault handling capability change notification of the discovered NF.

[0043] As can be seen, the embodiments of the present invention provide a dynamic method to notify the surrounding NFs of the fault handling capabilities of the discovered NF in real time, so as to ensure that the surrounding NFs can perform fault handling on the user sessions of the related discovered NFs based on the correct strategy after the discovered NF fails.

[0044] Step 130: When a fault handling capability change is detected in an NF, receive a fault handling capability change notification sent by the NRF. The fault handling capability change notification includes the new NF fault handling capability indication. Therefore, when the fault handling capability of a discovered NF changes, such as from a reselection NF to a release session, or from a release session to a reselection NF, the NF requesting discovery receives a fault handling capability change notification sent by the NRF. This fault handling capability change notification includes the new NF fault handling capability indication.

[0045] Step 140: Update the existing NF fault handling capability indicator to the new NF fault handling capability indicator.

[0046] The requesting NF (NF that requests discovery) and its surrounding NFs subscribe to the NRF (Network RF) for notifications of changes in the fault handling capabilities of the discovered NF. When the fault handling capabilities of the discovered NF change, the NRF proactively sends a fault handling capability change notification to the surrounding NFs, carrying the new NF fault handling capability indication. The requesting NF then replaces its original fault handling capability indication with the new one. It can be seen that when the fault handling capabilities of a discovered NF change, a dynamic method is used to notify the surrounding requesting NFs in real time, ensuring that the surrounding requesting NFs can handle faults based on the latest NF fault handling capability indication.

[0047] The above analysis shows that the fault handling method for NFs provided in this embodiment of the invention, when a requested-discovery NF detects a fault in a discovered NF, performs fault handling on the user sessions of the relevant discovered NF based on the NF fault handling capability indication obtained from the NRF for the corresponding discovered NF. This NF fault handling capability indication includes a processing instruction for the user sessions of the discovered NF. The requested-discovery NF can perform fault handling based on this NF fault handling capability indication, ensuring that after an NF fault occurs in the 5G network system, surrounding NFs can perform fault handling based on different NF fault handling capability indications for the discovered NFs. Furthermore, different other NFs can be selected to replace the original faulty NF, meeting the differentiated NF fault handling requirements in the network system. In addition, when the NF fault handling capability of the discovered NF changes, a dynamic method is used to notify surrounding requested-discovery NFs in real time, ensuring that surrounding requested-discovery NFs can perform fault handling based on the latest NF fault handling capability indication.

[0048] Example 2 See Figure 6 As shown, the fault handling method for NF provided in this embodiment of the invention includes the following steps performed on the NRF side: Step 200: Register the discovered NF in response to the registration request information sent by the discovered NF. The registration request information includes an NF fault handling capability indication, so that the NF requesting discovery can obtain the NF fault handling capability indication, which includes a fault handling indication from the NF requesting discovery to the discovered NF when the discovered NF fails.

[0049] When a discovered NF applies for registration with the NRF, it carries an NF fault handling capability indication in the registration information. This NF fault handling capability indication includes a fault handling instruction requested by the discovered NF for the user session of the discovered NF in the event of a fault.

[0050] When a neighboring NF requests the discovery of a discovered NF from the NRF, the NRF returns information about the discovered NF to the requesting NF. This information includes an indication of the NF's fault handling capabilities.

[0051] See Figure 7 As shown, in some embodiments, after step 200: registering the discovered NF, the fault handling method provided by the embodiments of the present invention further includes: Step 210: In response to the update message sent by the discovered NF, update the original NF fault handling capability indicator to a new NF fault handling capability indicator. The update message includes the new NF fault handling capability indicator. When the fault handling capability of a discovered NF changes, such as from a reselected NF to a released session, the discovered NF sends an update message to the NRF. The update message includes the new NF fault handling capability indication, and the NRF notifies the requesting NF of the new NF fault handling capability indication.

[0052] Step 220: Send a fault handling capability change notification to the NF that requested discovery. The fault handling capability change notification includes a new NF fault handling capability indication, so that the NF that requested discovery can update its original NF fault handling capability indication to the new NF fault handling capability indication.

[0053] After receiving a fault handling capability change notification, the NF that requested discovery replaces the original NF fault handling capability indication with the new NF fault handling capability indication included in the fault handling capability change notification.

[0054] The above analysis shows that the fault handling method for NFs provided in this embodiment of the invention, when a requested-discovery NF detects a fault in a discovered NF, performs fault handling on the user sessions of the relevant discovered NF based on the NF fault handling capability indication obtained from the NRF for the corresponding discovered NF. This NF fault handling capability indication includes a processing instruction for the user sessions of the discovered NF. The requested-discovery NF can perform fault handling based on this NF fault handling capability indication, ensuring that after an NF fault occurs in the 5G network system, surrounding NFs can perform fault handling based on different NF fault handling capability indications for the discovered NFs. Furthermore, different other NFs can be selected to replace the original faulty NF, meeting the differentiated NF fault handling requirements in the network system. In addition, when the NF fault handling capability of the discovered NF changes, a dynamic method is used to notify surrounding requested-discovery NFs in real time, ensuring that surrounding requested-discovery NFs can perform fault handling based on the latest NF fault handling capability indication.

[0055] Example 3 See Figure 8As shown, the fault handling method for a Network Function (NF) provided in this embodiment of the invention includes the following steps performed on the discovered NF side: Step 300: Send registration request information to the Network Repository Function (NRF). The registration request information includes at least an NF fault handling capability indication, which is provided to the NF to be discovered for the purpose of discovering the NF fault handling capability indication. The NF fault handling capability indication includes the fault handling indication of the NF to the user session of the NF to be discovered when the discovered NF fails.

[0056] When a discovered NF sends a registration request to the NRF, it carries an NF failure handling capability indication in the registration request message. This NF failure handling capability indication is intended to indicate the handling instructions for the discovered NF on the user sessions of the surrounding NFs when the discovered NF fails, including at least releasing the session or reselecting the NF.

[0057] Therefore, when a neighboring NF discovers the discovered NF to the NRF, it simultaneously obtains the NF fault handling capability indication carried by the discovered NF. When the discovered NF fails, the neighboring NFs perform subsequent fault handling on the user session of the discovered NF according to the NF fault handling capability indication. For example, they may either release the session to end the current service or reselect another NF to replace the failed NF and continue the current service.

[0058] See Figure 9 As shown, in some embodiments, after step 300: sending registration application information to the NRF, the fault handling method provided by the embodiments of the present invention further includes: Step 310: When the fault handling capability of a discovered NF changes, an update message is sent to the NRF to enable the NRF to obtain the new NF fault handling capability indication. The update message includes the new NF fault handling capability indication, which is then obtained by the NF that requested the discovery.

[0059] When a fault handling capability of a discovered NF changes, it sends an update message to the NRF so that the NRF updates the original NF fault handling capability indication to the new NF fault handling capability indication. Neighboring NFs obtain the latest NF fault handling capability indication of the discovered NF by subscribing to the fault handling capability change notification.

[0060] See Figure 10The diagram illustrates the information processing mechanism among the relevant three parties for the fault handling method for NFs provided in this embodiment of the invention. Specifically, a discovered NF carries an NF fault handling capability indicator when it first registers with the NRF, and also sends an update message to the NRF when its fault handling capability changes, so that the NRF can promptly obtain the NF fault handling capability indication of the discovered NF. When a requesting NF (i.e., a neighboring NF) requests to be discovered by the NRF, the NRF returns the fault handling capability indication of the discovered NF. The NRF also notifies the neighboring requesting NFs when it receives an update message from the discovered NF, allowing the requesting NFs to promptly obtain the corresponding NF fault handling capability indication of the discovered NF. When a neighboring requesting NF detects a fault in the discovered NF, it performs fault handling on the user sessions of the relevant discovered NF according to the latest NF fault handling capability indication.

[0061] The above analysis shows that the fault handling method for NFs provided in this embodiment of the invention, when a requested-discovery NF detects a fault in a discovered NF, performs fault handling on the user sessions of the relevant discovered NF based on the NF fault handling capability indication obtained from the NRF for the corresponding discovered NF. This NF fault handling capability indication includes a processing instruction for the user sessions of the discovered NF. The requested-discovery NF can perform fault handling based on this NF fault handling capability indication, ensuring that after an NF fault occurs in the 5G network system, surrounding NFs can perform fault handling based on different NF fault handling capability indications for the discovered NFs. Furthermore, different other NFs can be selected to replace the original faulty NF, meeting the differentiated NF fault handling requirements in the network system. In addition, when the NF fault handling capability of the discovered NF changes, a dynamic method is used to notify surrounding requested-discovery NFs in real time, ensuring that surrounding requested-discovery NFs can perform fault handling based on the latest NF fault handling capability indication.

[0062] Example 4 See Figure 11 As shown, the network system 10 provided in this embodiment of the invention includes at least a NF 100 that requests discovery. The NF that requests discovery performs the fault handling method described above. Specifically, the following steps are performed: Step 100: When a fault is detected in a discovered NF, the user session of the discovered NF is fault-handled based on the NF fault handling capability indication obtained from the NRF.

[0063] The discovered NF needs to send a registration request to the NRF to register with the NRF. This registration request includes an indication of the discovered NF's NF fault handling capability. If the discovered NF subsequently fails, the requesting NF will handle the fault for the user sessions related to the discovered NF based on the NF fault handling capability indication.

[0064] Every NF (Network Function) can fail. Since the registration information sent by each discovered NF to the NRF includes its NF failure handling capability indication, a failed NF can be described using the term "discovered NF." A requested discovery NF, on the other hand, is suitable for describing surrounding NFs. Normally, a requested discovery NF periodically checks for failures in discovered NFs. When a failure is detected, it handles the user sessions of the relevant discovered NF based on the NF failure handling capability indication previously obtained from the NRF. Once the NRF obtains the corresponding NF failure handling capability indication, it notifies the requested discovery NF, dynamically and in real-time notifying surrounding NFs. This ensures that surrounding NFs can handle the services of the discovered NF according to the correct strategy after a failure. Furthermore, different discovered NFs correspond to different NF failure handling capability indications, thus ensuring that surrounding NFs can handle services based on the corresponding NF failure handling capability indication after a failure in the 5G network system.

[0065] 5G networks are self-organizing networks, where network elements (NFs) can dynamically join or leave the network at any time. Static configuration is essentially impractical when changes are frequent or not communicated to neighboring NFs in real time. This invention addresses the need for handling differentiated NF failures in 5G network systems. The embodiments of this invention can perform different NF fault handling for different NF failures, meeting the differentiated fault recovery requirements in the network.

[0066] The above analysis shows that the fault handling method for NFs provided in this embodiment of the invention, when a requested-discovery NF detects a fault in a discovered NF, performs fault handling on the user sessions of the relevant discovered NF based on the NF fault handling capability indication obtained from the NRF for the corresponding discovered NF. This NF fault handling capability indication includes a processing instruction for the user sessions of the discovered NF. The requested-discovery NF can perform fault handling based on this NF fault handling capability indication, ensuring that after an NF fault occurs in the 5G network system, surrounding NFs can perform fault handling based on different NF fault handling capability indications for the discovered NFs. Furthermore, different other NFs can be selected to replace the original faulty NF, meeting the differentiated NF fault handling requirements in the network system. In addition, when the NF fault handling capability of the discovered NF changes, a dynamic method is used to notify surrounding requested-discovery NFs in real time, ensuring that surrounding requested-discovery NFs can perform fault handling based on the latest NF fault handling capability indication.

[0067] Example 5 See Figure 12 As shown, the network system 20 provided in this embodiment of the invention includes at least an NRF 200, which performs the fault handling method described above. Specifically, the following steps are performed: Step 200: Register the discovered NF in response to the registration request information sent by the discovered NF. The registration request information includes an NF fault handling capability indication, so that the NF requesting discovery can obtain the NF fault handling capability indication, which includes a fault handling indication from the NF requesting discovery to the discovered NF when the discovered NF fails.

[0068] When a discovered NF applies for registration with the NRF, it carries an NF fault handling capability indication in the registration information. This NF fault handling capability indication includes a fault handling instruction requested by the discovered NF for the user session of the discovered NF in the event of a fault.

[0069] When a neighboring NF requests the discovery of a discovered NF from the NRF, the NRF returns information about the discovered NF to the requesting NF. This information includes an indication of the NF's fault handling capabilities.

[0070] See Figure 7 As shown, in some embodiments, after step 200: registering the discovered NF, the fault handling method provided by the embodiments of the present invention further includes: Step 210: In response to the update message sent by the discovered NF, update the original NF fault handling capability indicator to a new NF fault handling capability indicator. The update message includes the new NF fault handling capability indicator. When the fault handling capability of a discovered NF changes, such as from a reselected NF to a released session, the discovered NF sends an update message to the NRF. The update message includes the new NF fault handling capability indication, and the NRF notifies the requesting NF of the new NF fault handling capability indication.

[0071] Step 220: Send a fault handling capability change notification to the NF that requested discovery. The fault handling capability change notification includes a new NF fault handling capability indication, so that the NF that requested discovery can update its original NF fault handling capability indication to the new NF fault handling capability indication.

[0072] After receiving a fault handling capability change notification, the NF that requested discovery replaces the original NF fault handling capability indication with the new NF fault handling capability indication included in the fault handling capability change notification.

[0073] The above analysis shows that the fault handling method for NFs provided in this embodiment of the invention, when a requested-discovery NF detects a fault in a discovered NF, performs fault handling on the user sessions of the relevant discovered NF based on the NF fault handling capability indication obtained from the NRF for the corresponding discovered NF. This NF fault handling capability indication includes a processing instruction for the user sessions of the discovered NF. The requested-discovery NF can perform fault handling based on this NF fault handling capability indication, ensuring that after an NF fault occurs in the 5G network system, surrounding NFs can perform fault handling based on different NF fault handling capability indications for the discovered NFs. Furthermore, different other NFs can be selected to replace the original faulty NF, meeting the differentiated NF fault handling requirements in the network system. In addition, when the NF fault handling capability of the discovered NF changes, a dynamic method is used to notify surrounding requested-discovery NFs in real time, ensuring that surrounding requested-discovery NFs can perform fault handling based on the latest NF fault handling capability indication.

[0074] Example 6 Reference Figure 13 As shown, a network system 30 is provided according to an embodiment of the present invention. The network system 30 includes at least a discovered NF300, and the discovered NF300 performs the fault handling method described above. Specifically, the following steps are performed: Step 300: Send registration request information to the Network Repository Function (NRF). The registration request information includes at least an NF fault handling capability indication, which is provided to the NF to be discovered for the purpose of discovering the NF fault handling capability indication. The NF fault handling capability indication includes the fault handling indication of the NF to the user session of the NF to be discovered when the discovered NF fails.

[0075] When a discovered NF sends a registration request to the NRF, it carries an NF failure handling capability indication in the registration request message. This NF failure handling capability indication is intended to indicate the handling instructions for the discovered NF on the user sessions of the surrounding NFs when the discovered NF fails, including at least releasing the session or reselecting the NF.

[0076] Therefore, when a neighboring NF discovers the discovered NF to the NRF, it simultaneously obtains the NF fault handling capability indication carried by the discovered NF. When the discovered NF fails, the neighboring NFs perform subsequent fault handling on the user session of the discovered NF according to the NF fault handling capability indication. For example, they may either release the session to end the current service or reselect another NF to replace the failed NF and continue the current service.

[0077] The above analysis shows that the fault handling method for NFs provided in this embodiment of the invention, when a requested-discovery NF detects a fault in a discovered NF, performs fault handling on the user sessions of the relevant discovered NF based on the NF fault handling capability indication obtained from the NRF for the corresponding discovered NF. This NF fault handling capability indication includes a processing instruction for the user sessions of the discovered NF. The requested-discovery NF can perform fault handling based on this NF fault handling capability indication, ensuring that after an NF fault occurs in the 5G network system, surrounding NFs can perform fault handling based on different NF fault handling capability indications for the discovered NFs. Furthermore, different other NFs can be selected to replace the original faulty NF, meeting the differentiated NF fault handling requirements in the network system. In addition, when the NF fault handling capability of the discovered NF changes, a dynamic method is used to notify surrounding requested-discovery NFs in real time, ensuring that surrounding requested-discovery NFs can perform fault handling based on the latest NF fault handling capability indication.

[0078] Example 7 This invention provides a storage medium for computer-readable storage, wherein the storage medium stores one or more programs, which can be executed by one or more processors to achieve, for example... Figures 1 to 10 The steps of the optical transport network alarm handling method are shown below. Specifically, the following steps can be performed: Step 100: When a fault is detected in a discovered NF, the user session of the discovered NF is fault-handled based on the NF fault handling capability indication obtained from the NRF.

[0079] The discovered NF needs to send a registration request to the NRF to register with the NRF. This registration request includes an indication of the discovered NF's NF fault handling capability. If the discovered NF subsequently fails, the requesting NF will handle the fault for the user sessions related to the discovered NF based on the NF fault handling capability indication.

[0080] Every NF (Network Function) can fail. Since the registration information sent by each discovered NF to the NRF includes its NF failure handling capability indication, a failed NF can be described using the term "discovered NF." A requested discovery NF, on the other hand, is suitable for describing surrounding NFs. Normally, a requested discovery NF periodically checks for failures in discovered NFs. When a failure is detected, it handles the user sessions of the relevant discovered NF based on the NF failure handling capability indication previously obtained from the NRF. Once the NRF obtains the corresponding NF failure handling capability indication, it notifies the requested discovery NF, dynamically and in real-time notifying surrounding NFs. This ensures that surrounding NFs can handle the services of the discovered NF according to the correct strategy after a failure. Furthermore, different discovered NFs correspond to different NF failure handling capability indications, thus ensuring that surrounding NFs can handle services based on the corresponding NF failure handling capability indication after a failure in the 5G network system.

[0081] 5G networks are self-organizing networks, where network elements (NFs) can dynamically join or leave the network at any time. Static configuration is essentially impractical when changes are frequent or not communicated to neighboring NFs in real time. This invention addresses the need for handling differentiated NF failures in 5G network systems. The embodiments of this invention can perform different NF fault handling for different NF failures, meeting the differentiated fault recovery requirements in the network.

[0082] The above analysis shows that the fault handling method for NFs provided in this embodiment of the invention, when a requested-discovery NF detects a fault in a discovered NF, performs fault handling on the user sessions of the relevant discovered NF based on the NF fault handling capability indication obtained from the NRF for the corresponding discovered NF. This NF fault handling capability indication includes a processing instruction for the user sessions of the discovered NF. The requested-discovery NF can perform fault handling based on this NF fault handling capability indication, ensuring that after an NF fault occurs in the 5G network system, surrounding NFs can perform fault handling based on different NF fault handling capability indications for the discovered NFs. Furthermore, different other NFs can be selected to replace the original faulty NF, meeting the differentiated NF fault handling requirements in the network system. In addition, when the NF fault handling capability of the discovered NF changes, a dynamic method is used to notify surrounding requested-discovery NFs in real time, ensuring that surrounding requested-discovery NFs can perform fault handling based on the latest NF fault handling capability indication.

[0083] In summary, the above description is merely a preferred embodiment of this specification and is not intended to limit the scope of protection of this specification. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of this specification should be included within the scope of protection of this specification.

[0084] The systems, apparatuses, modules, or units described in one or more of the above embodiments may be implemented by a computer chip or entity, or by a product having a certain function. A typical implementation device is a computer. Specifically, a computer may be, for example, a personal computer, a laptop computer, a cellular phone, a camera phone, a smartphone, a personal digital assistant, a media player, a navigation device, an email device, a game console, a tablet computer, a wearable device, or any combination of these devices.

[0085] Computer-readable storage media include both permanent and non-permanent, removable and non-removable media that can store information by any method or technology. Information can be computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data. Examples of computer storage media include, but are not limited to, phase-change memory (PRAM), static random access memory (SRAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), other types of random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), flash memory or other memory technologies, CD-ROM, digital versatile optical disc (DVD) or other optical storage, magnetic tape, magnetic magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other non-transferable medium that can be used to store information accessible by a computing device. As defined herein, computer-readable media does not include transient computer-readable media, such as modulated data signals and carrier waves.

[0086] It should also be noted that the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitation, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes said element.

[0087] The various embodiments in this specification are described in a progressive manner. Similar or identical parts between embodiments can be referred to interchangeably. Each embodiment focuses on describing the differences from other embodiments. In particular, the system embodiments are basically similar to the method embodiments, so the description is relatively simple; relevant parts can be referred to the descriptions in the method embodiments.

[0088] The foregoing has described specific embodiments of this specification. Other embodiments are within the scope of the appended claims. In some cases, the actions or steps recited in the claims may be performed in a different order than that shown in the embodiments and may still achieve the desired result. Furthermore, the processes depicted in the drawings do not necessarily require the specific or sequential order shown to achieve the desired result. In some embodiments, multitasking and parallel processing are possible or may be advantageous.

Claims

1. A fault handling method for a Network Function (NF), comprising the following steps performed on the side of the NF requesting discovery: Receive the NF fault handling capability indication sent by the Network Repository Function (NRF) for the corresponding discovered NF. The NF fault handling capability indication is used to instruct the NF that requested discovery to reselect the NF or release the session for the user session related to the discovered NF. When a fault is detected in the discovered NF, the user session related to the discovered NF is either reselected or the session is released based on the NF fault handling capability indication. Subscribe to the NRF for notifications of changes in the fault handling capabilities of the discovered NFs; When the fault handling capability of the discovered NF changes, a fault handling capability change notification sent by the NRF is received. The fault handling capability change notification includes a new NF fault handling capability indication. The original NF fault handling capability indication is updated to the new NF fault handling capability indication.

2. The fault handling method as described in claim 1, wherein the user session of the relevant discovered NF is reselected or the session is released based on the NF fault handling capability indication, comprising: When an already connected user session needs to send a message to the discovered NF, an NF reselection is performed, choosing another NF to replace the discovered NF and continue sending the message; or... When an already connected user session needs to send a message to the discovered NF, the session is released, thus releasing the already connected user session.

3. The fault handling method as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein receiving the NF fault handling capability indication corresponding to the discovered NF sent by the Network Repository Function (NRF) includes: Based on the information of the discovered NF sent by the NRF, the NF fault handling capability indication corresponding to the discovered NF is obtained. The NF fault handling capability indication includes the fault handling indication of the NF that requested the discovery for the user session of the discovered NF when the discovered NF fails.

4. A fault handling method for a network function (NF), comprising the following steps performed on the network repository function (NRF) side: Register the discovered NF in response to a registration request sent by the discovered NF, the registration request including an NF fault handling capability indication; Send the NF fault handling capability indication to the NF that is requesting discovery. The NF fault handling capability indication is used to instruct the NF that is requesting discovery to reselect an NF or release a session for the user session of the NF that is being discovered, so that the NF that is requesting discovery can reselect an NF or release a session for the NF that is being discovered when the NF that is being discovered fails. In response to a fault handling capability change notification subscribed to by the discovered NF, a fault handling capability change notification is sent to the NF that requested discovery, the fault handling capability change notification including a new NF fault handling capability indication, so that the NF that requested discovery can update its original NF fault handling capability indication to the new NF fault handling capability indication.

5. The fault handling method as described in claim 4, after registering the discovered NF, the method further includes: In response to the update message sent by the discovered NF, the original NF fault handling capability indication is updated to a new NF fault handling capability indication, the update message including the new NF fault handling capability indication.

6. A fault handling method for a Network Function (NF), comprising the following steps performed on the discovered NF side: The network repository function (NRF) sends registration request information, which includes at least an NF failure handling capability indication, so that the NRF sends the NF failure handling capability indication to the NF that is being discovered. The NF failure handling capability indication includes a failure handling indication for the user session of the NF that is being discovered when the discovered NF fails. The NF failure handling capability indication is used to instruct the NF that is being discovered to reselect an NF or release the session for the user session of the NF that is being discovered. In response to the NRF being subscribed to a fault handling capability change notification of the discovered NF, when the fault handling capability of the discovered NF changes, an update message is sent to the NRF to enable the NRF to obtain the fault handling capability indication of the NF. The update message includes the new NF fault handling capability indication, so that the NF requesting discovery can discover the new NF fault handling capability indication.

7. A network system comprising at least a NF requesting discovery, the NF requesting discovery performing the fault handling method as described in any one of claims 1 to 3.

8. A network system comprising at least an NRF, the NRF performing the fault handling method as described in claim 4 or 5.

9. A network system comprising at least a discovered NF, the discovered NF performing the fault handling method as described in claim 6.

10. A storage medium for computer-readable storage, the storage medium storing one or more programs, which, when executed by one or more processors, implement the steps of the fault handling method for NF as described in any one of claims 1 to 6.

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