5G CNF Failover Within Node Groups for High Availability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing 5G wireless networks face challenges in maintaining high availability and avoiding network outages and dropped calls, particularly due to failures in cloud-native network functions (CNFs) within node groups.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a failover mechanism that automatically switches cloud-native network functions (CNFs) to spare cloud compute instances within the same node group in response to failures, utilizing overprovisioned resources to ensure continuous operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If cloud-native network functions are deployed on cloud compute instances, then deployment flexibility and agility are improved, but network availability and reliability deteriorate due to potential failures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeployment flexibilityVSAvoidnetwork availability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-provisions spare cloud compute instances within each node group before failures occur. When a CNF failure is detected, the system can immediately activate these pre-prepared spare instances to host the failed CNF, eliminating the need for provisioning during failure scenarios and ensuring rapid recovery while maintaining deployment flexibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a cushion of redundancy by maintaining spare cloud compute instances that are dedicated to hosting CNFs during failure scenarios. This beforehand cushioning ensures that when failures occur, there are already available resources to absorb the impact and maintain network availability without compromising the flexibility of cloud-native deployment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Reliability

If spare cloud compute instances are pre-provisioned for failover, then network availability is improved, but resource utilization and cost efficiency worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork availabilityVSAvoidresource utilization efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically manages spare cloud compute instances by keeping them in a standby state rather than permanently allocated. When failures occur, these instances are activated to host failed CNFs. When not needed, the system can de-provision or re-allocate these spare instances, making the redundancy dynamic rather than static, thus improving resource utilization while maintaining network availability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the operational state of spare cloud compute instances between active and standby modes based on failure conditions. By adjusting the state parameters of these instances dynamically - keeping them in a low-power standby state when not needed and activating them when failures occur - the system maintains reliability while optimizing resource utilization and reducing energy waste

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Loss of time

If automatic failover switching is implemented, then recovery time is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverecovery timeVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements self-service automatic failover where the cloud computing service provider's system autonomously detects CNF failures, selects appropriate spare instances, and switches hosting without human intervention. This self-service approach minimizes recovery time by eliminating manual intervention steps while managing complexity through automation rather than manual procedures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS20250385829A1Failover of cloud-native network functions within node groups for high availability in a wireless telecommunication network

Publication Date: 2025.12.18 BOOST SUBSCRIBERCO LLC

AI summary

Example embodiments are directed towards detecting a failure of a fifth-generation New Radio (5G NR) cellular telecommunication network containerized network function (CNF) running within a dedicated node group of cloud compute instances hosting a plurality of CNFs of a wireless telecommunication service provider or a failure of a specific cloud compute instance hosting the CNF within the node group. In response to the detection of a failure of the CNF within the node group or a failure of the specific cloud compute instance hosting the CNF within the node group, automatically switching to host the CNF on a spare cloud compute instance within the node group dedicated to the wireless telecommunication service provider and pre-provisioned to host CNFs of a same type as the CNF for the wireless telecommunication service provider.