5G NF Management via Blockchain-Based Service Discovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
The centralized 5G core network architecture is prone to single-point failures and attacks due to the use of interconnected network repository functions (NRFs), leading to increased management complexity and security risks.
Innovation Solution
Implementing NF management through a decentralized mechanism using blockchain technology for automated management of network functions, ensuring secure and simple system architecture without affecting identity authentication or security.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If a centralized NRF architecture is used, then automated management of NFs is achieved, but the system becomes vulnerable to single-point failures and attacks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the centralized NRF function into multiple distributed NRF instances that operate independently on a blockchain network. Each NRF instance manages a portion of the NF information, eliminating the single-point failure vulnerability while maintaining automated management capabilities through smart contracts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a blockchain intermediary layer that mediates between NFs and NRF instances. This blockchain layer provides decentralized storage and verification of NF information, ensuring system security and reliability while enabling automated management through cryptographic verification and consensus mechanisms.
2Extent of automation
If multiple NRFs are interconnected in a centralized architecture, then automated management capability is provided, but configuration complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service mechanisms where NRF instances automatically configure themselves by reading NF information from the blockchain. The system uses automated discovery and registration processes where NFs publish their information to the blockchain, and NRF instances autonomously retrieve and process this information without manual configuration, thereby reducing configuration complexity while maintaining automated management.
3Extent of automation
If NF information is stored in a centralized NRF, then automated management is enabled, but the system is prone to single-point attacks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the storage and management of NF information across multiple distributed NRF instances on a blockchain network. By combining the capabilities of multiple independent NRF instances that all access the same decentralized blockchain storage, the system maintains automated management while eliminating the single-point attack vulnerability through redundancy and distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The blockchain acts as an intermediary storage layer that protects NF information from centralized attack vectors. The decentralized nature of blockchain storage ensures that attackers cannot compromise a single point to gain access to all NF information, while the smart contract intermediary maintains automated management operations.
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments of this application provide a network function management method and a communication apparatus. The method includes: A first device receives information about a second device, where the first device is a device in a blockchain, the second device is a network function entity, and the first device is configured to perform automated management on the second device according to a smart contract; and the first device writes the information about the second device into the blockchain. In this way, according to a blockchain technology, an NF instance and a service of the NF instance in network deployment are discovered according to a decentralization mechanism, and an NF instance and service discovery process is implemented in a distributed manner without affecting identity authentication or security, so that a system architecture is more secure and simple, and maintenance is more convenient.