5G Service Function Group Identities for Faster Discovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication systems in 5G networks face inefficiencies in service function entity discovery and selection, particularly when delegating tasks to a Service Communication Proxy (SCP), leading to delays and unexpected behavior during device registration and service requests.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a mechanism that determines and communicates the identity of a group of service function entities capable of serving a user, using a standardized 3GPP Service Based Interface (SBI) header, such as 3gpp-Sbi-Target-Nf-Group-Id, to streamline service discovery and selection, reducing the need for separate queries and improving efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If a Service Communication Proxy (SCP) is used to delegate service function entity discovery and selection, then service request handling is automated and centralized, but delays and unexpected behavior occur during device registration and service requests
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by determining and caching the group identity of service function entities in advance, before actual service requests are made. The SCP pre-resolves the group identity based on the user identity and stores it locally, so that subsequent service requests can directly use this cached information without performing time-consuming discovery queries, thereby reducing registration delays while maintaining automated service function entity selection
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying by creating and storing a copy of the group identity information in the SCP's local memory. Instead of repeatedly querying the network for service function entity identities, the SCP maintains a local copy of this critical information, allowing rapid access and reducing the time required for service function entity discovery during device registration and service requests
2Loss of information
If separate queries are performed to discover service function entities, then complete service function information can be obtained, but the process becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the extraction principle by isolating the critical group identity information from the complete service function entity discovery process. The SCP extracts and uses only the essential group identity parameter needed to identify the appropriate service function entity group, eliminating the need for complex multi-step queries and reducing the service discovery process to a simple lookup operation while still obtaining complete service function information when needed
3Productivity
If group identity information is not provided in the response, then the response message remains simple, but subsequent service requests lack critical routing information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by including the group identity information in the initial service response message, so that the sender of the request has this critical routing information immediately available for subsequent service requests. This eliminates the need for separate queries to obtain group identity information later, improving service request processing efficiency while maintaining a relatively simple message structure by providing the information proactively
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatuses and methods for providing services in a communication system are disclosed. A request for a service provided by a service function entity in a network system is received, wherein the request indicates an identity of a user for which the service is requested. An identity of a group of service function entities capable of serving the user and determined based on the identity of the user is then provided, and an indication of the determined identity of the group is sent in the response for subsequent use by the sender of the request and/or at least one other entity involved in requests for services associated with the user.