Access Gateway Analytics Interface Using an NWDAF Intermediary
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current 5G network architectures lack direct interfaces for non-3GPP and 3GPP access devices to the network data analytics function (NWDAF), leading to inefficient resource utilization and poor user experiences due to the absence of analytics data exchange, resulting in excessive consumption of computing and networking resources.
Innovation Solution
Establishing a first interface with the NWDAF via an SBA API and a second interface based on UDP/IP for non-3GPP and 3GPP access devices, allowing the network device to provide definitions and raw data for analytics calculation, and receiving analytics data to perform actions based on the results.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If direct interfaces are established between access devices and NWDAF, then analytics data exchange is enabled and resource utilization improves, but device complexity and network architecture complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an Access Network Data Function (ANDF) as an intermediary between access devices (3GPP and non-3GPP) and the NWDAF. The ANDF collects data from access devices, processes it locally, and selectively forwards relevant information to the NWDAF. This mediator reduces the direct interface complexity between multiple access devices and the NWDAF while maintaining efficient analytics capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the network architecture into distinct functional components: access devices, ANDF (access network data function), and NWDAF (network data analytics function). This segmentation allows each component to have specialized, simplified interfaces while maintaining overall system efficiency. The ANDF handles access device-specific protocols and data collection, while the NWDAF focuses on analytics processing.
2Reliability
If analytics data exchange is implemented, then user experience improves through better resource management, but computing and networking resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements partial action by having the ANDF selectively collect and forward only relevant analytics data to the NWDAF, rather than transmitting all raw data. The system performs analytics processing in stages - initial processing at the ANDF level and supplementary processing at the NWDAF level - reducing overall network bandwidth consumption while maintaining comprehensive analytics capabilities that improve user experience.
Data Source
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AI summary
A network device may establish a first interface with a network data analytics function (NWDAF) of a service-based architecture (SBA), and may establish a second interface with Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) access devices and non-3GPP access devices. The network device may provide, to the NWDAF and via the first interface, definitions of analytics data to be generated by the NWDAF, and may provide, to the NWDAF and via the first interface, raw data of an operational state of the SBA to cause the NWDAF to calculate the analytics data based on the definitions and the raw data of an operational state. The network device may receive the analytics data from the NWDAF and via the first interface, and may perform one or more actions based on the analytics data.