AMF Failure Signaling for Core Network Service Continuity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cellular networks face service interruptions due to core network failures, particularly during natural disasters, leading to inefficient handling of user equipment re-registration and potential overload in alternative networks.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a Disaster Control Function (DCF) that communicates with AMFs to manage service interruptions by informing base stations about affected AMFs, allowing them to guide user equipment to re-register with alternative AMFs within the same operator's network, using various signaling methods to notify UEs of the failure and provide lists of unavailable tracking areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If user equipment re-registers with alternative networks during core network failure, then service continuity is maintained, but alternative networks become overloaded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a Disaster Control Function (DCF) as an intermediary component that coordinates between affected AMFs and alternative networks. The DCF receives failure notifications from AMFs, identifies suitable alternative networks, and manages the re-registration process to distribute user equipment across multiple alternative networks rather than concentrating all traffic to a single alternative network, thereby preventing overload while maintaining service continuity.
2Loss of time
If base stations immediately redirect all users to alternative networks, then service interruption is minimized, but network resources are wasted and alternative networks are overwhelmed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary actions by having base stations receive advance information from the DCF about which alternative networks are suitable and which tracking areas are affected. This allows base stations to prepare redirection messages and manage user equipment re-registration in an organized manner, rather than reacting chaotically to failures, thereby minimizing service interruption while avoiding wasteful redirection of all users regardless of actual service status.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by redirecting only the necessary portion of user equipment to alternative networks based on actual failure conditions and service status. The DCF evaluates which AMFs are actually failed and which tracking areas require re-registration, directing users only to appropriate alternative networks rather than excessively redirecting all users to any alternative network, thus optimizing network resource efficiency.
3Reliability
If the network redirects users to alternative networks, then service continuity is maintained, but the original operator's network loses customers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network into multiple functional components (AMFs, DCF, base stations) and divides the user equipment into different groups based on their service status and location. The DCF segments the redirection process by identifying specific tracking areas and affected users, allowing selective re-registration only for those who need it, thereby maintaining service continuity for affected users while preserving the customer base for the original operator's network.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are disclosed for the minimization of service interruptions for core network failure. One example includes a method in which a disaster control function (DCF) receives, from an access and mobility function (AMF), an address of a base station managed by the AMF. The DCF detects an interruption of services provided by the AMF. The DCF transmits, to the base station and using the address, a message indicting the interruption of services provided by the AMF.