AMF Segmentation for 5G Signalling Latency

The patent segments the AMF into two separate functions: Access Control Function (ACF) and Mobility Management Function (MMF). The ACF handles session management information while the MMF handles mobility management information. This segmentation allows parallel processing of different types of signalling information, reducing processing latency and avoiding the bottleneck that would occur in a single AMF handling all management tasks sequentially.

The patent implements local quality by placing the ACF in close proximity to the Radio Access Network (RAN) control plane, while the MMF can be located more centrally. This allows session management signalling to be handled locally at the ACF without needing to traverse the entire network to a centralized AMF, thereby reducing signalling overhead and power consumption while maintaining reliable network control through the distributed architecture.

The patent applies universality by designing the ACF to handle multiple types of session management tasks (PDU session establishment, modification, release, etc.) and the MMF to handle multiple mobility management tasks (registration, tracking area updates, handover, etc.). This multi-functionality allows each component to process various signalling information types independently and in parallel, improving overall processing efficiency while the standardized interfaces between ACF and MMF prevent architecture complexity from becoming unmanageable.