Charging Function Identity Header for Backup Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current communication systems lack efficient mechanisms for providing the identity of alternative or backup Charging Function instances to Charging Function service consumers, leading to re-discovery processes when primary instances become unreachable, especially in scenarios with primary and secondary Charging Function pairs.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a new header, such as the 3GPP SBI custom header '3gpp-Sbi-Alternate-Chf-Id', to provide the identity of the alternate Charging Function instance in service responses, allowing service consumers to seamlessly switch to backup instances when primary ones fail.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the system uses primary and secondary Charging Function pairs for service provision, then service availability is improved, but the complexity of managing alternative instances and the overhead of re-discovery processes increase system complexity and time loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring and registering alternative Charging Function instances in the network repository function before failures occur. When a CHF becomes unavailable, the service consumer can immediately switch to a pre-identified alternative without needing to perform re-discovery processes, thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining service availability and reducing system complexity.
2Reliability
If the system implements re-discovery processes when primary Charging Function instances become unreachable, then service continuity is maintained, but service disruption time and user experience degradation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-registering alternative CHF instances and their identities in the network repository function before any failure occurs. This allows service consumers to immediately switch to alternative instances without time-consuming re-discovery processes, thereby maintaining service continuity while minimizing service disruption time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the network repository function as an intermediary that stores and manages the identities of alternative Charging Function instances. This intermediary enables service consumers to quickly locate and switch to alternative CHFs without direct complex interactions or re-discovery processes, thus reducing service disruption time while maintaining continuity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the system requires re-discovery processes when primary Charging Function instances fail, then alternative services can be found, but communication efficiency and user experience are degraded due to additional overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring alternative CHF instances and storing their identities in the network repository function before failures occur. This eliminates the need for time-consuming re-discovery processes when switching to alternative services, thereby maintaining adaptability while significantly improving communication efficiency and reducing overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying by creating and storing copies of alternative CHF instance identities in the network repository function. These pre-copied identities enable service consumers to quickly switch to alternative CHFs without performing re-discovery, thus maintaining service adaptability while improving communication efficiency and reducing overhead.
Data Source
AI summary
An aspect of the disclosed invention provides a network apparatus for a network function, the network apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory comprising code that, when executed by the at least one processor, causes the network apparatus to: in response to a request from a service consumer, determine a first network service function for providing services to the service consumer; determine an identity of a second network service function, wherein the second network service function is an alternative or backup network service function to provide the service to the service consumer; and provide the service consumer with the identity of the second network service function.