Cloud-Native Network Function Failover in Dedicated 5G Node Groups

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing 5G wireless networks face challenges in maintaining high availability and preventing network outages and dropped calls due to failures in cloud-native network functions (CNFs), which are not adequately addressed by current technologies.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a failover mechanism that automatically switches cloud-native network functions (CNFs) to spare cloud compute instances within dedicated node groups in response to failures, utilizing software container orchestration platforms like Amazon EKS for seamless deployment and management of containerized applications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If cloud-native network functions are deployed on shared cloud infrastructure, then deployment flexibility and scalability are improved, but system reliability and availability deteriorate due to potential failures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeployment flexibilityVSAvoidnetwork availability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent pre-provisions spare cloud compute instances within dedicated node groups before failures occur. When a CNF instance fails, the orchestration platform automatically detects the failure and rapidly relocates the affected CNF to a pre-prepared spare instance, eliminating the need for lengthy provisioning processes during failure recovery and thus maintaining high availability while preserving deployment flexibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the operational state of cloud compute instances from purely dynamic provisioning to including pre-provisioned spare instances in dedicated node groups. By maintaining instances in a standby state with appropriate resource allocation parameters, the system achieves both deployment flexibility and improved reliability through automatic failover capabilities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If cloud compute instances are overprovisioned to ensure availability, then network reliability is improved, but resource utilization and cost efficiency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork availabilityVSAvoidresource utilization efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies overprovisioning selectively only within dedicated node groups for critical cloud-native network functions, rather than across the entire cloud infrastructure. This localized approach ensures high availability for time-sensitive telecommunication services while maintaining efficient resource utilization in non-critical areas, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and resource efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements partial overprovisioning by maintaining a controlled number of spare instances within dedicated node groups rather than excessive overprovisioning across all resources. This partial action provides sufficient redundancy for critical CNFs while avoiding wasteful resource allocation, achieving an optimal balance between availability and efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Device complexity

If manual failover procedures are implemented, then system complexity is reduced, but failover speed and automated response deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem complexityVSAvoidfailover speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service automation through the cloud orchestration platform, which automatically detects CNF failures, selects appropriate spare instances from dedicated node groups, and executes failover without human intervention. This self-service approach maintains relatively simple system architecture while achieving rapid automated failover, resolving the contradiction between complexity and speed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Reliability

If dedicated node groups with spare instances are implemented, then failover capability is improved, but infrastructure cost and resource allocation complexity deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefailover capabilityVSAvoidinfrastructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes cloud compute instances universal by enabling them to serve multiple purposes: active CNF hosting, standby spare capacity, and dynamic failover targets. The same infrastructure components perform multiple functions depending on operational state, reducing overall infrastructure complexity while maintaining robust failover capability through the dedicated node group architecture

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS12413467B2Failover of cloud-native network functions within node groups for high availability in a wireless telecommunication network

Publication Date: 2025.09.09 BOOST SUBSCRIBERCO LLC

AI summary

Example embodiments are directed towards detecting a failure of a fifth-generation New Radio (5G NR) cellular telecommunication network containerized network function (CNF) running within a dedicated node group of cloud compute instances hosting a plurality of CNFs of a wireless telecommunication service provider or a failure of a specific cloud compute instance hosting the CNF within the node group. In response to the detection of a failure of the CNF within the node group or a failure of the specific cloud compute instance hosting the CNF within the node group, automatically switching to host the CNF on a spare cloud compute instance within the node group dedicated to the wireless telecommunication service provider and pre-provisioned to host CNFs of a same type as the CNF for the wireless telecommunication service provider.