Inter-PLMN Subscription Routing Hints for Existing NRF Records
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mechanisms for processing inter-public land mobile network (PLMN) messages relating to existing subscriptions fail when a subscriber is roaming, leading to delayed or failed processing of subscription updates or deletions due to the lack of information about the NRF where the subscription is located.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a hint in the subscription creation response message to indicate the location or identity of the NRF where the subscription is created, allowing subsequent messages to be routed correctly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the NRF forwards the subscription creation request to another NRF when it does not have the requested subscription data, then the subscription can be created successfully, but the response message does not include information as to the identity or location of the NRF on which the subscription was created
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the first NRF include routing information (FQDN or IP address) in the subscription creation response message before the consumer NF needs to send subsequent messages. This advance provision of location information ensures that when the consumer NF later needs to update or delete the subscription, it can directly route the request to the correct NRF without experiencing failures or delays.
2Ease of operation
If the consumer NF sends a message to update or delete the subscription, then the subscription management is maintained, but the message may be forwarded to an NRF on which the subscription does not reside, causing processing failure or delay
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by including routing information in the subscription creation response message, which provides the consumer NF with the necessary information to correctly route future update or delete requests. This feedback mechanism ensures that subsequent messages are directed to the NRF where the subscription actually resides, preventing processing failures and delays while maintaining ease of operation for subscription management.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for facilitating processing of inter-public land mobile network (PLMN) messages relating to existing subscriptions includes receiving, at a first network function (NF) repository function (NRF), an inter-PLMN subscription creation request message for creating a subscription. The method further includes determining, by the first NRF, that the first NRF includes a resource for which the subscription is requested. The method further includes, in response to determining that the first NRF includes a resource for which the subscription is requested, generating, by the first NRF, a subscription creation response message indicating creation of the subscription. The first NRF includes, in the subscription creation response message, a hint indicating that the subscription is located on the first NRF and forwards the first NRF, the subscription creation response message towards a consumer NF.