Mobile Network Event Reporting via Centralized Data Collection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current network data analytics functions (NWDAF) in mobile communication networks face increased complexity and signaling inefficiencies when tracking network functions (NFs) serving user equipment (UE) due to mobility, leading to higher complexity and signaling loads.
Innovation Solution
A centralized data collection function (DCNF) is introduced to collect data from various network functions, subscribing to multiple NFs to monitor specific events, thereby reducing the need for NWDAF to track individual NFs and minimizing signaling overhead.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If NWDAF tracks individual network functions to monitor events for mobile UEs, then event monitoring capability is maintained, but system complexity and signaling overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an event exposure function as an intermediary between the NWDAF and network functions. This mediator consolidates event monitoring responsibilities, allowing the NWDAF to interact with a single entity rather than tracking multiple individual network functions. The event exposure function subscribes to events from various NFs and exposes them to the NWDAF, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining complete event monitoring capability.
2Measurement precision
If NWDAF establishes separate event notification services with each network function, then event reporting accuracy is improved, but signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple event notification services into a single consolidated service provided by the event exposure function. Instead of the NWDAF establishing separate subscriptions with each network function (AMF, SMF, PCF, etc.), the event exposure function consolidates these subscriptions and provides unified event exposure. This combining approach maintains accurate event reporting while significantly reducing signaling overhead between the NWDAF and individual network functions.
3Loss of information
If NWDAF directly subscribes to multiple network functions for event notification, then data collection completeness is improved, but operational load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The event exposure function serves as an intermediary that consolidates data collection from multiple network functions. It subscribes to events from AMF, SMF, PCF and other NFs, then exposes these events to the NWDAF through a unified interface. This approach ensures complete data collection from all relevant sources while reducing the operational load on the NWDAF, as it interacts with a single mediator rather than managing multiple direct subscriptions.
Data Source
AI summary
For data collection, apparatuses, methods, and systems are disclosed. One apparatus includes a transceiver that receives a first request from a network analytics function to monitor and report occurrences of a first event. The apparatus includes a processor that identifies a first type of network function in a mobile communication network that reports occurrence of the first event. The processor sends a second request to at least one network function of the first type to monitor and report occurrences of the first event and relays reports of occurrence of the first event from the at least one network function to the network analytics function.