Multi-NWDAF Capability Exchange for Accurate Analytics Subscription
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Solution Overview
Problem
In a multi-NWDAF deployment scenario, the target NWDAF selected by the analytics consumer or the source NWDAF may be incapable of providing services subscribed to by the analytics consumer, leading to adverse impacts due to the inability to select an NWDAF that supports the required capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A communication method and apparatus that enables network elements to determine the capabilities of potential NWDAFs through information exchange, allowing them to subscribe to services only from NWDAFs that support the necessary capabilities, such as accuracy checking, analytics aggregation, or analytics metadata provisioning, thereby avoiding resource wastage and improving service reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If the analytics consumer or source NWDAF discovers and selects a target NWDAF before analytics subscription transfer, then the selection process is simplified and faster, but the selected target NWDAF may be incapable of providing the subscribed services
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the target NWDAF proactively send capability indication information to the analytics consumer or source NWDAF before the analytics subscription transfer occurs. This allows the capability verification to be done in advance, preventing the selection of an incapable NWDAF while maintaining the efficiency of the selection process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by introducing a capability indication mechanism where the target NWDAF provides feedback about its supported capabilities to the analytics consumer or source NWDAF. This feedback loop enables informed decision-making during NWDAF selection, ensuring that only NWDAFs with the required capabilities are chosen, thus resolving the contradiction between selection speed and service capability reliability.
2Ease of operation
If the first network element subscribes to analytics service from a first data analytics network element without verifying capability, then the subscription process is simpler and faster, but the analytics result may not meet requirements causing adverse impact
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by requiring the capability verification to occur before the analytics subscription is established. The target NWDAF sends its capability indication information in advance, allowing the analytics consumer or source NWDAF to verify whether the required capabilities are present before proceeding with the subscription, thus ensuring result quality without complicating the subscription process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces capability indication information as an intermediary element that mediates between the NWDAF selection and subscription processes. This intermediary carries the capability verification data, enabling the system to ensure analytics result quality while maintaining operational simplicity by embedding the verification within the existing subscription workflow.
3Reliability
If capability verification is performed before NWDAF selection, then the analytics result quality is ensured, but additional information exchange and processing steps are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the capability verification process with the existing NWDAF discovery and selection procedures. The capability indication information is exchanged as part of the standard NWDAF interaction workflow, combining multiple functions into a unified process that ensures analytics result quality without significantly increasing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the capability indication mechanism universal by designing it to work within the existing NWDAF architecture and interaction patterns. The capability information is conveyed using standard communication protocols and message formats already present in the system, allowing the verification function to be performed without adding specialized complex infrastructure.
Data Source
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AI summary
This application provides a communication method and a communication apparatus. According to the method provided in this application, after receiving first information from a second network element, an analytics service consumer can determine, based on the first information, whether at least one first data analytics network element supports a first capability, and then a first network element can determine, based on a capability of the at least one first data analytics network element, whether to subscribe to an analytics service from at least one second data analytics network element. This avoids adverse impact caused by subscribing to the analytics service by the first network element from a first data analytics network element that does not support the first capability. The first capability includes one or more of the following: an accuracy checking capability, an analytics aggregation capability, or an analytics metadata provisioning capability.