Network Exposure Function Mediation for Secure UE Data Interaction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless user devices do not effectively interact with Network Exposure Functions (NEFs) in wireless communication networks, and the networks lack efficient secure links to support this interaction.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a data communication system that includes an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) and a Network Exposure Function (NEF), where user data is transferred securely through various network paths, including direct IWF-to-NEF links, and authentication is performed to enable effective interaction between User Equipment (UE) and NEFs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If user devices directly interact with NEF, then interaction effectiveness improves, but network security and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an Application Function (AF) as an intermediary between the user device and NEF. The AF receives requests from the user device, formulates appropriate NEF API calls, and manages the interaction with the NEF. This intermediary approach enables effective user device interaction with NEF capabilities while abstracting the complexity of direct NEF communication, as the AF handles the complex API interactions and the user device only needs to communicate with the simpler AF interface.
2Reliability
If secure network links are implemented for UE-NEF interaction, then security improves, but network complexity and overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The AF acts as a security intermediary that manages secure communications with the NEF. Instead of requiring each user device to implement complex security protocols for direct NEF interaction, the AF establishes and manages the secure link with the NEF on behalf of multiple user devices. This consolidates security management at the AF level, improving security while reducing the complexity burden on individual user devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The AF serves multiple user devices simultaneously through a single secure connection to the NEF. This multi-functional approach allows one AF instance to manage security for numerous user devices, establishing a universal security model that improves overall network security while avoiding the need for each device to independently implement complex security mechanisms.
3Ease of operation
If AF mediates between user device and NEF, then interaction effectiveness improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The AF is designed as a universal intermediary that can serve multiple user devices and support various NEF capabilities through a single implementation. This multi-functional architecture improves interaction effectiveness for all user devices while consolidating system complexity into a single AF component rather than distributing complexity across multiple device-NEF connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the interaction logic for multiple user devices into a single AF entity that communicates with the NEF. Instead of having separate interaction paths for each device, the AF consolidates these interactions, managing multiple user device requests through a unified interface to the NEF. This merging approach improves interaction effectiveness while reducing overall system complexity by eliminating redundant communication paths.
Data Source
AI summary
A data communication system authenticates a User Equipment (UE). The data communication system exposes the authenticated UE to a user data system over a Network Exposure Function (NEF) in response to the authentication. The data communication system receives, from the user data system, a request for user data from the authenticated UE over the NEF in response to the exposure. The data communication system receives the user data from the authenticated UE via the NEF. The NEF transfers the user data from the data communication system for delivery to the user data system in response to the request.