NEF Event Notification Routing for Targeted UE Reachability Alerts

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing event notification methods in wireless communication systems result in wastage of network resources as all Application Functions (AFs) receive UE availability notifications, even when only a subset needs the information.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a method where a Network Exposure Function (NEF) or Access Management Function (AMF) uses identifiers to selectively send UE availability notifications to AFs based on acquired information from Session Management Function (SMF), ensuring only relevant AFs receive notifications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the AMF sends UE availability notification messages to all subscribed AFs, then all AFs receive the notification, but network resources are wasted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenotification deliveryVSAvoidnetwork resource waste
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the notification delivery process by introducing intermediate storage (first indication information) that divides the notification flow into targeted segments. Only AFs that actually sent downlink data triggering the DDN failure receive notifications, rather than all subscribed AFs. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by maintaining reliable delivery to necessary recipients while eliminating waste to unnecessary recipients.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating notification delivery based on specific AF characteristics - specifically, whether each AF sent downlink data that triggered the DDN failure. The AMF uses stored indication information to identify which AFs locally qualify for notification receipt. This selective approach ensures reliable delivery to relevant AFs while avoiding network resource waste on irrelevant AFs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If the AMF sends UE availability notification messages to all subscribed AFs, then complete notification coverage is achieved, but network resource efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenotification coverageVSAvoidnetwork resource efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the AF population into two groups: those that sent downlink data triggering the DDN failure (and thus need notifications) and those that did not (and do not need notifications). The AMF uses stored indication information to identify and notify only the relevant segment. This maintains adaptability to the specific notification need while dramatically improving network resource efficiency by avoiding unnecessary notifications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the essential subset of AFs that require notification from the complete set of subscribed AFs. By using stored indication information about which AFs sent downlink data, the AMF extracts only the necessary recipients and notifies them, leaving out the unnecessary recipients. This extraction maintains complete coverage of needed AFs while improving overall network resource efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3952367B1Event notification method, apparatus and storage medium
Publication Date: 2026.01.07 ZTE CORP
  • EP3952367B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3952367B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3952367B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

Disclosed are an event notification method and device as well as a storage medium. The method comprises: the NEF obtains, according to a second event notice from the SMF, information of an AF sending downlink data, a second event being an event of monitoring whether an AF sends downlink data, and a first event being a UE reachable event after the downlink data notification fails; the NEF receives a first event notice from the AMF, and sends the first event notice to the AF sending the downlink data according to the obtained information.