NEF Priority Rules for Alternate AF Routing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current 5G telecommunications networks lack a mechanism for application functions to provide binding information for alternate selection during overload or failure scenarios, limiting the ability to identify and redirect mobile originated data and monitoring reports to alternate delivery endpoints.
Innovation Solution
A network exposure function (NEF) establishes priority rules in a priority configuration database to direct service or notification requests to prioritized application functions, which are peers of the unavailable endpoint, ensuring continued service and monitoring report delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If 3GPP binding information mechanism is used for NEF alternate selection, then network function routing is improved, but application function alternate selection during overload or failure scenarios is not supported
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the binding information mechanism into two distinct parts: NEF-level binding information (existing in 3GPP) and AF-level binding information (newly introduced). This segmentation allows the existing NEF alternate selection mechanism to continue functioning while adding a new layer of AF-level alternate selection capability, thereby resolving the contradiction between maintaining routing reliability and enabling application function adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new dimension to the binding information architecture by adding AF-level binding information as a separate layer above the existing NEF-level binding information. This dimensional addition enables application function alternate selection during overload or failure scenarios without disrupting the established NEF routing mechanism, thus simultaneously achieving reliability and adaptability.
2Productivity
If primary NEF instance is used for service delivery, then service routing efficiency is improved, but service availability during NEF failure or overload is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-configuring binding information that includes alternate AF endpoints before failures or overloads occur. When the primary NEF instance becomes unavailable, the consumer NF can immediately switch to an alternate AF using the pre-established binding information, thereby maintaining service availability without compromising routing efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent provides beforehand cushioning by establishing alternate AF endpoints and their binding information in advance. This creates a safety buffer that allows the network to absorb NEF failures or overloads without service disruption, as the alternate endpoints are already identified and configured to take over immediately when needed.
3Adaptability or versatility
If binding information is published to consumer NFs, then alternate NEF selection capability is improved, but mechanism for application function alternate selection is still lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces the NRF as an intermediary that manages and distributes both NEF-level and AF-level binding information. This intermediary approach centralizes the complexity of maintaining binding information architecture, allowing consumer NFs to receive comprehensive binding information without directly managing the complexity themselves. The NRF mediates between the need for detailed binding information and the desire to keep the architecture simple.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for identifying alternate delivery endpoints for mobile originated data and monitoring reports in a communications network includes establishing, by a network exposure function (NEF) in a communications network, priority rules in a priority configuration database that define routing priority indicators corresponding to a plurality of applications functions (AFs) and receiving a service request or notification request message directed to one of the plurality of AFs from a consumer network function (NF) in the communications network. The NEF accesses a context database to validate context information associated with a destination AF belonging to the plurality of AFs. If the destination AF is unavailable or is not in proximity to the NEF, an event notification request message associated with the service request or notification request message is directed to a prioritized AF specified in the priority configuration database, wherein the prioritized AF is a peer of the destination AF.