Network Function Latency Reduction via Round-Trip Time Ranking
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Solution Overview
Problem
The 5G core network architecture experiences increased latency due to stale information about network functions (NFs) and neglect of communication path latency, particularly in distributed architectures, which affects performance and user experience, especially for ultra-reliable low-latency communications applications.
Innovation Solution
A method where a network function (NF) receives resource metrics and network addresses from a repository function, invokes these addresses to request updated metrics, calculates round-trip times, and ranks NFs based on these metrics to optimize service selection, including the use of timers to manage non-responsive NFs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the NRF provides a list of registered NFs with resource metrics at registration time, then the NF selection process is simplified, but the information becomes stale and out-of-date, leading to increased latency
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by having NFs proactively push their resource metrics updates to the NRF before being selected. This allows the NRF to maintain an up-to-date list of NFs with current resource metrics, eliminating the need for other NFs to query for updated information and reducing selection latency while maintaining ease of operation.
2Device complexity
If the NRF provides resource metrics at registration time only, then the system complexity is reduced, but the metrics become outdated and do not reflect current NF performance
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where NFs continuously monitor their own resource metrics and automatically push updates to the NRF when changes occur. This feedback loop ensures the NRF maintains accurate, real-time information about NF performance without requiring complex centralized monitoring, thus improving metrics precision while keeping system complexity manageable.
3Adaptability or versatility
If NFs are distributed geographically to improve service coverage, then the network versatility is enhanced, but the communication path latency increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by enabling each NF to independently determine its own communication path latency to other NFs based on actual network conditions. This allows the selection process to account for local network characteristics and choose the fastest path, thereby reducing communication latency while maintaining the geographical distribution needed for versatile service coverage.
4Device complexity
If the NF selection ignores communication path latency, then the selection procedure is simpler, but the overall system performance deteriorates due to delayed service delivery
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service by enabling NFs to autonomously measure and determine their own communication path latencies to other NFs. This self-measurement capability allows the selection process to incorporate accurate latency information without requiring complex external monitoring infrastructure, thus improving system performance while keeping the selection procedure relatively simple.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are apparatus and methods for reducing latency in core network processing in the telecommunications networks. A method includes receiving, by a network function (NF) at registration time with a network function repository function (NRF), resource metrics and a network address for each NF registered with the NRF, invoking, by the NF, one or more network addresses to request updated resource metrics from an associated NF, starting, by the NF, a response timer for each invoked network address, stopping, by the NF, the response timer for each invoked network address upon receipt of an updated resource metrics from the associated NF, determining, by the NF, a round-trip time for each associated NF having a start time and a stop time, and determining, by the NF, a ranking for each NF based on at least one of the round-trip time and the updated resource metrics.