Network Function Caching for NRF Outage Communication Continuity
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Solution Overview
Problem
During outages or delays at the NF Repository Function (NRF), mobile communication networks rely on outdated static lists of network functions (NFs), leading to communication delays and disturbances due to manual maintenance inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
Network functions (NFs) dynamically store and update information about available NFs by querying the NRF, using caching and periodic updates to maintain a valid NF list, ensuring real-time availability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If static lists of network functions are used, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability deteriorates during NRF outages
Solution Approach 1:
Network functions periodically query the NRF and cache the results in advance. This preliminary action ensures that when an outage occurs, NFs already have recent NF information stored locally, eliminating the need for complex real-time synchronization mechanisms during outages.
Solution Approach 2:
NFs create local copies of NF information obtained from the NRF. These cached copies are stored and used during outages, allowing NFs to continue operating with up-to-date information without requiring continuous connection to the NRF or complex backup mechanisms.
2Loss of time
If manual maintenance of NF lists is used, then device complexity is reduced, but loss of time increases during outages
Solution Approach 1:
NFs automatically perform periodic queries to the NRF and maintain their own local copies of NF information. This self-service mechanism eliminates manual maintenance requirements and ensures that NFs always have the most recent information without introducing complex centralized management systems.
Solution Approach 2:
NFs proactively query and cache NF information before outages occur. This preliminary action ensures that communication can continue without delay during outages, as NFs already possess the necessary information locally without requiring complex real-time updates.
3Reliability
If NFs dynamically update information, then reliability is improved, but use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
NFs perform periodic queries to the NRF at predetermined intervals rather than continuous or event-driven queries. This periodic action balances the need for up-to-date information with energy conservation, as NFs only wake up and query at scheduled times rather than continuously monitoring or reacting to every change.
Solution Approach 2:
NFs cache NF information locally after periodic queries. This copying approach allows NFs to maintain reliable information without continuously communicating with the NRF, thereby reducing energy consumption associated with constant network communication and data synchronization.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, devices, and systems related to dynamic maintenance and management of Network Function information are disclosed. In one example aspect, a method for wireless communication includes transmitting, by a network node, a discovery message to a Network Repository Function (NRF) node, maintaining, by the network node, a local storage storing a subset of the information carried in the search result, determining, in response to the NRF node encountering an outage, information about a first network function node of the one or more network function nodes using the local storage, and performing, by the network node, a communication with the first network function while the NRF node being in the outage.