Network Function Subscription via Monitoring Scope
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for subscribing to network function changes in communication networks are inefficient, leading to slow and inaccurate notifications due to parameters like NFinstance Id and NF/NF Service type subscriptions, which result in excessive notification messages and resource demands.
Innovation Solution
A method that involves transmitting a subscription message indicating the type and attribute of a network function, including a serving scope, to improve response time and accuracy by limiting notifications to specific target areas within a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN), utilizing a monitoring network function repository to determine and notify changes in subscribed network functions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If subscription is made using NFinstance_id, then notification accuracy is improved, but response time deteriorates due to cache TTL expiration delay
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a monitoring network function that proactively monitors network function status changes and pre-establishes subscription relationships before actual service needs arise. This allows immediate notification upon change detection without waiting for cache expiration or service initiation.
2Ease of operation
If subscription is made using NF/NF Service type, then ease of operation is improved, but notification quantity increases excessively causing resource waste
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables selective monitoring of network functions based on specific attributes such as serving area, network slice, or function type. This allows the system to maintain operational simplicity while filtering notifications to only include relevant changes, reducing unnecessary resource consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the network function monitoring into multiple dimensions including serving area, network slice, and function type. This segmentation allows granular control over subscription scope, enabling operators to receive only the notifications relevant to their specific needs rather than all NF changes.
3Reliability
If all NF/NF Service type changes are monitored, then completeness of monitoring is improved, but resource consumption increases due to excessive notifications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements attribute-based filtering that allows monitoring of network functions with specific characteristics (e.g., particular serving areas or network slices) while excluding others. This maintains monitoring reliability for relevant functions while significantly reducing resource consumption from irrelevant notifications.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present disclosure provides a method and an apparatus for subscribing a notification of a change of a network function. A method for subscribing to notification of a change of a network function may comprise: transmitting (S101) a subscription message to a monitoring network function; and receiving (S102) a notification from the monitoring network function to notify a change from the network function whose status is required to be monitored. The subscription message indicates of the network function. The attribute comprises a serving scope indicating one or more target served area of the network function whose status is required to be monitored. According to embodiments of the present disclosure, a simple and fast implementation for subscribing notification of change of network function may be achieved. Particularly, both the response time and the accuracy of the notification about a change of a subscribed network function may be improved.