Distributed NF Configuration Routing for Robust Wireless Updates

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless networks face inefficiencies and vulnerabilities due to centralized systems responsible for propagating configuration updates, leading to potential single points of failure and suboptimal network performance.

Innovation Solution

A decentralized configuration framework for network functions (NFs) that allows for policy-based updates and distributed propagation of configuration changes, utilizing groups of geographically and attribute-based NFs, with redundancy and latency considerations for efficient routing paths.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a centralized system is used for propagating configuration updates, then configuration management is simplified and centralized control is achieved, but single points of failure are created and network robustness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconfiguration managementVSAvoidnetwork robustness

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the centralized configuration management system into multiple distributed configuration update sources. Instead of relying on a single centralized entity, the system allows multiple NFs to act as configuration update sources, each capable of independently propagating configuration updates to their respective peer NFs. This segmentation eliminates the single point of failure while maintaining configuration management capabilities through distributed redundancy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If configuration updates are propagated through all NFs, then comprehensive coverage is achieved, but propagation latency increases and efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconfiguration update coverageVSAvoidupdate propagation latency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements local quality by enabling each NF to maintain and propagate configuration updates locally to its specific peer NFs based on geographic and attribute-based grouping. Instead of universal propagation to all NFs in the network, each NF performs targeted configuration updates only to relevant peers in its local group, reducing unnecessary propagation latency while ensuring comprehensive coverage within each local context.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Stability of the object's composition

If geographically distributed NFs are updated uniformly, then consistency is maintained, but network traffic overhead increases and efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconfiguration consistencyVSAvoidnetwork traffic overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the uniformly distributed NFs into geographic and attribute-based groups. Within each segmented group, configuration updates are propagated selectively rather than uniformly across the entire network. This segmentation maintains configuration consistency within each group while reducing overall network traffic overhead by limiting propagation scope to relevant local groups only.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by allowing each geographic and attribute-based group to receive and process configuration updates independently according to its local characteristics. Each group maintains configuration consistency locally without requiring uniform propagation across the entire distributed network, thereby reducing unnecessary network traffic while preserving local configuration integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Reliability

If redundant configuration paths are established, then fault tolerance is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefault toleranceVSAvoidrouting path management

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the concepts of geographic grouping and attribute-based grouping into a unified configuration propagation framework. By combining these two grouping mechanisms, the system establishes redundant configuration paths through integrated geographic and attribute-based peer NF relationships, improving fault tolerance while managing system complexity through a unified approach rather than separate independent systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS20250379781A1Systems and methods for distributed network function configuration updates in a wireless network

Publication Date: 2025.12.11 VERIZON PATENT & LICENSING INC

AI summary

A system described herein may determine, based on attributes of network functions (“NFs”) of a wireless network, a plurality of NF groups, including a particular NF group that includes a particular set of NFs. The system may receive an NF configuration update, and may determine that the NF configuration update is applicable to the particular set of NFs. The system may identify a routing path associated with the particular set of NFs, which may include a sequence of NFs of the particular set of NFs. The system may output, to a first NF of the particular set of NFs, the NF configuration update and information associated with the routing path. The first NF may identify a second NF of the particular set of NFs based on the routing path, and may output the NF configuration update to the second NF based on the routing path.