NF Consumer Restart Detection via Direct Producer Signaling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing 3GPP systems lack a mechanism to efficiently detect the restart of a Network Function (NF) service consumer in a core network, which is crucial for timely restoration of services like IP connectivity for User Equipment.
Innovation Solution
A mechanism where the NF service consumer provides recovery time stamps, overload information, and identification information to the producer during HTTP requests, enabling the producer to detect and respond to the consumer's restart by cleaning up resources or performing restoration actions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If no restart detection mechanism is implemented, then the system structure remains simple, but the reliability of NF service restoration is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the NF service consumer proactively send its recovery timestamp to the NF service producer before any restart detection is needed. This allows the producer to have advance knowledge of the consumer's recovery status, enabling timely restoration actions without requiring complex continuous monitoring mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by establishing a signaling mechanism where the NF service consumer provides recovery timestamp information to the NF service producer. This feedback loop allows the producer to detect restarts and trigger appropriate restoration procedures, directly improving restoration reliability through information flow.
2Speed
If restart detection is implemented through existing NRF mechanisms, then some detection capability is provided, but the detection speed is insufficient for timely restoration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the NF service consumer proactively send its recovery timestamp to the NF service producer before any restart detection is needed. This allows the producer to have advance knowledge of the consumer's recovery status, enabling timely restoration actions without requiring complex continuous monitoring mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the restart detection function from the general NRF registration mechanism and implements it directly through HTTP signaling between the NF service consumer and producer. This separation allows for faster, more targeted detection without the overhead of full NRF involvement in every restart event.
3Measurement precision
If recovery timestamp information is included in every HTTP request, then restart detection accuracy is improved, but the message size and processing overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by using a compact timestamp parameter that efficiently encodes recovery time information. This allows precise restart detection through a single numerical value rather than requiring extensive status reporting, maintaining detection accuracy while minimizing message overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements partial action by including the recovery timestamp only in HTTP requests where it provides value for restart detection. The mechanism allows the NF service producer to selectively process this information based on the specific service interaction context, avoiding unnecessary data transmission in all scenarios.
Data Source
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AI summary
Systems and methods for detecting, e.g., that a Network Function (NF) service consumer in a core network of a cellular communications system has restarted are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method of operation of a NF service consumer in a core network of a cellular communications system comprises sending, to a NF service producer, a message comprising information related to a unit of the NF service consumer.