Timestamp-Based NF Profile Auditing for SCP-NRF Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
In 5G telecommunications networks, service communication proxies (SCPs) face inefficiencies in obtaining and maintaining synchronized network function (NF) profile information from network function repository functions (NRFs, leading to unnecessary network bandwidth and processing resource waste due to brute force auditing methods.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a timestamp-based NF profile retrieval application programming interface (API) at the NRF, which uses last update timestamps to provide only updated NF profiles to SCPs, reducing unnecessary data transmission and resource utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If SCPs use periodic auditing with list retrieval API followed by profile retrieval API to obtain NF profiles, then NF profile information can be obtained, but unnecessary NF profile data is transmitted consuming network bandwidth and processing resources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary information (last update timestamp) from the NF profile data and uses it as a filter criterion. The NRF sends back only those NF profiles whose last update timestamp is after the provided timestamp, effectively extracting and transmitting only the changed data portions rather than complete profiles.
Solution Approach 2:
The NRF maintains and prepares the last update timestamp for each NF profile in advance. When an SCP requests NF profiles, the NRF already has the timestamp information ready, allowing it to quickly filter and send only the updated profiles without needing to process or generate this information during the request-response cycle.
2Reliability
If SCPs periodically audit the NRF to keep NF profile cache synchronized, then NF profile data can be kept current, but message flow and data quantity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential update information (timestamp) from the NF profile management process. By using timestamp-based filtering, the system extracts and transmits only the minimal necessary data (updated profiles) rather than complete profile sets during each audit cycle.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of transmitting complete NF profiles during each audit, the system performs partial action by sending only the updated portions (profiles changed since the timestamp). This reduces the data quantity transmitted while still achieving the goal of keeping the SCP's NF profile cache synchronized.
3Ease of operation
If the NRF sends all requested NF profiles to the SCP in response to profile retrieval API calls, then the SCP can obtain NF profile information, but processing resources of the NRF and SCP are wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the last update timestamp as a key attribute and uses it to filter NF profiles. The NRF identifies and sends back only those profiles where the last update timestamp is after the provided timestamp, extracting only the relevant updated data rather than processing and sending all requested profiles.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter used for NF profile retrieval from a generic request to a timestamp-based request. By using the timestamp parameter to filter results, the system modifies the retrieval process to be more efficient, reducing the number of profiles that need to be processed and transmitted.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and computer readable media for providing for efficient auditing of NF profiles by SCPs are described. One method includes storing, by an NRF, NF profiles of producer NFs and associated last update timestamps and providing, by the NRF, a timestamp-based NF profile retrieval API that receives, as input, a timestamp, and that provides, as output, NF profiles having last update timestamps that indicate times after a time indicated by the timestamp received as input. The method further includes receiving, by the NRF and from an SCP, a request message via the timestamp-based NF profile retrieval API and that includes a first timestamp. The method further includes generating, by the NRF, a response message that includes NF profiles for which last update timestamps indicate times that are after a time indicated by the first timestamp. The method further includes transmitting the response message from the NRF to the SCP.