NF Profile Registration for SLA-Aware 5G Function Selection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing 5G communication systems face challenges in avoiding conflicts between network functions due to resource oversubscription, rule conflicts, and feature interaction issues, leading to potential fines and suboptimal Service Level Agreement (SLA) guarantees for subscribers.
Innovation Solution
A method for registering or updating Network Function (NF) profiles in the Network Repository Function (NRF) that includes parameters such as hardware characteristics, latency, and throughput, enabling more accurate NF selection based on hardware acceleration, latency, and throughput capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If NF selection is based on traditional load information only, then the selection process is simple, but the SLA guarantees for subscribers cannot be ensured
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameters used for NF selection from traditional load information to a comprehensive set of criteria including hardware characteristics (CPU, memory, storage), network characteristics (latency, throughput, packet loss), and service characteristics. This parameter expansion enables SLA guarantees while maintaining selection simplicity through automated multi-criteria evaluation.
2Measurement precision
If more comprehensive NF selection criteria are implemented, then NF selection accuracy improves, but the complexity of the selection process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the NF selection process into distinct phases: information collection (gathering hardware, network, and service characteristics), information processing (normalizing and weighting criteria), and selection decision (ranking and selecting NFs). This segmentation manages complexity while improving measurement precision through systematic multi-criteria evaluation.
3Loss of information
If existing NF registration mechanisms are used, then the registration process is simple, but hardware and network characteristics are not captured
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds new dimensions to the NF profile structure by incorporating hardware characteristics (CPU architecture, memory capacity, storage type), network characteristics (latency, throughput, packet loss), and service characteristics. This dimensional expansion captures previously lost information while maintaining registration simplicity through automated profile population.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, apparatus and systems performed and configured to operate in a wireless communication network are presented. In example implementations, a request to register or update a Network Function, NF, profile of an NF in a Network Repository Function, NRF, is sent from the NF to the NRF. The NF profile signaled via the request comprises one or more parameters relating to one or more of a hardware characteristic of hardware comprised in the wireless communication network, a latency characteristic of the wireless communication network, and a throughput characteristic of the wireless communication network. An acknowledgement of the request may be sent from the NRF to the NF.