Network Function Service Discovery with Client-Type Matching
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Solution Overview
Problem
The 5GC architecture lacks the ability for Network Function (NF) service producers to register and consumers to query specific service types and client types, leading to inefficient service discovery and selection.
Innovation Solution
Introduce an indication of serving type and client type during service registration and discovery procedures, allowing NF service producers to register their dedicated service capabilities and consumers to query for specific types, ensuring accurate service delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the NRF supports service type and client type indications during service registration and discovery, then service discovery precision and accuracy are improved, but the device complexity and information management overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The service discovery process is segmented into distinct phases: service type identification, client type identification, and matching. The NF service consumer first identifies the required service type, then identifies the specific client type, and finally queries the NRF with these parameters to discover the appropriate NF service producer. This segmentation allows precise service discovery while managing complexity through structured, step-by-step information exchange.
Solution Approach 2:
The NF service producer performs preliminary action by registering its service type and client type capabilities with the NRF in advance. This pre-registration of service characteristics allows the NRF to build a indexed database of available services, enabling efficient and precise service discovery without requiring complex real-time analysis when discovery requests are made.
2Measurement precision
If NF service producers register dedicated service capabilities with serving type indications, then service selection accuracy is improved, but the loss of information and registration overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The service registration process implements local quality by allowing NF service producers to specify particular service types and client types they support, rather than requiring universal service information. Each NF producer registers only the specific capabilities relevant to its function (e.g., emergency service, value-added service, lawful intercept service), reducing redundant information while maintaining precise service selection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The registration process uses parameter changes by introducing specific indicators for service type and client type. These parameters are added to the NF service producer's registration information, enabling the NRF to filter and match services based on these configurable parameters. This approach maintains information efficiency while improving service selection accuracy through targeted parameter specification.
3Reliability
If the service framework matches NF service producers by serving types in discovery requests, then service delivery accuracy is improved, but the processing time and discovery complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The NRF performs preliminary action by pre-processing and indexing NF service producer registrations according to their service types and client types. This pre-organization of service information allows the discovery process to quickly retrieve matching services through simple parameter comparison, rather than requiring exhaustive searching, thus maintaining high service delivery accuracy while minimizing discovery time.
Solution Approach 2:
The service discovery mechanism uses copying by creating and maintaining a replicated index of NF service producer capabilities at the NRF. This copied information structure allows rapid matching and retrieval without requiring direct access to or processing of the original, potentially large-scale service provider databases, thereby reducing discovery time while preserving accurate service matching.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatuses for network function service discovery. A method at a network function (NF) service consumer comprises sending a service request to a service discovery entity. The method further comprises receiving a service response from the service discovery entity. The service request includes a parameter indicating a client type that one or more candidate target NFs can serve.