NRF Analytics Injection for 5G Network Function Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional 5G telecommunications networks face inefficiencies in managing Network Functions (NFs) due to increased Round Trip Time (RTT) and resource consumption during NF discovery and service assignment, particularly when NFs fail or become overloaded.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a control loop mechanism that injects monitored parameters and analytics into the Network Repository Function (NRF) to identify faulty or unavailable NFs, allowing for their removal from the repository, thereby enhancing network efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If NFs are maintained in the repository even when failing or overloaded, then the repository maintains completeness of NF records, but NF discovery time increases and network performance degrades
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by proactively monitoring NF health status and removing failing or overloaded NFs from the repository before they can cause session failures. This prevents the need for time-consuming re-assignment when sessions encounter faulty NFs, thereby reducing NF discovery time while maintaining repository reliability.
2Productivity
If conventional NF management processes are used, then all NFs are initially assigned to sessions, but RTT increases when NFs fail requiring re-assignment
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the NRF continuously monitors NF performance metrics and health status. When NFs show signs of failure or overload, the system automatically removes them from the repository and triggers re-assignment only for affected sessions. This feedback loop maintains high session assignment efficiency while minimizing RTT by preventing sessions from being assigned to faulty NFs in the first place.
3Measurement precision
If passive probing and data sources are used to capture NF metrics, then comprehensive NF status information is obtained, but resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The NRF performs multiple functions simultaneously: it maintains the NF repository, discovers NFs for sessions, monitors NF health status, and removes faulty NFs. By consolidating these functions in a single entity rather than using separate passive probing systems, the solution achieves comprehensive NF status monitoring accuracy while reducing overall resource consumption through functional integration and elimination of redundant monitoring infrastructure.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for managing 5G networks are provided. A method for injecting analytics into a Network Repository Function (NRF) for managing a 5G slice, according to one implementation, includes a first step of obtaining parameters associated with User Plane (UP) traffic and Control Plane (CP) traffic from a Service-Based Architecture (SBA) of a 5G network. The method also includes the step of performing analytics on the obtained parameters to monitor Network Functions (NFs) associated with the 5G network. In addition, the method includes the step of providing results of the analytics to an NRF to control NFs stored in a repository associated with the NRF.