NRF Cross-Segment Discovery via Proactive Subscription
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In segmented 5G network environments, discovering network functions (NFs) located in different segments and retrieving information associated with these NFs leads to increased latency and inter-segment transactions.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system where each Network Repository Function (NRF) in a segment subscribes to registration and status information from NRFs in other segments, allowing for synchronization and direct access to cross-segment UDM/UDR information without forwarding discovery requests.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If NFs are segmented across different network segments for security, then network security is improved, but discovery latency and inter-segment transactions increase
Solution Approach 1:
NRFs proactively subscribe to NF registration and status information from other NRFs in different network segments before discovery requests are made. This preliminary synchronization ensures that when a discovery request occurs, the local NRF already has the necessary information about remote NFs, eliminating the need for real-time inter-segment communication and reducing discovery latency while maintaining security boundaries
Solution Approach 2:
The local NRF acts as an intermediary that caches and provides information about remote NFs. Instead of directly querying remote NRFs during discovery, the local NRF mediates by providing cached information from its subscriptions, reducing inter-segment transactions while maintaining accurate NF discovery capabilities across segmented networks
2Reliability
If NFs are segmented across different network segments for security, then network security is improved, but the number of inter-segment transactions increases
Solution Approach 1:
NRFs establish subscriptions to remote NF information in advance, performing the information gathering action before it is needed. This shifts transactions from reactive (on-demand discovery) to proactive (pre-synchronization), reducing the number of inter-segment transactions required during actual discovery operations while maintaining security through controlled subscription mechanisms
3Reliability
If NFs register with local NRF in segmented network, then network security is improved, but cross-segment NF discovery becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The local NRF serves as an intermediary that abstracts the complexity of cross-segment discovery. By maintaining subscriptions to remote NRFs and caching their NF information, the local NRF provides a simplified interface for NF discovery that appears as if all NFs are locally available, eliminating the need for complex multi-hop discovery protocols while preserving security boundaries
Data Source
AI summary
A method may include subscribing, by a first network repository function (NRF) located in a first segment of a network, to event information associated with a unified data management (UDM) function or a unified data repository (UDR) located in a second segment of the network. The method may also include receiving, by the first NRF and from a second NRF included in the second segment UDM or UDR information associated with the UDM or UDR located in the second segment of the network. The method may further include receiving, at the first NRF, a UDM or UDR discovery request from a network function (NF), wherein the UDM or UDR discovery request is associated with subscriber information stored in a UDM or UDR located in the second segment of the network, and responding, by the first NRF, to the discovery request.