Network Repository Function Non-Empty Discovery Response

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current network repository functions (NRFs) in 5G core networks often return an empty set of network function (NF) producers in discovery responses, leading to denied services to users even when available NFs are experiencing transport issues or suspended due to non-received heartbeat responses, resulting in resource wastage and subscriber complaints.

Innovation Solution

The NRF provides a non-empty discovery response by setting suspended NF producers to active status or lower priorities, allowing NF consumers to select alternative NFs with higher priorities, thus conserving resources and ensuring service availability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the NRF returns an empty discovery response when NF producers are suspended, then the NRF maintains strict availability criteria, but service availability deteriorates and resources are wasted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice availabilityVSAvoidresource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The NRF dynamically adjusts the status information returned in discovery responses based on the suspension cause. When suspension is due to transport issues rather than actual unavailability, the NRF returns these NFs with modified status indicators, enabling flexible response adaptation to different operational contexts

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The NRF changes the parameter representation of suspended NFs by introducing status indicators that differentiate between truly unavailable NFs and those temporarily suspended due to transport issues. This parameter modification allows the same NF to be represented differently in discovery responses based on the underlying cause

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If the NRF marks NFs as suspended due to non-received heartbeat responses, then the NRF maintains accurate availability tracking, but service access deteriorates when transport issues occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveavailability tracking accuracyVSAvoidservice access

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The NRF segments the availability status into multiple categories by introducing status indicators that distinguish between different suspension causes. This segmentation allows the system to track availability accurately while providing differentiated access paths for different NF states

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The status indicator acts as an intermediary between the heartbeat mechanism and the discovery response. It translates the raw heartbeat status into nuanced availability information that preserves measurement precision while enabling appropriate service access

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Measurement precision

If the NRF returns only actively available NFs in discovery responses, then the discovery accuracy is high, but service continuity deteriorates during transient failures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvediscovery accuracyVSAvoidservice continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The discovery response dynamically includes NFs based on their suspension cause. NFs suspended due to transport issues are included with modified status indicators, while truly unavailable NFs are excluded, creating a dynamic filtering mechanism that balances accuracy and continuity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Reliability

If the NRF denies service when no active NFs are available, then the NRF maintains strict service quality standards, but resource utilization deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice qualityVSAvoidresource utilization

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The NRF changes the parameter representation of suspended NFs by introducing status indicators that allow service acceptance under modified conditions. This enables the system to maintain quality standards while utilizing available resources that would otherwise be rejected

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS11616711B1Systems and methods for enabling a network repository function to return a non-empty discovery response

Publication Date: 2023.03.28 VERIZON PATENT & LICENSING INC

AI summary

A network device may provide heartbeat requests to a plurality of network function producers, and may set states of the plurality of network function producers to suspended based on not receiving responses to the heartbeat requests after a predetermined time. The network device may receive, from a network function consumer, a discovery request requesting identification of network function producers providing a service or with a network function type, and may determine, based on the discovery request, that none of the plurality of network function producers are available based on the states of the plurality of network function producers being set to suspended. The network device may provide, to the network function consumer, a discovery response that includes a list of the plurality of network function producers with status indicators set to active.