NRF Service Discovery with Selection Rules for 5G SBA
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Solution Overview
Problem
In 5G telecommunication networks, existing Service Based Architecture (SBA) services like Unified Data Management (UDM) do not support independent Life Cycle Management (LCM), leading to inefficient scaling, development, updating, and deployment due to mixed functionalities, which hinders optimization in cloud environments and multi-vendor solutions.
Innovation Solution
A method for service discovery in SBA networks that uses a Network Repository Function (NRF) to register and manage services with selection rules and preconditions, allowing for optimized service registration and discovery based on consumer types, enabling independent LCM by providing specific service addresses and prioritization of rules for efficient resource management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If services are combined in a single NF container (e.g., UDM), then device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but independent Life Cycle Management of individual services becomes impossible, reducing adaptability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the monolithic NF container into multiple independent Network Function Services (NFS), each providing a specific service functionality. Each NFS is registered separately in the NRF with its own service name, service address, and selection rules, enabling independent development, deployment, and lifecycle management while maintaining unified service discovery through the NRF
2Device complexity
If all service functionalities are included in one NF, then device complexity is reduced, but scaling and resource optimization become inefficient, reducing productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the monolithic NF into multiple independent NFS, each optimized for specific service requirements. This enables differential scaling where individual NFS can be scaled independently based on demand, improving resource utilization and productivity while the NRF maintains unified service discovery
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables dynamic service discovery where the NRF selects appropriate NFS based on real-time preconditions and selection rules. This dynamic allocation allows efficient resource utilization and scaling as services can be activated, deactivated, or scaled independently based on network conditions and service demands
3Device complexity
If services are updated as a single unit, then device complexity is reduced, but service updating and deployment time increases, reducing productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the service update process by allowing individual NFS to be updated independently. Each NFS has its own service name and service address registered in the NRF, enabling granular updates where only the specific NFS requiring changes needs to be modified, deployed, and tested, significantly reducing update deployment time while maintaining manageable service structure through unified service discovery
4Measurement precision
If selection rules are added to service registration, then service discovery precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces the NRF as an intermediary that manages the complexity of selection rules and preconditions. The NRF stores service names, service addresses, and selection rules for multiple NFS, and automatically evaluates preconditions to select the appropriate NFS. This intermediary approach improves service discovery accuracy by enabling precise matching while hiding the complexity from consumers who simply query the NRF without needing to understand the underlying selection rule logic
Data Source
AI summary
A method of discovering services provided by a network function, NF, in a Service Based Architecture, SBA, based telecommunication network, wherein said network function is registered, in a Network Repository Function, NRF, comprised by said telecommunication network, using a service name, a service address and a selection rule, wherein said selection rule defines a further service address and a precondition for applying said selection rule, said method comprising the steps of receiving, by said NRF, a discovery request, from a Network Function, NF, consumer, wherein said discovery request comprises said service name, determining, by said NRF, that said selection rule applies by determining that said precondition is met based on said received discovery request and transmitting, by said NRF, to said NF consumer, a discovery response, wherein said discovery response comprises said further service address.