NWDAF Application Discovery for Automated UE Data Collection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing 5G communication systems and IoT networks lack efficient mechanisms for network data analytics and UE data collection, particularly in the context of service-based architecture (SBA) for 5G Core, which hinders intelligent automated network configuration and deployment.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a network data analytics function (NWDAF) that supports UE data collection by discovering and subscribing to application functions (AFs) using analytics filter information, determining subscription permanent identifiers (SUPIs), and processing collected data through AF entities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If a network data analytics function (NWDAF) is implemented to collect UE data through service-based architecture, then network analytics capability and automation are improved, but system complexity and implementation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into distinct functional components: NWDAF for analytics processing, NFs for network function execution, and AFs for application-specific data collection. Each component has specialized responsibilities, allowing complex analytics automation to be achieved through coordinated simple functions rather than monolithic complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The service-based interface (SBI) acts as an intermediary layer between NFs and AFs, enabling standardized communication and data exchange. This mediator simplifies integration by providing uniform interaction protocols, reducing the complexity of direct point-to-point connections between numerous components
2Measurement precision
If AF discovery mechanism is implemented using analytics filter information, then data collection precision is improved, but information processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Analytics filter information is prepared and configured in advance before actual data collection begins. The NWDAF pre-processes filter criteria to identify target UEs and prepares subscription requests, so that during runtime only straightforward matching and data collection operations are needed, maintaining precision without runtime complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system processes analytics filter information to discover AFs that match the criteria, potentially evaluating more AFs than strictly necessary. This partial over-processing ensures that all relevant AFs are identified with high precision, while the excess processing is manageable through automated algorithms rather than complex manual configuration
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a communication method and system for converging a 5th-Generation (5G) communication system for supporting higher data rates beyond a 4th-Generation (4G) system with a technology for Internet of things (IoT). A method, by a network data analytics function (NWDAF) entity, for supporting user equipment (UE) data collection from a UE, includes receiving, from a service consumer network function (NF) entity, a first request for the UE data collection for analytics, the first request including analytics filter information, discovering an application function (AF) entity that provides the UE data collection based on AF profiles of the AF entity, determining a list of subscription permanent identifiers (SUPIs) from at least one of an access and mobile management function (AMF) entity and a session management function (SMF) entity based on the analytics filter information, transmitting, to the AF entity, a second request for a subscription to the AF entity for the UE data collection, wherein the subscription is associated with a list of UEs related to the determined list of the SUPIs, and receiving, from the AF entity, a notification on processed data collected according to the subscription.