Roaming NRF Proximity Selection for Lower-Latency Home Network Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
In 5G wireless communication networks with geo-redundant Network Repository Functions (NRFs, existing systems fail to connect user equipment (UE) to the closest home network function when roaming, resulting in undesirably high latency due to connection with network functions far from the UE's current location.
Innovation Solution
Utilizing location information associated with the UE or serving network function in a visited network to connect the UE to a relatively close home network function, reducing latency by selecting network functions based on proximity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the home network's NRF provides network function information to a roaming UE, then the UE can be connected to home network functions, but the connection latency increases because the network functions may be far from the UE's current location
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the NRF's response adaptive to the UE's local situation. When a roaming UE requests network function information, the visited NRF modifies the home NRF's response to include locally optimal network function selections based on the UE's current location in the visited network, rather than simply providing the home NRF's default network function list.
Solution Approach 2:
The visited network's NRF acts as an intermediary between the home network's NRF and the roaming UE. It receives the NF information response from the home NRF, processes it by substituting or adding locally appropriate network function information based on UE location, and then provides the modified response to the UE, thereby reducing connection latency while maintaining home network control.
2Reliability
If geo-redundant NRFs are deployed in different locations, then backup capability is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the NRF universal by enabling it to operate in multiple modes: it can serve as a home NRF for its own network functions, act as a visited NRF for roaming UEs from other networks, and dynamically switch between providing home network function information and visited network function information based on the requester's identity and location. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized NRFs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the functions of home NRF and visited NRF into a single NRF infrastructure. The visited NRF combines the home NRF's network function information with local network function information, creating a unified response that serves both home and visited network requirements without requiring completely separate NRF systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A first network operator (A), having a roaming agreement with a second network operator (B), has a communication system having multiple network data centers (NDCs). When user equipment (UE) of a customer of Operator A requests network access via an NDC of Operator B, Operator A's communication system selects one of its NDCs to provide that network access based on location information associated with the UE. In this way, the network access provided to the UE via Operator B's comm system will have lower latency than if one of Operator A's other NDCs were selected to provide that network access. Depending on the implementation the location information may be explicitly provided to Operator B's NDC or coded at either Operator B's NDC or Operator A's NDC.