Rules-Based Overload Control for 5G Intermediate Proxy Nodes
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing 5G telecommunications network architecture lacks effective overload control mechanisms for intermediate proxy nodes, leading to congestion and potential denial of service for low-priority messages, as these nodes cannot register as 5G network functions and rely on consumer NFs to set message priorities correctly, which is unreliable.
Innovation Solution
Implementing rules-based overload control at intermediate or producer network functions, configuring overload message handling rules with criteria such as destination network name or network slice, and associating guaranteed processing bandwidth with these rules to ensure prioritization and stable message processing during overload conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If intermediate proxy nodes (SCP, SEPP, service gateway) route traffic between producer and consumer NFs without overload control mechanisms, then traffic forwarding is simple and fast, but the nodes become congested and drop traffic for low priority services
Solution Approach 1:
The patent configures overload control rules and guaranteed bandwidth parameters in advance at intermediate proxy nodes before overload occurs. When overload conditions arise, these pre-configured rules are immediately applied to prioritize critical services, avoiding the need for complex real-time decisions during congestion events.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different quality of service treatments to different services at the intermediate proxy node based on their priority levels. Critical services receive guaranteed bandwidth and priority handling, while non-critical services can be throttled or dropped during overload, allowing the node to maintain different service qualities simultaneously.
2Reliability
If consumer NFs set message priority values to enable traffic prioritization, then overload handling can be improved, but consumer NFs cannot be counted on to reliably or uniformly set priority parameters
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces intermediate proxy nodes as mediators that enforce centralized overload control policies. Instead of relying on consumer NFs to correctly set priority parameters, the proxy nodes independently evaluate incoming traffic against pre-configured rules and apply appropriate prioritization, eliminating the need for consumer NFs to make complex priority decisions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where intermediate proxy nodes monitor traffic patterns and overload conditions, then dynamically adjust message handling decisions based on current network state. This centralized feedback loop ensures consistent priority enforcement without requiring consumer NFs to have detailed knowledge of network conditions.
3Reliability
If all nodes between consumer and producer NFs could register as 5G NFs with full overload control capabilities, then service reliability would improve, but device complexity and architecture complexity would increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the overload control functionality from the requirement for full 5G NF registration. Intermediate proxy nodes implement a simplified subset of overload control capabilities specifically tailored for their traffic routing function, without needing to register as complete 5G NFs or implement the full suite of NF functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the overload control functionality into distinct components: rule configuration, traffic classification, bandwidth monitoring, and priority-based forwarding. Each intermediate proxy node implements only the segment relevant to its function, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for rules-based overload control for 5G services includes configuring, at an intermediate or a producer network function (NF), overload message handing rules, wherein at least some of the rules include destination network name (DNN), network subscription, network location, or a network slice identifying parameter or any parameter/attribute defined by 3GPP/vendor as rule selection criteria. The method includes a guaranteed processing bandwidth of the intermediate or producer NF with at least some of the overload message handling rules, receiving a first message at the intermediate or producer NF, determining that an overload condition exists, identifying that the first message includes parameters that match the rule selection criteria for one of the overload message handling rules, determining, that a portion of the guaranteed processing bandwidth of the intermediate or producer NF for the matching overload message handling rule is available to process the first message, processing the first message, and updating a message count for the overload message handling rule.