SCP Egress Rate Limiting for Producer NF Capacity Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing 5G network architectures face issues with producer network functions (NFs) becoming overwhelmed by service requests from multiple consumer NFs or proxies, as individual entities lack awareness of producer NF capacity, leading to potential overload.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a rate limiting policer at a service communication proxy (SCP) to manage producer NF service instance capacity, using token bucket algorithms for egress rate limiting, ensuring that combined traffic from SCP worker instances does not exceed producer NF capacities, with mechanisms for token allocation and denial based on predefined limits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If individual consumer NFs or proxies send service requests to producer NFs without awareness of producer NF capacity, then service requests can be processed independently and simply, but producer NFs may become overwhelmed and overloaded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an SCP (Service Communication Proxy) as an intermediary between consumer NFs and producer NFs. The SCP worker instances receive service requests from consumer NFs and forward them to appropriate producer NFs, while the rate limiting policer acts as a mediator to control the rate of requests. This intermediary structure allows individual entities to operate simply while the system as a whole maintains capacity control through the SCP and policer coordination.
Solution Approach 2:
The rate limiting policer implements feedback control by monitoring the rate of service requests and adjusting token allocation accordingly. When the combined egress traffic from SCP worker instances approaches the rate capacity of producer NF service instances, the policer denies token allocation requests, thereby feedback-controlling the request rate to prevent overload while maintaining operational simplicity at the individual entity level.
2Reliability
If a rate limiting policer is implemented to manage producer NF service instance capacity, then producer NF overload is prevented, but system complexity increases due to additional components and token allocation mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the rate limiting function into distinct components: SCP worker instances that handle service requests, a separate rate limiting policer that manages token allocation, and producer NF service instances that provide services. This segmentation allows each component to have a specific, simplified role while the collective system achieves robust capacity control. The policer is separated from the worker instances, allowing independent optimization of each component.
Solution Approach 2:
The rate limiting policer serves as an intermediary layer between the SCP worker instances and producer NF service instances. It manages the token bucket algorithms and allocation logic centrally, which simplifies the design of individual worker instances while maintaining comprehensive capacity control. The policer mediates all capacity-related decisions, preventing any single worker instance from becoming overly complex.
3Manufacturing precision
If token allocation is used for egress rate limiting, then precise control over combined egress traffic is achieved, but processing time increases due to token request and allocation operations
Solution Approach 1:
The rate limiting policer performs preliminary actions by pre-calculating and maintaining token buckets for each producer NF service instance before actual service requests arrive. The token allocation state is prepared in advance, allowing worker instances to quickly check and request tokens without complex real-time calculations. This preliminary preparation reduces processing time while maintaining precise rate control.
Solution Approach 2:
The token bucket implementation uses self-service mechanisms where the policer automatically manages token refilling, allocation, and denial based on predefined rate capacities and time intervals. The system does not require complex external control or real-time negotiation for each token request, as the policer autonomously manages the token state and makes allocation decisions based on the current token availability and request patterns, thereby reducing processing overhead.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Methods, systems, and computer readable media for network function (NF) service instance wide egress rate limiting include a process performed at a service communication proxy (SCR) and at a rate limiting policer. The process includes receiving service requests from consumer NFs and forwarding the service requests to SCR worker instances. The process further includes, at the SCR worker instances, requesting, from the rate limiting policer, which is separate from the SCR worker instances, producer NF service instance capacity for handling the service requests. The process includes, at the rate limiting policer, performing producer NF service instance wide egress rate limiting between the SCR worker instances and producer NF instances by granting or denying requests for producer NF service instance capacity from the SCR worker instances such that combined egress traffic from the SCR worker instances does not exceed rate capacities of the producer NF service instances.