SCP Preferred NF Location Routing for 5G Service Requests
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Solution Overview
Problem
In 5G communications networks, consumer NFs often fail to select the optimal producer NF to handle service requests due to a lack of location information, leading to suboptimal routing and scalability issues in producer NF selection.
Innovation Solution
A method and system using a Service Communications Proxy (SCP) that performs a lookup in a preferred NF location routing rules database to select the most suitable producer NF based on location priorities, routing service requests to the optimal producer NF, utilizing parameters like 3GPP service identifiers, subscription identifiers, domain addresses, and IP addresses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If consumer NFs select producer NFs based on NRF's internal policy without location information, then the NRF can maintain simple NF profiles, but the routing becomes suboptimal and latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The SCP acts as an intermediary between consumer NFs and producer NFs. It receives service requests from consumer NFs, queries the NRF for available producer NFs, applies location-based routing rules to select the optimal producer, and forwards the request. This mediator approach allows location information to be utilized without requiring consumer NFs to have complex selection algorithms or direct access to location data.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by having the SCP query the NRF in advance to obtain a list of available producer NFs and their locations before routing the service request. The SCP then applies pre-configured location-based routing rules to select the optimal producer NF, enabling optimal routing decisions to be made before the actual service consumption.
2Reliability
If each consumer NF implements its own preferred producer NF selection algorithm, then consumer NFs can make optimal selections, but the system scalability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The SCP serves as a centralized intermediary that handles the complex producer NF selection logic. Instead of embedding complex selection algorithms in each consumer NF, the SCP consolidates this functionality. Consumer NFs simply send service requests to the SCP, which then queries the NRF and applies location-based routing rules to select the optimal producer NF, significantly reducing consumer NF complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system copies the producer NF selection functionality from individual consumer NFs and consolidates it in the SCP. The SCP maintains a copy of the NRF's producer NF list and applies routing rules locally, eliminating the need for each consumer NF to maintain its own complex selection algorithm while achieving the same optimal selection results.
3Adaptability or versatility
If consumer NFs route to producer NFs in different geographic areas, then service diversity is improved, but local latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The location-based routing rules enable the system to consider local quality by prioritizing producer NFs based on their geographic proximity to consumer NFs. The SCP applies routing rules that favor locally-available producers for service requests, ensuring that consumer NFs first attempt to access services from the nearest producer before falling back to remote producers, thus optimizing local latency while maintaining service diversity.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for preferred network function (NF) location based routing using a service communications proxy (SCP) includes receiving a service request message from a consumer NF. The method further includes performing, by an SCP, a lookup in a preferred NF location routing rules database at the SCP using at least one parameter extracted from the service request message. The method further includes locating, by the SCP and in the preferred NF location routing rules database, a preferred NF location routing rule corresponding to the at least one parameter extracted from the service request message. The method further includes selecting, by the SCP, a producer NF to process the service request based on application of the preferred NF location routing rule. The method further includes routing, by the SCP, the service request message to the producer NF.