SEPP Selection via NRF Interface Purpose Registration
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Solution Overview
Problem
In roaming scenarios, existing technologies face challenges in efficiently selecting and managing security edge protection proxies (SEPPs) to support specific interface purposes across different public land mobile networks (PLMNs) and stand-alone non-public networks (SNPNs), leading to inefficiencies in signaling traffic management.
Innovation Solution
A network repository function (NRF) receives registration messages from SEPPs about connected PLMNs and SNPNs, along with agreed interface purposes, and processes discovery requests to select suitable SEPPs that support specified interface purposes, enabling efficient connection management across networks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If SEPPs are selected without considering interface purpose, then device complexity is reduced, but signaling traffic management efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The NRF pre-registers SEPPs with their supported interface purposes before discovery is needed. When a SEPP is available, it proactively provides information about which interface purposes it supports (e.g., N32, N33, N35, N36, N37, N38, N39, N40, N41, N42, N43, N44, N45, N46, N47, N48, N49, N50, N51, N52, N53, N54, N55, N56, N57, N58, N59, N60, N61, N62, N63, N64, N65, N66, N67, N68, N69, N70, N71, N72, N73, N74, N75, N76, N77, N78, N79, N80, N81, N82, N83, N84, N85, N86, N87, N88, N89, N90, N91, N92, N93, N94, N95, N96, N97, N98, N99, N100). This preliminary registration eliminates the need for complex real-time analysis during discovery, improving efficiency while maintaining manageable complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The NRF acts as an intermediary between SEPPs and network functions requiring SEPP discovery. The NRF maintains a repository of SEPP capabilities and interface purpose support information, and when discovery is needed, it queries this repository and returns appropriate SEPP selections. This intermediary approach centralizes the complexity management in the NRF, allowing simple discovery requests from network functions while the NRF handles the complex matching logic.
2Reliability
If SEPP selection is made without interface purpose filtering, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability of connection management deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The solution applies local quality by making SEPP selection specific to each interface purpose. Different SEPPs may support different interface purposes (N32, N33, N35, N36, N37, N38, N39, N40, N41, N42, N43, N44, N45, N46, N47, N48, N49, N50, N51, N52, N53, N54, N55, N56, N57, N58, N59, N60, N61, N62, N63, N64, N65, N66, N67, N68, N69, N70, N71, N72, N73, N74, N75, N76, N77, N78, N79, N80, N81, N82, N83, N84, N85, N86, N87, N88, N89, N90, N91, N92, N93, N94, N95, N96, N97, N98, N99, N100), and the NRF selects the appropriate SEPP based on the specific interface purpose required. This ensures reliable connection management for each interface type while maintaining operational simplicity through automated selection.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution changes the parameter of SEPP selection from a generic choice to a purpose-specific choice. The NRF considers the interface purpose parameter (N32, N33, N35, N36, N37, N38, N39, N40, N41, N42, N43, N44, N45, N46, N47, N48, N49, N50, N51, N52, N53, N54, N55, N56, N57, N58, N59, N60, N61, N62, N63, N64, N65, N66, N67, N68, N69, N70, N71, N72, N73, N74, N75, N76, N77, N78, N79, N80, N81, N82, N83, N84, N85, N86, N87, N88, N89, N90, N91, N92, N93, N94, N95, N96, N97, N98, N99, N100) when selecting SEPPs, ensuring that the selected SEPP is capable of handling the specific interface purpose. This parameter-based selection improves reliability while keeping operations simple through automated parameter matching.
3Adaptability or versatility
If all SEPPs are registered without interface purpose information, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different network scenarios deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The SEPP registration process includes preliminary collection of interface purpose information. When a SEPP registers with the NRF, it proactively provides information about which interface purposes it supports. This preliminary action ensures that the NRF has complete information for adaptive selection without adding complexity to the operational phase, as all necessary information is gathered during registration.
Solution Approach 2:
The NRF acts as an intermediary that manages the complexity of SEPP adaptability. The NRF maintains a detailed repository of SEPP capabilities including interface purpose support, and handles the complex matching logic between SEPP capabilities and discovery requirements. This allows SEPPs to be highly adaptable to different interface purposes while the NRF manages the complexity of tracking and matching these capabilities, keeping the overall system manageable.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided an apparatus comprising at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least: receiving from at least one security edge protection proxy, SEPP, a registration message indicative of at least: at least one remote public land mobile network, PLMN, and/or at least one remote stand-alone non-public network, SNPN, the at least one SEPP is connected to; at least one agreed interface purpose per remote PLMN and/or remote SNPN the at least one SEPP is connected to, wherein the interface purpose is a purpose of intended usage of a connection over an inter-network interface; receiving a discovery request for a SEPP, which is configured to support connecting to a target PLMN or SNPN for interface purpose or interface purposes specified in the discovery request; selecting, among the at least one SEPP, at least one SEPP configured to support connecting to the target PLMN or target SNPN for the interface purpose or interface purposes specified in the discovery request; and transmitting, in response to the discovery request, information on the selected at least one SEPP.