5G Service API Discovery Through CCF Mediation

The patent introduces an API discovery service as an intermediary component that mediates between the AF and multiple CCFs. This service receives discovery requests from AEFs, determines the appropriate target CCF based on UE information, and forwards requests accordingly. The intermediary abstracts the complexity of PLMN identification from individual components, allowing the system to handle unknown PLMN providers while maintaining manageable system complexity through centralized decision-making logic.

The patent segments the API discovery function into distinct components: AEFs that expose APIs, a centralized API discovery service that manages resolution logic, and CCFs that provide core functionality. Each component has a specific role, and the segmentation allows for independent optimization and management. The discovery service acts as a coordinator that breaks down the complex task of API location into manageable steps: receiving requests, determining target CCFs, and forwarding queries, thereby improving accuracy without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.

The patent implements a universal API discovery service that can handle multiple PLMN configurations through a single standardized interface. The discovery service maintains a repository of CCF information that can be queried using standardized parameters, allowing the same discovery mechanism to work across different PLMNs. This universal approach simplifies operation by providing a consistent discovery process while preserving necessary PLMN-specific information through structured data storage and retrieval mechanisms that map standardized queries to PLMN-specific configurations.