Service Enabler Function for Dynamic Service Layer Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing device management protocols lack the ability to dynamically integrate new services into a service layer without impacting system operability, requiring reconfiguration and increased downtime.
Innovation Solution
A Service Enabler Function (SEF) is introduced to manage service layer operations, including a Service Coordination Function (SCF), Service State Management and Configuration Function (SMCF), and Service API Management Function (SAMF), enabling dynamic addition, activation, deactivation, and removal of services without affecting system interoperability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If new services are added to the system using existing device management protocols, then software modules can be downloaded and installed onto devices, but the service layer cannot be dynamically integrated and system reconfiguration is required causing increased downtime
Solution Approach 1:
A Service Enabler Function (SEF) is introduced as an intermediary component between the device management protocol and the service layer. The SEF includes a Service Coordination Function (SCF) that receives service enabling requests, a Service State Management and Configuration Function (SMCF) that manages service states and configurations, and a Service API Management Function (SAMF) that handles API operations. This intermediary enables dynamic service integration without requiring system-wide reconfiguration, thus reducing downtime while maintaining adaptability.
2Ease of operation
If device management protocols are used for service management, then software enabling functionality is provided, but the protocols are transparent to the service provided and lack service awareness
Solution Approach 1:
The Service Enabler Function is designed with multi-functionality to address both software management and service awareness requirements. The SCF handles service enabling requests and coordinates with the SMCF for state management, while the SAMF manages service APIs. This universal function can manage both the software modules (through integration with device management protocols) and the service layer configurations, providing both ease of operation and service awareness in a single integrated component.
3Adaptability or versatility
If service platform re-synchronization is performed to integrate new services, then updated capabilities and features are achieved, but all collaborating applications and service platforms must update and re-set their configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The Service Enabler Function extracts the service configuration and management operations from the core service platform, isolating them in a dedicated component. When new services are added, only the SEF needs to be updated through service enabling requests, rather than re-synchronizing the entire service platform. The SCF receives the service enabling request, the SMCF manages the service state, and the SAMF handles API updates - all without requiring collaborating applications to re-set their configurations, thus reducing system reconfiguration complexity while maintaining adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
The present application describes a method and apparatus for managing a service in a service layer. In particular, a method describes a computer readable storage medium including instructions for managing a service in a service layer where the instructions are executed by a processor. The executed instructions cause the processor to receive a request to manage, via a service enabler function of the service layer, a change of state of the service including adding, removing, activating, or deactivating the service. The request may include a service description. The executed instructions also cause the processor to evaluate, via the service enabler function, the service description comprising identifiers of one or more services to manage. The executed instructions further cause the processor to identify one or more service capabilities in the service layer to assist in managing the one or more services identified in the service description. A request may be sent and/or may instruct the one or more service capabilities to perform the change of state of the one or more services identified in the service description.