SMF Selection by PDN Type to Avoid Failed Session Setup
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional systems face challenges in efficiently establishing communications sessions between wireless devices with varying capabilities and configurations due to the selection of incompatible session management functions (SMFs) and user plane functions (UPFs), leading to repeated failed attempts and resource wastage.
Innovation Solution
Implementing systems and methods that utilize the UE's PDN-Type to select compatible SMFs by using block and permit lists at the AMF, ensuring that only SMFs supporting the required protocol are chosen for session establishment, thereby reducing the likelihood of failed attempts and optimizing resource utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional systems attempt to establish communications sessions between devices with varying capabilities without compatibility checking, then session establishment attempts can be made quickly, but the sessions fail due to incompatible SMFs and UPFs, wasting network resources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by checking SMF and UPF compatibility with the UE's PDN-Type before attempting session establishment. The AMF queries the NRF to identify compatible SMFs that support the required IP version (IPv4 or IPv6) based on the UE's capabilities, and similarly checks UPF compatibility. This preliminary compatibility verification prevents failed session attempts and associated resource wastage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the NRF as an intermediary to resolve compatibility issues between UEs and network functions. The AMF queries the NRF to obtain lists of SMFs and UPFs that are compatible with the UE's PDN-Type. The NRF acts as a mediator that provides compatibility information, enabling the AMF to select appropriate network functions without direct trial-and-error attempts.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the system performs multiple failed session establishment attempts with incompatible SMFs, then more SMFs can be tested for compatibility, but the session setup time increases and resources are consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates iterative testing by performing preliminary compatibility matching. The AMF queries the NRF to obtain a pre-identified list of SMFs that are compatible with the UE's PDN-Type before session establishment begins. This approach achieves full adaptability to UE capabilities without the time penalty of multiple failed attempts.
Data Source
AI summary
System and methods for selecting a session management function (SMF) for establishing a communications session for a user device based on the user device's protocol data network (PDN) type are described herein. An access management function (AMF) may query a network function (NF) repository function (NRF) for SMFs that serve an area associated with the user device. The AMF may select an SMF from those indicated by the NRF and determine whether the SMF can support the user device's PDN-Type and/or whether the SMF is included in a block list associated with that PDN-Type. If the SMF appears to support the user device's PDN-Type, the AMF attempts to establish a session for the user device. If that fails, the AMF adds the SMF to a block list for the user device's PDN-Type. Otherwise, the AMF provided session data to the user device's gNodeB for exchanging user data.