UPF Event Exposure Updates and Termination for Privacy Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is currently no effective solution for updating or terminating a User Plane Function (UPF) exposure service subscribed by other Network Functions (NFs) during the UPF capability exposing process, which poses a risk to user and network privacy.
Innovation Solution
A communication method and apparatus that allows the UPF to autonomously determine and manage the update or termination of its event exposure service, with network functions interacting through messages to facilitate this process, ensuring secure and flexible UPF capability exposure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the UPF exposes data to other Network Functions, then the capability exposure is enhanced, but the privacy security of users and networks deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary control mechanism where the UPF autonomously determines whether to update or terminate exposure services based on received messages. This intermediary decision-making process acts as a mediator between data exposure needs and privacy protection, allowing controlled access rather than direct unrestricted exposure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the UPF receives messages from network functions requesting updates or terminations of exposure services, autonomously determines the appropriate action, and sends response messages back. This closed-loop feedback enables dynamic adjustment of exposure levels while maintaining security control.
2Reliability
If the UPF autonomously determines to update or terminate exposure services, then the security control is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The UPF is designed to autonomously determine whether to update or terminate exposure services without requiring external control plane decisions. This self-service capability allows the user plane function to independently make security decisions based on received requests, reducing the need for complex inter-functional coordination while improving security control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent separates the exposure service management into distinct message exchanges: reception of update/termination requests, autonomous determination by the UPF, and sending of response messages. This segmentation of the control process simplifies the overall system architecture by clearly defining boundaries between different functional steps.
3Ease of operation
If there is no effective solution for updating or terminating UPF exposure service, then the ease of operation is maintained, but the reliability of data protection deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The UPF autonomously handles the determination of whether to update or terminate exposure services, eliminating the need for complex external control mechanisms. This self-service approach maintains operational simplicity while ensuring reliable data protection through autonomous security decisions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system establishes a framework where the UPF is pre-configured to autonomously determine exposure service updates or terminations based on received messages. This preliminary setup enables the UPF to immediately respond to exposure management requests without requiring complex real-time coordination, balancing ease of operation with reliable data protection.
Data Source
AI summary
A communication method and apparatus, and a network function are provided. The method includes: receiving, by a user plane function (UPF), a first message sent by a first network function, in which the first message is configured to request an update or termination of a subscription to a UPF event exposure service, the UPF event exposure service is a service that the UPF exposes information to the first network function; autonomously determining, by the UPF, to update or terminate the UPF event exposure service subscribed by the first network function; and sending, by the UPF, a second message to the first network function.