NETWORK FUNCTION (NF) REPOSITORY FUNCTION (NRF) HAVING AN INTERFACE WITH A SEGMENT ROUTING PATH COMPUTATION ENTITY (SR-PCE) FOR IMPROVED DISCOVERY AND SELECTION OF NF INSTANCES

• US 20200137174A1
• Filed: 10/29/2018
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: STAMMERS, Timothy Peter, SMITH, Robert Glenn
• Granted Patent: US 10,848,576 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/34 Signalling channels for network management communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5058 Service discovery by the service manager
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/34 Source routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/50 using label swapping, e.g. multi-protocol label switch [MPLS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/141 Setup of application sessions admission control or resource allocation in data switching networks H04L47/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services

Abstract

A network function (NF) repository function (NRF) suitable for use in a 5G mobile network utilizing segment routing (SR) is described. The first interface of the NRF may be an N_nrf interface with a service discovery function. The second interface of the NRF may be for use with a SR path information obtaining function for interfacing with a SR path computation entity (SR-PCE). The service discovery function may be further configured to discover NF instances based on identifying an NF instance being associated with SR path information that accords to least one service, application, or subscription requirement obtained according to the discovery request.

Claims

1. A network repository function (NRF) comprising:

a first interface comprising an N_nrf interface of a service discovery function configured to receive a discovery request from a network function (NF), discover one or more NF instances based on at least one of a service, application, or subscription requirement obtained according to the discovery request, and respond to the discovery request with the one or more discovered NF instances; and

a second interface of a segment route (SR) path information obtaining function for interfacing with a SR path computation entity (SR-PCE), the SR path information obtaining function configured to receive SR path information associated with each SR path of at least some of a plurality of SR paths between different pairs of NF instances or nodes which are candidate pairs for session communication, and storing the SR path information for each SR path in association with at least one of the NF instances of the respective candidate pair,

wherein the service discovery function is further configured to discover one or more NF instances based on identifying that an NF instance is associated with SR path information of an SR path that accords to the at least one service, application, or subscription requirement obtained according to the discovery request.

2. The NRF of claim 1, wherein each SR path information associated with an SR path includes one or more operational or policy parameters of the SR path.

3. The NRF of claim 1, wherein each SR path information associated with an SR path includes at least one of a latency parameter, a resiliency parameter, and a bandwidth parameter.

4. The NRF of claim 1, wherein each SR path information associated with an SR path includes an operational status of the SR path.

5. The NRF of claim 1, wherein each SR path information associated with an SR path includes one or more Segment IDs (SIDs) or a SID list which defines the SR path.

6. The NRF of claim 1, wherein the NF instances comprise NF types which include one or more of an access and mobility management function (AMF), a session management function (SMF), and a user plane function (UPF).

7. The NRF of claim 1, wherein the NF instances or nodes include a radio access network (RAN) node such as a gNB.

8. The NRF of claim 1, wherein the discovery request is received in response to a message which indicates a request for creation or establishment of a session for a user equipment (UE), and wherein the discovered NF instance is selected for use in the session for the UE.

9. The NRF of claim 8, wherein the discovered NF instance comprises a discovered User Plane Function (UPF) instance for the session for the UE.

10. The NRF of claim 8, wherein service, application, or subscription requirements are associated with the request for creation or establishment of the session for the UE.

11. The NRF of claim 1, wherein the service discovery function is further configured to respond to the discovery request with SR path information for an SR path associated with a discovered NF instance.

17. The NRF of claim 11, wherein the NF instances comprise NF types which include one or more of an access and mobility management function (AMF), a session management function (SMF), and a user plane function (UPF).

12. A network repository function (NRF) comprising:

a first interface comprising an N_nrf interface of a service discovery function configured to receive a discovery request from a network function (NF), discover one or more NF instances based on at least one of a service, application, or subscription requirement obtained according to the discovery request, and respond to the discovery request with the one or more discovered NF instances; and

a second interface of a segment route (SR) path information obtaining function for interfacing with a SR path computation entity (SR-PCE), the SR path information obtaining function configured to receive SR path information for each SR path of at least some of a plurality of SR paths between different pairs of NF instances or nodes which are candidate pairs for session communication, and storing the SR path information for each SR path in association with at least one of the NF instances of the respective candidate pair,

wherein the service discovery function is further configured to respond to the discovery request with SR path information for an SR path associated with a discovered NF instance.

13. The NRF of claim 12, wherein each SR path information associated with an SR path includes one or more Segment IDs (SIDs) or a SID list which defines the SR path.

14. The NRF of claim 12, wherein each SR path information associated with an SR path includes one or more operational or policy parameters of the SR path.

15. The NRF of claim 12, wherein each SR path information associated with an SR path includes at least one of a latency parameter, a resiliency parameter, and a bandwidth parameter.

16. The NRF of claim 12, wherein each SR path information associated with an SR path includes an operational status of the SR path.

18. A method comprising:

at a network function (NF) repository function (NRF) for use in a mobile network,

performing a service discovery function which includes receiving a discovery request from a network function (NF), discovering one or more NF instances based on at least one of a service, application, or subscription requirement obtained according to the discovery request, and responding to the discovery request with the one or more discovered NF instances; and

performing a function for obtaining segment route (SR) path information from a SR path computation entity (SR-PCE), which includes receiving SR path information associated with each SR path of at least some of a plurality of SR paths between different pairs of NF instances or nodes which are candidate pairs for session communication, and storing the SR path information for each SR path in association with at least one of the NF instances of the respective candidate pair.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein performing the service discovery function further includes discovering one or more NF instances based on identifying that an NF instance is associated with SR path information of an SR path that accords to the at least one service, application, or subscription requirement obtained according to the discovery request.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein performing the service discovery function further includes responding to the discovery request with SR path information for an SR path associated with a discovered NF instance.