Oracle International Corporation

Doki Satish Kumar Patro

Yesh Goel

Amarnath Jayaramachar

Sridhar Karuturi

Kawal Sapra

Rajiv Krishan

Venkatesh Aravamudhan

Virendra Singh

Jay Rajput

Ahmed M Akl

Ann Susan Mathew

A method for network function (NF) discovery between forwarded and forwarding NF repository functions (NRFs) includes receiving, at a forwarding NRF, an NF discovery request message generated by a consumer NF or a service communication proxy (SCP), determining, by the forwarding NRF, not to process the NF discovery request message locally and transmitting the NF discovery request message to a forwarded NRF. The forwarded NRF receives the discovery request message, applies empty-list functionality to promote the producer NFs having NF profiles that match query parameters in the NF discovery request message from a SUSPENDED state to a REGISTERED state, and generates and transmits an NF discovery response message and an indication of application if the empty-list functionality to the forwarding NRF. The forwarding NRF applies a local policy to process the indication of application of the empty-list functionality and transmits the NF discovery response to the consumer NF or SCP.

Methods, systems, and computer readable media for improved network function (NF) discovery between forwarded and forwarding NF repository functions (NRFs) to avoid preemption of NF profiles of producer NFs local to forwarding NRF

A method for providing for SCPs to learn network topology using a root NRF includes storing, by a root NRF, NF instance identifiers of a plurality of NFs registered with a plurality of circle NRFs. The method further includes providing, by the root NRF, a one-stop network topology access interface through which an SCP can learn network topologies of network circles served by each of the circle NRFs. The method further includes receiving, by the root NRF, from the SCP and via the one-stop network topology access interface, for obtaining network topology information from the circle NRFs. The method further includes communicating, by the root NRF, with the circle NRFs and on behalf of the SCP, to trigger the circle NRFs to provide the network topology information.

Methods, systems, and computer readable media for providing for network topology learning by service communication proxy (SCP) using root network function (NF) repository function (NRF)

A method for sharing key identification (key ID) and public certificate data for access token verification comprises, at a network function (NF) repository function (NRF) including at least one processor, receiving, from a producer NF, an NF registration message including key ID version information. In response to detecting the key ID version information, sending, to the producer NF, an NF registration response message including a current key ID version value, at least one digital certificate, and at least one corresponding public key to the producer NF. The method further includes receiving, from the producer NF, an NF update message that includes the current key ID version value and in response to determining that the current key ID version value in the NF update message does not match an updated key ID version value maintained at the NRF, sending an NF update response message that the updated key ID version value, at least one updated digital certificate, and at least one corresponding updated public key to the producer NF.

Methods, systems, and computer readable media for sharing key identification and public certificate data for access token verification

Methods, systems, and computer readable media for discovering network function (NF) service producers in a hierarchical network are disclosed. One method includes receiving, by a regional NF repository function (NRF) operating in a first region of a hierarchical network, a NF registration request message from a NF service producer operating in the first region and detecting, by the regional NRF, an absence of <NF-Type>Info and/or <NF-Type>InfoList attribute data in the received NF registration request message. The method further includes creating, by the regional NRF, an entry in NrfInfo structure information directed toward a root NRF operating in the hierarchical network, wherein the entry includes an nfinstance identifier that identifies the NF service producer and is mapped to an empty structure field indicative of absent <NF-Type>Info and/or <NF-Type>InfoList attribute data and sending, by the regional NRF to the root NRF, the NrfInfo structure information via a registration message or update registration message.

Methods, systems, and computer readable media for discovering network function service producers in a hierarchical network

Methods, systems, and computer readable media for mitigating effects of access token misuse are disclosed. One example method for mitigating effects of access token misuse comprises: at a network function (NF) comprising at least one processor: receiving, from a sender, a service request comprising an access token, wherein the access token includes an access token identifier and usage attributes indicating a message rate limit and/or a message count limit; determining, using the usage attributes associated with the access token, that the service request should be rejected; and rejecting the service request.

Methods, systems, and computer readable media for mitigating effects of access token misuse

A method for processing NF discovery requests using prioritized lists of preferred locations includes maintaining an NF profiles database including NF profiles of producer NFs registered to provide service to other NFs and a preferred locality attribute mappings database including mappings between preferred locality attributes and prioritized lists of preferred locations. The method includes receiving, from an NF, an NF discovery request including query parameters and a preferred locality attribute. The method further includes accessing the preferred locality attribute mappings database using the preferred locality attribute and obtaining a prioritized list of preferred locations corresponding to the preferred locality attribute, accessing the NF profiles database using the query parameters and identifying NF profiles of producer NFs capable of providing a service indicated by the query parameters, and prioritizing the NF profiles according to the prioritized list of preferred locations. An NF discovery response is generated and transmitted to the NF.

Methods, systems, and computer readable media for processing network function (NF) discovery requests at NF repository function (NRF) using prioritized lists of preferred locations

Methods, systems, and computer readable media for enabling forwarding of subsequent network function subscription updates. A method includes forwarding, from a bootstrapped network function repository function (NRF) in a first region, a subscription creation request from a consumer network function to a target NRF in a second region. The method includes creating, at the target NRF, a subscription for the consumer network function. The method includes generating, at the target NRF, a hint comprising data indicating one or more alternate NRFs each sharing subscription state data with the target NRF. The method includes sending, from the target NRF to the consumer network function, a subscription response message including the hint.

Methods, systems, and computer readable media for enabling forwarding of subsequent network function subscription updates

Methods, systems, and computer readable media for limiting network function (NF) repository function (NRF) forwarding are disclosed. One example method for limiting NRF forwarding comprises: at a first NF comprising at least one processor: receiving a request message associated with a consumer NF; determining that the request message cannot be serviced by the first NF; inserting or modifying a forwarding limit value in the request message, wherein the forwarding limit value indicates a number of times that the request message can be forwarded; and forwarding the request message including the forwarding limit value toward a second NF.

Methods, systems, and computer readable media for limiting network function (NF) repository function (NRF) forwarding

A method for dynamic optimized NF discovery includes querying an NF repository function (NRF), receiving at least one response to the querying, and building, from the at least one response, an NF discovery data digest of NF profile attributes and corresponding attribute values usable as query parameters in NF discovery requests. The method further includes determining that a consumer NF has a need for a service, and, in response, formulating, using the NF discovery data digest, an NF discovery request message including at least one of the NF profile attribute values as a query parameter. The method further includes transmitting the NF discovery request message to the NRF. The method further includes receiving an NF discovery response from the NRF including at least one NF profile. The method further includes using the at least one NF to facilitate providing of the service to the consumer NF.

Methods, systems, and computer readable media for dynamic optimized network function discovery for consumer network functions

A method for selecting multiple network function (NF) types using a single discovery request includes receiving, by a NF repository function (NRF) from a consumer NF, a single discovery request message that requests discovery of a plurality of producer NF types in a fifth generation (5G) core network and includes an indication of multiple NF discovery requests, obtaining, by the NRF, NF profile objects corresponding to each of the plurality of producer NF types included in the single discovery request message, and providing, to the consumer NF via a single discovery response message generated by the NRF, NF profile objects that correspond to one or more of the plurality of producer NF types.

Methods, systems, and computer readable media for selecting multiple network function types using a single discovery request

A method for routing messages relating to existing NF subscriptions includes receiving, at a first NRF, a request from a consumer NF instance creating a first NF subscription, determining that the first NRF does not have the requested NF profile, and forwarding the request to a second NRF. The method further includes receiving a response from the second NRF indicating that the second NRF has created the first NF subscription, modifying the response so that subsequent messages associated with the first subscription will be sent to the first NRF, and forwarding the response to the consumer NF instance. The method further includes receiving, by the first NRF, a message from the consumer NF instance relating to the first subscription, determining, that the second NRF is unavailable, and forwarding the message relating to the first subscription to a third NRF that functions as a mate of the second NRF.

Methods, systems, and computer readable media for optimized routing of messages relating to existing network function (NF) subscriptions using an intermediate forwarding NF repository function (NRF)

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Bengaluru, India

Doki Satish Kumar Patro