US 12,262,309 B2
Network function selection
Thomas Theimer, Baierbrunn (DE); and Devaki Chandramouli, Plano, TX (US)
Assigned to Nokia Technologies Oy, Espoo (FI)
Appl. No. 17/619,285
Filed by Nokia Technologies Oy, Espoo (FI)
PCT Filed Jun. 17, 2019, PCT No. PCT/US2019/037461
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Dec. 15, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/256688, PCT Pub. Date Dec. 24, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0303886 A1, Sep. 22, 2022
Int. Cl. H04W 48/18 (2009.01); H04W 4/50 (2018.01); H04W 24/08 (2009.01); H04W 48/14 (2009.01); H04W 48/16 (2009.01)
CPC H04W 48/18 (2013.01) [H04W 4/50 (2018.02); H04W 24/08 (2013.01); H04W 48/14 (2013.01); H04W 48/16 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus, for querying a network repository function to provide a respective identifier of each of one or more network functions, the apparatus comprising:
a processor; and
a memory comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform the following operations:
query a network repository function to provide a respective identifier of each network function that provides a service and fulfill a set of conditions, the set of conditions comprising: a distance condition related to a distance between a respective network function and a reference point, a performance condition related to a performance of the respective network function, a capacity condition related to a capacity of the respective network function, an operational state condition related to an operational state of the respective network function, and a reliability condition related to a reliability of the respective network function, and wherein:
the performance comprises at least one of an average residence time in the respective network function, and a quantile of a residence time in the respective network function;
the capacity condition comprises a supported peak data rate provided by the respective network function for the service, a total capacity provided by the respective network function for the service, and a load level of the respective network function; and
the operational state condition comprises an availability of the respective network function;
based on the querv, receive one or more respective identifiers of each of the one or more network functions that provide the service and fulfill the set of conditions;
compare for each of the one or more received respective identifiers the set of conditions with respective condition thresholds;
based on the comparing, select an identifier of the one or more received respective identifiers; and
request a service from a network function identified by the selected identifier.