| CPC H04W 60/04 (2013.01) [H04W 48/16 (2013.01); H04W 60/06 (2013.01); H04W 76/19 (2018.02)] | 20 Claims |
|
9. A network element, comprising:
one or more processors; and
memory storing computer-executable instructions associated with a backup session management function (SMF) for a first tracking area code (TAC) that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
determining a number of user equipments (UEs) associated with the first TAC that are connected to the backup SMF;
determining that the number of UEs meets or exceeds a threshold value;
in response to determining that the number of UEs meets or exceeds the threshold value, obtaining an SMF list associated with the first TAC from a network repository function (NRF);
determining that:
the SMF list identifies a different SMF associated with the first TAC, and
the different SMF associates the first TAC with a higher priority than the backup SMF associates with the first TAC; and
sending detach commands associated with at least a subset of the UEs associated with the first TAC, wherein the detach commands cause UEs in the at least the subset of the UEs associated with the first TAC to detach from the backup SMF and a core network, and re-attach to the core network,
wherein the backup SMF is a primary SMF or higher priority SMF for a second TAC that is different from the first TAC.
|