US 12,382,415 B1
Network function registration with network repository functions
Rajil Malhotra, Olathe, KS (US); and Chidambaram Pavanasam, Overland Park, KS (US)
Assigned to T-MOBILE INNOVATIONS LLC, Overland Park, KS (US)
Filed by T-Mobile Innovations LLC, Overland Park, KS (US)
Filed on May 20, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/325,916.
Int. Cl. H04W 60/00 (2009.01)
CPC H04W 60/00 (2013.01) 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of operating a wireless communication network that serves wireless data services to wireless user devices, the method comprising:
communication circuitry receiving a registration from a source Network Repository Function (NRF) for a registering Network Function (NF) that is instantiated at a geolocation and that has an NF type and transferring the registration to processing circuitry;
the processing circuitry receiving the registration from the communication circuitry and determining when an amount of the NF type registered by the source NRF exceeds a NF type threshold for the source NRF;
when the amount of the NF type registered by the source NRF does not exceed the NF type threshold, the processing circuitry transferring a registration approval to the communication circuitry;
the communication circuitry receiving the registration approval from the processing circuitry and transferring the registration approval to the source NRF;
when the amount of the NF type registered by the source NRF exceeds the NF type threshold for the source NRF, the processing circuitry selecting a target NRF based on the geolocation of the registering NF and transferring a registration redirection that indicates the target NRF to the communication circuitry; and
the communication circuitry receiving the registration redirection and transferring the registration redirection that indicates the target NRF to the source NRF.