US 12,457,573 B2
Session management function (SMF) outage protection in a wireless communication network
Kunal Prakash Barawkar, Bothell, WA (US); John Paul Tuscano Cruz, Renton, WA (US); Swetha Gopisetti, Issaquah, WA (US); Aziz Motiwala, Bothell, WA (US); Praveen Singaram Muthukumar, Lawrenceville, NJ (US); Rahul Pal, Bothell, WA (US); Rushabhkumar Dahyabhai Patel, Newcastle, WA (US); and Suresh Thanneeru, Bothell, WA (US)
Assigned to T-MOBILE INNOVATIONS LLC, Overland Park, KS (US)
Filed by T-MOBILE INNOVATIONS LLC, Overland Park, KS (US)
Filed on Aug. 18, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/890,930.
Prior Publication US 2024/0064680 A1, Feb. 22, 2024
Int. Cl. H04W 60/00 (2009.01); H04W 24/04 (2009.01)
CPC H04W 60/00 (2013.01) [H04W 24/04 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of operating a wireless communication network to handle a Session Management Function (SMF) outage in a Tracking Area (TA), the method comprising:
an external SMF that is outside the TA registering with an internal Network Repository Function (NRF) that is inside in the TA;
the internal NRF detecting the SMF outage for an internal SMF inside the TA;
the internal NRF receiving an SMF request from an internal Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) inside the TA, and in response to the SMF outage, transferring an SMF response to the internal AMF that indicates the external SMF; and
the external SMF receiving network signaling from the internal AMF and responsively directing an external User Plane Function (UPF) that is outside the TA to exchange user data with internal wireless access nodes that are inside the TA.