Subscriber management with a stateless network architecture in a fifth generation (5G) network

One or more network nodes comprising an access and mobility management function (AMF) configured to manage communications associated with a User Equipment (UE) operative in a Next Generation (NG) Radio Access Network (RAN) (NG-RAN) and to communicate signaling messages with the NG-RAN according to an NG Application Protocol (NGAP), the one or more network nodes comprising:

• a server selector;
• a set of AMF servers;
• the server selector being configured to receive a registration request message which includes a Subscription Concealed Identity (SUCI) associated with the UE and identify, from the set of AMF servers, an initial AMF server for storing a context of a subscribers session of the UE;
• the initial AMF server being configured to allocate a first identifier for NGAP messaging associated with the UE, the first identifier having embedded therein a first value derived based on an initial server ID of the initial AMF server;
• the initial AMF server being configured to receive a Subscription Permanent Identity (SUPI) associated with the UE;
• the initial AMF server being configured to identify, from the set of AMF servers, an anchor AMF server based on the SUPI of the UE;
• the initial AMF server being configured to forward and store at the anchor AMF server the context of the subscriber session of the UE;
• and
• the anchor AMF server being configured to allocate a second identifier for NGAP messages associated with the UE, the second identifier having embedded therein a second value derived based on an anchor server ID of the anchor AMF server.

A method comprising:

• at one or more network nodes comprising an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) for managing communications associated with a User Equipment (UE) operative in a Next Generation (NG) Radio Access Network (RAN) (NG-RAN), and for communicating signaling messages with the NG-RAN according to an NG Application Protocol (NGAP),
• identifying, from a set of AMF servers, an anchor AMF server based on a Subscription Permanent Identity (SUPI) of the UE;
• allocating an identifier for NGAP messages associated with the UE, including at least embedding in the identifier a first value that is derived based on an anchor server ID of the anchor AMF server;
• in response to receiving, over an NG interface, an NGAP message which includes the identifier, selecting from the set of AMF servers the anchor AMF server to which to forward the NGAP message for processing, based on the first value extracted from the identifier in the NGAP message;
• and
• in response to receiving, over an interface different from the NG interface, a signaling message which includes the SUPI of the UE, selecting from the set of AMF servers the anchor AMF server to which to forward the received signaling message for processing, based on a second value that is derived based on the SUPI in the signaling message,
• wherein the interface different from the NG interface comprises a Service Based Interface (SBI) or an N11 interface.