System and method for managing lookups for network repository functions

A first Network Repository Function (NRF) device, comprising:

• a memory storing instructions;
• and
• a processor configured to execute the instructions to:
• receive a discovery request submitted by a network function instance that is not an NRF, wherein the discovery request includes an HTTP GET message including an information element with a software-defined hop limit value, and wherein the hop limit value is determined based on a number of different NRF tiers in the wireless core network;
• determine if information requested by the discovery request is available at the first NRF device;
• determine if the hop limit value is greater than a stop value, when the information for the discovery request is not available;
• decrement the hop limit value in the discovery request when the information for the discovery request is not available and when the hop-limit value is greater than the stop value;
• forward the discovery request with the decremented hop limit value to a second NRF device;
• and
• send a terminal response with the information to the network function instance when the hop-limit value is not greater than the stop value.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions executable by at least one processor, the computer-readable medium comprising one or more instructions to:

• receive a discovery request submitted by a network function instance that is not a Network Repository Function (NRF), wherein the discovery request includes an HTTP GET message including an information element with a software-defined hop limit value, and wherein the hop limit value is determined based on a number of different NRF tiers in the wireless core network;
• determine if a result for the discovery request is available at a first NRF device;
• determine if the hop limit value is greater than a stop value, when the information for the discovery request is not available;
• decrement the hop limit value in the discovery request when the information for the discovery request is not available and when the hop-limit value is greater than the stop value;
• forward the discovery request with the decremented hop limit value to a second NRF device;
• and
• send a terminal response with the information to the network function instance when the hop limit value is not greater than the stop value.