Systems and methods for producer network function discovery in a wireless network based on geographic location

A non-transitory computer-readable medium, storing a plurality of processor-executable instructions to:

• receive a discovery request for a particular type of network function (“NF”), wherein the discovery request is associated with a particular location;
• rank a plurality of instances of the particular type of NF based on the particular location associated with the discovery request and respective locations of the plurality of instances of the particular type of NF;
• select, based on the ranking, a particular instance of the particular type of NF from the plurality of instances of the particular type of NF;
• and
• provide, in response to the discovery request, an identifier of the selected particular instance of the particular type of NF.

A method, comprising:

• receiving a discovery request for a particular type of network function (“NF”), wherein the discovery request is associated with a particular location;
• ranking a plurality of instances of the particular type of NF based on the particular location associated with the discovery request and respective locations with which the plurality of instances of the particular type of NF are associated;
• selecting, based on the ranking, a particular instance of the particular type of NF from the plurality of instances of the particular type of NF;
• and
• providing, in response to the discovery request, an identifier of the selected particular instance of the particular type of NF.