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US 12,004,077 B2Granted
Method, device and computer readable medium for service chain
AssigneeNokia Technologies Oy
InventorsZhi Wang, Yigang Cai, Yang Shen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method, device and computer readable medium for service chain is provided. Dynamic service chain is achieved and the service chain request is transmitted from the application. The device determines the service chain based on a profile of the application. Further, implicit service chain subscribing is also achieved. Thus, a more flexible service chain is achieved. Further, management of service chain related to NF service is also achieved.
Claims20
A Network Exposure Function (NEF) device, comprising:
- at least one processor;
- and
- a memory coupled to the at least one processor, the memory storing instructions therein, the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, causing the NEF device to:
- receive, from a communication device, a request for a service chain for an application served by the communication device, the service chain comprising at least one service associated with the application and configured by the NEF device;
- obtain a profile of the service chain, the profile comprising an identity of the application and a list of services for the application;
- and
- determine a target service chain based on the profile and the request.
4 more elements
A communication device, comprising:
- at least one processor;
- and
- a memory coupled to the at least one processor, the memory storing instructions therein, the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, causing the communication device to:
- transmit, to a Network Exposure Function (NEF) device, a request for a service chain for an application served by the communication device, the service chain comprising at least one service associated with the application and configured by the NEF device;
- and
- receive, from the NEF device, a response to the request, the response indicating a target service chain, the target service chain being determined based on a profile and the request, the profile comprising an identity of the application and a list of services for the application.
3 more elements
A Network Repository Function (NRF) device, comprising:
- at least one processor;
- and
- a memory coupled to the at least one processor, the memory storing instructions therein, the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, causing the NRF device to:
- determine whether a profile of a service chain for an application needs to be updated, the profile comprising an identity of the application and a list of services for the application;
- and
- in response to determining that the profile needs to be updated, update the profile based on a predetermined profile template;
- wherein the NRF device is caused to determine whether the profile needs to be updated by:
- determining the profile needs to be updated, in response to at least one of:
- a status change of a service in the service chain, the status change comprising at least one of:
- a registration of the service, an update of the service, a deregistration of the service;
- a status change of the application supported;
- a reception of an update request from a Network Function (NF) Consumer device;
- or
- the predetermined profile template is changed.
11 more elements
A method comprising:
- receiving, at a Network Exposure Function (NEF) device and from a communication device, a request for a service chain for an application served by the communication device, the service chain comprising at least one service associated with the application and configured by the NEF device;
- obtaining a profile of the service chain, the profile comprising an identity of the application and a list of services for the application;
- and
- determining a target service chain based on the profile and the request.
1 more element
A method, comprising:
- transmitting, to a Network Exposure Function (NEF) device, a request for a service chain for an application served by a communication device, the service chain comprising at least one service associated with the application and configured by the NEF device;
- and
- receiving, from the NEF device, a response to the request, the response indicating a target service chain, the target service chain being determined based on a profile and the request, the profile comprising an identity of the application and a list of services for the application.
A method, comprising:
- determining, at a Network Repository Function (NRF) device, whether a profile of a service chain for an application needs to be updated, the profile comprising an identity of the application and a list of services for the application;
- and
- in response to the profile needs to be updated, updating the profile based on a predetermined profile template;
- wherein determining whether the profile needs to be updated comprises:
- determining the profile needs to be updated, in response to at least one of:
- a status change of a service in the service chain, the status change comprising at least one of:
- a registration of the service, an update of the service, a deregistration of the service;
- a status change of the application supported;
- a reception of an update request from a Network Exposure Function (NEF) device;
- or
- the predetermined profile template is changed.
8 more elements
A Network Exposure Function (NEF) apparatus, comprising:
- means for receiving, from a communication apparatus, a request for a service chain for an application served by the communication apparatus, the service chain comprising at least one service associated with the application and configured by the NEF apparatus;
- means for obtaining a profile of the service chain, the profile comprising an identity of the application and a list of services for the application;
- and
- means for determining a target service chain based on the profile and the request.
1 more element
A communication apparatus, comprising:
- means for transmitting, to a Network Exposure Function (NEF)apparatus , a request for a service chain for an application served by the communication apparatus, the service chain comprising at least one service associated with the application and configured by the NEF apparatus;
- and
- means for receiving, from the NEF apparatus, a response to the request, the response indicating a target service chain, the target service chain being determined based on a profile and the request, the profile comprising an identity of the application and a list of services for the application.
A Network Repository Function (NRF) apparatus, comprising:
- means for determining, at the NRF apparatus whether a profile of a service chain for an application needs to be updated, the profile comprising an identity of the application and a list of services for the application;
- and
- means for in response to the profile needs to be updated, updating the profile based on a predetermined profile template.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.