# US 12,015,679 B2 · Methods and apparatuses for network function discovery

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- Number: US 12,015,679 B2
- Document ID: US12015679B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/636,798
- Filed: 2020-08-06
- Published: 2023-06-08
- Granted: 2024-06-18
- Earliest claimed: 2019-08-21
- Assignees: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
- Applicants: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
- Inventors: Yong Yang; Yunjie Lu
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12015679B2

## CPC

- H04W 8/005: {Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals}
- H04L 41/122: of virtualised topologies, e.g. software-defined networks [SDN] or network function virtualisation [NFV]
- H04L 41/40: using virtualisation of network functions or resources, e.g. SDN or NFV entities
- H04L 43/028: by filtering
- H04L 43/0864: Round trip delays
- H04L 43/20: the monitoring system or the monitored elements being virtualised, abstracted or software-defined entities, e.g. SDN or NFV
- H04L 67/51: Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
- H04L 67/02: based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)

## Abstract

A network entity generates a discovery request and transmit the discovery request to a network repository entity, NRE, wherein, advantageously, the discovery request includes a set of query parameters, the set of query parameters comprising a set of candidate network entity identifiers (IDs) comprising at least a first candidate network entity ID (e.g., an1-SMF instance ID), wherein each candidate network entity ID included in the set of candidate network entity IDs identifies a candidate network entity.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method performed by a network entity, the method comprising:
the network entity generating a discovery request, wherein the discovery request comprises a set of query parameters, the set of query parameters comprising a first candidate network entity identifier (ID) that identifies a first candidate network entity and a set of search parameters for use by a network repository entity (NRE) to determine network entities that match one or more of the search parameters, where the first candidate network entity ID is not one of the search parameters and the set of search parameters comprises a first search parameter;
the network entity transmitting the discovery request to the NRE; and
the network entity receiving from the NRE a discovery response responsive to the discovery request, wherein the discovery response comprises a SearchResult data object that comprises: i) a first information element comprising an array of one or more network function (NF) profiles, wherein each NF profile in the array matches at least one of the search parameters and ii) a second information element comprising a match indicator information element comprising a Boolean indicator that indicates whether or not at least one of the one or more NF profiles in the array matches the first search parameter.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein
the set of query parameters further comprises a second candidate network entity ID, and
the second candidate network entity ID is not one of the search parameters.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein
the first candidate network entity ID identifies a first session management function (SMF).

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein
the second candidate network entity ID identifies a second SMF.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein the second SMF is an intermediate SMF (I-SMF).

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the set of query parameters further includes an inclusion indicator value that indicates whether or not a network entity profile corresponding to the first candidate network entity ID should be included in an array of query results even if the first candidate network entity ID does not identify a network entity that matches the search parameters.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein
the set of query parameters includes an array of tuples,
each of the tuples included in the array consists of: i) one of the candidate network entity IDs and ii) and a value indicating whether or not the network entity profile corresponding to the candidate network entity ID included in the tuple should be included in an array of query results even if the candidate network entity ID does not identify a network entity that matches the search parameters.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising network entity receiving from another network entity user equipment (UE) context information for a UE that has initiated a registration procedure and that has a protocol data unit (PDU) session, wherein
the UE context information comprises PDU context information associated with the PDU session, and
the PDU context information comprises a first Session Management Function, SMF, ID identifying an anchor SMF for the PDU session and a second SMF ID identifying an intermediate SMF (I-SMF) for the PDU session.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the network entity is an instance of an Access and Mobility Management Function.

### Claim 10

A method performed by a network repository entity (NRE), the method comprising:
the NRE receiving a discovery request transmitted by a network entity, wherein the received discovery request comprises a set of query parameters, the set of query parameters comprising a first candidate network entity identifier (ID) that identifies a first candidate network entity and a set of search parameters for use by a network repository entity (NRE) to determine network entities that match one or more of the search parameters, where the first candidate network entity ID is not one of the search parameters and the set of search parameters comprises a first search parameter; and
the NRE transmitting to the network entity a discovery response responding to the discovery request, wherein the discovery response comprises a SearchResult data object that comprises: i) a first information element comprising an array of one or more network function (NF) profiles, wherein each NF profile in the array matches at least one of the search parameters and ii) a second information element comprising a match indicator information element comprising a Boolean indicator that indicates whether or not at least one of the one or more NF profiles in the array matches the first search parameter.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein
the set of query parameters further comprises a second candidate network entity ID, and
the second candidate network entity ID is not one of the search parameters.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein
the first candidate network entity ID identifies a first session management function (SMF), and
the second candidate network entity ID identifies an intermediate SMF (I-SMF).

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the set of query parameters further includes an inclusion indicator value that indicates whether or not a network entity profile corresponding to the first candidate network entity ID should be included in an array of query results even if the first candidate network entity ID does not identify a network entity that matches the search parameters.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein
the set of query parameters includes an array of tuples,
each of the tuples included in the array consists of: i) one of the candidate network entity IDs and ii) and a value indicating whether or not the network entity profile corresponding to the candidate network entity ID included in the tuple should be included in an array of query results even if the candidate network entity ID does not identify a network entity that matches the search parameters.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a computer program comprising instructions which when executed by processing circuitry of an apparatus causes the apparatus to perform the method of claim 1.

### Claim 16 (depends on 10)

A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a computer program comprising instructions which when executed by processing circuitry of an apparatus causes the apparatus to perform the method of claim 10.

### Claim 17

A network entity (NE), the network entity comprising:
processing circuitry configured to generate a discovery request, wherein the discovery request comprises a set of query parameters, the set of query parameters comprising a first candidate network entity identifier (ID) that identifies a first candidate network entity and a set of search parameters for use by a network repository entity (NRE) to determine network entities that match one or more of the search parameters, where the first candidate network entity ID is not one of the search parameters and the set of search parameters comprises a first search parameter;
a transmitter for transmitting the discovery request to the NRE; and
a receiver for receiving a response to the discovery request, wherein the response to the discovery request comprises a SearchResult data object that comprises: i) a first information element comprising an array of one or more network function (NF) profiles, wherein each NF profile in the array matches at least one of the search parameters and ii) a second information element comprising a match indicator information element comprising a Boolean indicator that indicates whether or not at least one of the one or more NF profiles in the array matches the first search parameter.

### Claim 18

A network repository entity (NRE), the NRE comprising:
a receiver for receiving a discovery request transmitted by a network entity (NE), wherein the received discovery request comprises a set of query parameters, the set of query parameters comprising a first candidate network entity identifier (ID) that identifies a first candidate network entity and a set of search parameters for use by a network repository entity (NRE) to determine network entities that match one or more of the search parameters, where the first candidate network entity ID is not one of the search parameters and the set of search parameters comprises a first search parameter; and
a transmitter for transmitting a discovery response responding to the discovery request wherein the discovery response comprises a SearchResult data object that comprises: i) a first information element comprising an array of one or more network function (NF) profiles, wherein each NF profile in the array matches at least one of the search parameters and ii) a second information element comprising a match indicator information element comprising a Boolean indicator that indicates whether or not at least one of the one or more NF profiles in the array matches the first search parameter.