# US 12,192,878 B2 · Methods, systems, and computer readable media for identifying alternate delivery endpoints for mobile originated data and monitoring reports in a communications network > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,192,878 B2 - Document ID: US12192878B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/488,793 - Filed: 2021-09-29 - Published: 2023-03-30 - Granted: 2025-01-07 - Earliest claimed: 2021-09-29 - Assignees: Oracle International Corporation - Applicants: Oracle International Corporation - Inventors: Rajiv Krishan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12192878B2 ## CPC - H04W 40/34: Modification of an existing route - H04W 40/02: Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract A method for identifying alternate delivery endpoints for mobile originated data and monitoring reports in a communications network includes establishing, by a network exposure function (NEF) in a communications network, priority rules in a priority configuration database that define routing priority indicators corresponding to a plurality of applications functions (AFs) and receiving a service request or notification request message directed to one of the plurality of AFs from a consumer network function (NF) in the communications network. The NEF accesses a context database to validate context information associated with a destination AF belonging to the plurality of AFs. If the destination AF is unavailable or is not in proximity to the NEF, an event notification request message associated with the service request or notification request message is directed to a prioritized AF specified in the priority configuration database, wherein the prioritized AF is a peer of the destination AF. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: establishing, by a network exposure function (NEF) in a communications network, priority rules in a priority configuration database that define routing priority indicators corresponding to a plurality of applications functions (AFs), wherein the routing priority indicators include a priority order of the plurality of AFs, specific to an identity of the NEF, that designate an order in which the NEF attempts to utilize the plurality of AFs for establishing a session; receiving, by the NEF, a service request or notification request message directed to one of the plurality of AFs from a network function (NF) in the communications network; accessing, by the NEF, a context database to validate context information associated with a destination AF belonging to the plurality of AFs; and in response to determining that the destination AF is unavailable or is not in proximity to the NEF, directing, by the NEF, an event notification request message associated with the service request or notification request message to a prioritized AF specified in the priority configuration database, wherein the prioritized AF is a peer of the destination AF. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the NF request message received from the NF is a mobile originated (MO) deliver request message received from a session management function (SMF) in the communications network. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the service request or notification request message received from the NF is a monitoring report message received from a Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) or Unified Data Management (UDM) in the communications network. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the notification request message is directed to the prioritized AF if an entry identifying the prioritized AF in the priority configuration database further includes a parameter indicating an override condition. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the priority configuration database is auto-replicated among a plurality of NEFs in a NF set or NF service set related to the NEF. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 comprising providing, by the NEF, priority binding information associated with the priority rules via request messages directed to a plurality of consumer NFs in the communications network. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein entries of the priority configuration database maps each of a plurality of NEF instances to a plurality of application functions, wherein each application function is identified by a context identifier and a priority identifier. ### Claim 8 A system comprising: at least one processor; a memory; and a network exposure function (NEF) in a communications network that is implemented using the at least one processor and the memory, the NEF configured for: establishing priority rules in a priority configuration database that define routing priority indicators corresponding to a plurality of applications functions (AFs), wherein the routing priority indicators include a priority order of the plurality of AFs, specific to an identity of the NEF, that designate an order in which the NEF attempts to utilize the plurality of AFs for establishing a session; receiving a service request or notification request message directed to one of the plurality of AFs from a consumer network function (NF) in the communications network; accessing a context database to validate context information associated with a destination AF belonging to the plurality of AFs; and in response to determining that the destination AF is unavailable or is not in proximity to the NEF, directing, by the NEF, an event notification request message associated with the service request or notification request message to a prioritized AF specified in the priority configuration database, wherein the prioritized AF is a peer of the destination AF. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8 wherein the NF request message received from the NF is a mobile originated (MO) deliver request message received from a session management function (SMF) in the communications network. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8 wherein the Service request or notification request message received from the NF is a monitoring report request message received from a Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) or Unified Data Management (UDM) in the communications network. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8 wherein the notification request message is directed to the prioritized AF if an entry identifying the prioritized AF in the priority configuration database further includes a parameter indicating an override condition. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8 wherein the priority configuration database is auto-replicated among a plurality of NEFs in a NF set or NF service set related to the NEF. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8 wherein the NEF is further configured for providing priority binding information associated with the priority rules via request messages directed to a plurality of consumer NFs in the communications network. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8 wherein entries of the priority configuration database maps each of a plurality of NEF instances to a plurality of application functions, wherein each application function is identified by a context identifier and a priority identifier. ### Claim 15 A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon executable instructions that when executed by at least one processor of a computer cause the computer to perform steps comprising: establishing, by a network exposure function (NEF) in a communications network, priority rules in a priority configuration database that define routing priority indicators corresponding to a plurality of applications functions (AFs), wherein the routing priority indicators include a priority order of the plurality of AFs, specific to an identity of the NEF, that designate an order in which the NEF attempts to utilize the plurality of AFs for establishing a session; receiving, by the NEF, a service request or notification request message directed to one of the plurality of AFs from a consumer network function (NF) in the communications network; accessing, by the NEF, a context database to validate context information associated with a destination AF belonging to the plurality of AFs; and in response to determining that the destination AF is unavailable or is not in proximity to the NEF, directing, by the NEF, an event notification request message associated with the service request or notification request message to a prioritized AF specified in the priority configuration database, wherein the prioritized AF is a peer of the destination AF. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 wherein the NF request message received from the NF is a mobile originated (MO) deliver request message received from a session management function (SMF) in the communications network. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 wherein the service request or notification request message received from the NF is a monitoring report request message received from a Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) or Unified Data Management (UDM) in the communications network. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 wherein the notification request message is directed to the prioritized AF if an entry identifying the prioritized AF in the priority configuration database further includes a parameter indicating an override condition. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 wherein the priority configuration database is auto-replicated among a plurality of NEFs in a NF set or NF service set related to the NEF. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 comprising providing, by the NEF, priority binding information associated with the priority rules via request messages directed to a plurality of consumer NFs in the communications network.