Function selection in industrial networks

An apparatus, comprising:

• one or more network interfaces;
• a processor coupled to the one or more network interfaces and configured to execute one or more processes;
• and
• a memory configured to store a process that is executable by the processor, the process when executed configured to:
• associate available 5G functions stored by a network repository function with contextual information, wherein the contextual information maps each of the available 5G functions with a layer of a hierarchical security model topology for an industrial network within which that available 5G function is deployed;
• receive a request from a user equipment endpoint to communicate via the industrial network;
• select a particular user plane function from among the available 5G functions for use by the user equipment endpoint based in part on the layer of the hierarchical security model associated with the particular user plane function;
• and
• cause the user equipment endpoint to communicate via the industrial network using the particular user plane function.

A tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing program instructions that cause a device to execute a process comprising:

• associating, by the device, available 5G functions stored by a network repository function with contextual information, wherein the contextual information maps each of the available 5G functions with a layer of a hierarchical security model topology for an industrial network within which that available 5G function is deployed;
• receiving, at the device, a request from a user equipment endpoint to communicate via the industrial network;
• selecting, by the device, a particular user plane function from among the available 5G functions for use by the user equipment endpoint based in part on the layer of the hierarchical security model associated with the particular user plane function;
• and
• causing, by the device, the user equipment endpoint to communicate via the industrial network using the particular user plane function.