Methods, systems, and computer readable media for adjusting and using priorities of service/notification request messages at network functions with multiple slice support

A system for adjusting and using priorities of messages at a network function (NF) with multiple network slice support, the system comprising:

• a first NF that supports multiple network slices, the first NF including at least one processor and a memory;
• a network slice priority adjustment rules database embodied in the memory for storing rules specifying network-slice-based priority adjustment parameters;
• and
• a network-slice-adjusted priority determiner/message throttler implemented by the at least one processor for receiving a message from a second NF, determining that a congestion or overload condition exists, and, in response:
• determining network slice information associated with the message;
• determining, using the network slice information and the network slice priority adjustment rules database, a network-slice-adjusted priority value for the message, wherein the network-slice-adjusted priority determiner/message throttler is configured determine the network-slice-adjusted priority value by calculating the network-slice-adjusted priority value using an equation that includes as a parameter a 3gpp-Sbi-Message-Priority value carried in the message or using a default priority value specified in an interface and network slice based priority rule in the database when the 3gpp-Sbi-Message-Priority value is not present in the message, wherein the equation includes as parameters minimum and maximum network-slice-adjusted priority values configured for a network slice associated with the message, and wherein the equation comprises
• A=floor((R/31*(Mx−Mn)))+Mn,
• where A is the network-slice-adjusted priority value, R is the 3gpp-Sbi-Message-Priority value in the message, Mx is the maximum network-slice-adjusted priority value defined for the network slice, and Mn is the minimum network-slice-adjusted priority value defined for the network slice;
• and
• discarding or processing the message based on the network-slice-adjusted priority value for the message.

A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon executable instructions that when executed by a processor of a computer control the computer to perform steps comprising:

• at a first network function (NF) that supports multiple network slices:
• storing a database of rules specifying network-slice-based priority adjustment parameters for network slices;
• receiving a message from a second NF;
• determining that a congestion or overload condition exists, and, in response:
• determining network slice information associated with the message;
• determining, using the network slice information and the database of network-slice-based priority adjustment parameters, a network-slice-adjusted priority for the message, wherein determining the network-slice-adjusted priority includes calculating an adjusted priority value using an equation that includes as a parameter a 3gpp-Sbi-Message-Priority value carried in the message or using a default priority value specified in an interface and network slice-based priority rule in the database when the 3gpp-Sbi-Message-Priority value is not present in the message, wherein the equation includes as parameters minimum and maximum network-slice-adjusted priority values configured for a network slice associated with the message, and wherein the equation comprises
• A=floor((R/31*(Mx−Mn)))+Mn,
• where A is the network-slice-adjusted priority value, R is the 3gpp-Sbi-Message-Priority value in the message, Mx is the maximum network-slice-adjusted priority value defined for the network slice, and Mn is the minimum network-slice-adjusted priority value defined for the network slice;
• and
• discarding or processing the message based on the network-slice-adjusted priority for the message.