Methods, systems, and computer readable media for communicating and using network function (NF) set identifiers in hierarchical NF repository function (NRF) deployments

Abstract

A method for communicating and using network function (NF) set identifiers in hierarchical NF repository function (NRF) deployments includes storing, by a first regional NRF, NF set identifiers of producer NFs registered with the first regional NRF. The method further includes communicating, by the first regional NRF and to a root NRF, the NF set identifiers of the producer NFs registered with the first regional NRF. The method further includes storing, by the root NRF, the NF set identifiers of the producer NFs registered with the first regional NRF. The method further includes using, by the root NRF, the NF set identifiers of the producer NFs registered with the first regional NRF to perform target regional NRF selection when functioning as an intermediate forwarding NRF for requests from regional NRFs.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.