Methods and apparatus for managing RAN nodes in a communication network

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a pre-5th-generation (5G) or 5G communication system to be provided for supporting higher data rates Beyond 4th-generation (4G) communication system, such as long term evolution (LTE). A method and an apparatus for managing radio access network (RAN) nodes in a communication network are provided. The method includes receiving tracking area identity (TAI) indicating locality, from added RAN nodes, determining whether locality of RAN nodes corresponds to primary or secondary serving localities of access and mobility management function (AMF), based on pre-stored TAI list, identifying relative AMF capacity (RAC) value for RAN nodes and transmitting RAC value to RAN nodes. The disclosure relates to method and AMF for notifying status of AMFs to RAN nodes, comprising transmitting request including identifier of AMF set, to network repository function (NRF) server, receiving notification indicating status of other AMFs in AMF set, from NRF server and notifying status of at least one AMF from other AMFs to RAN nodes associated with at least one AMF, when status is one of pre-defined status.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.