# US 12,603,942 B2 · Static discovery fallback for query-based network function interaction discovery > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,603,942 B2 - Document ID: US12603942B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/749,328 - Filed: 2024-06-20 - Published: 2024-10-10 - Granted: 2026-04-14 - Earliest claimed: 2022-05-27 - Assignees: T-Mobile Innovations LLC - Applicants: T-Mobile Innovations LLC - Inventors: Prannoy Kiran Saride - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12603942B2 ## CPC - H04L 67/51: Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services - G06F 16/90335: {Query processing} - H04L 67/63: Routing a service request depending on the request content or context - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract Systems and methods are provided for an improved method of network function interaction. In order for a network function consumer to interact with a network function producer, the network function consumer utilizes a default query-based discovery process, wherein a component such as a network resource function identifies candidate network function producers. A secondary static configuration is created for use if the primary query-based process is unavailable. Based on a determination that the primary query-based process is unavailable, the network function consumer identifies a network function producer from the static configuration and communicates one or more service requests to the network function producer. Once it is determined that primary query-based discovery is available, the network function consumer reverts to the query-based discovery process for subsequent network function interactions. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for network function interaction, the method comprising: determining that a primary query-based discovery process is unavailable to a network function consumer, the primary query-based discovery process comprising dynamically identifying an available network function producer; querying a static network function producer configuration to identify a candidate network function producer; and communicating a network function service request from the network function consumer to the candidate network function producer. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the primary query-based discovery process comprises using a service communication proxy. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the primary query-based discovery process is unavailable is based on an indication that a link between the network function consumer and a network resource function is disrupted. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the primary query-based discovery process is unavailable is based on a determination that a discovery response from a network resource function has not been received by the network function consumer within a predetermined period of time. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the primary query-based discovery process is unavailable is based on a determination that a network resource function has a greater than predetermined threshold congestion level. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the primary query-based discovery process is unavailable is based on a determination that the network function consumer has received a greater than threshold number of request failures in response to the network discovery request, the request failures comprising a 404 error message, a 503 error message, or a TCP buffer overflow message. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising re-attempting the primary query-based discovery process after a predetermined period of time. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising re-attempting the primary query-based discovery process in response to an indication that the primary query-based discovery process is available to the network function consumer. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the primary query-based discovery process is unavailable to the network function consumer comprises unsuccessfully attempting to communicate with a network resource function using a plurality of routing paths. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the static network function configuration is created based on the one or more network function producers being available to the network resource consumer at a time the network resource consumer is placed in service. ### Claim 11 A system for network function interaction, the system comprising: a network function consumer; a network function producer; and one or more networked computer processing components coupled to at least one memory, the at least one memory being configured to store computer-readable instructions, the computer-readable instructions causing the one or more networked computer processing components to perform a method comprising: determining that a primary query-based discovery process is unavailable to a network function consumer, the primary query-based discovery process comprising dynamically identifying an available network function producer; querying a static network function producer configuration to identify a candidate network function producer; and communicating a network function service request from the network function consumer to the candidate network function producer. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the one or more computer processing components are further configure to, after a predetermined amount of time, re-attempt the primary query-based discovery process with the network resource function. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein said querying occurs in response to a number of request failures between the first network function consumer and a network resource function exceeding a predetermined threshold. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein said querying occurs in response to a determination that each of a first network resource function and a second network resource function are unavailable. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein said querying occurs in response to a determination that each of a first communication path and a second communication path are unavailable. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein said querying occurs in response to a determination that a first network resource function is unavailable. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein said querying occurs in response to a determination that a communication link between the network function consumer and a network resource function is disrupted. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the primary query-based discovery process comprises using a service communication proxy. ### Claim 19 A non-transitory computer readable media having instructions thereon that, when executed by one or more computer processing components, cause the one or more computer processing components to perform a method for network function interaction comprising: determining that a primary query-based discovery process is unavailable to a network function consumer, the primary query-based discovery process comprising dynamically identifying an available network function producer; querying a static network function producer configuration to identify a candidate network function producer; and communicating a network function service request from the network function consumer to the candidate network function producer. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The non-transitory computer readable media of claim 19, wherein the static network function producer configuration is stored at the network function consumer.