Handling failure of network function instances in a network function set

In a telecommunications network including a peer network function in communication with one or more network function instances of a network function set, a system for handling failure conditions of a network function instance, the system comprising:

• at least one processor;
• memory in electronic communication with the at least one processor;
• and
• instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable by the at least one processor to:
• engage in a session between a peer network function and a first network function instance of a network function set, the session being associated with a session identifier and the network function set including a plurality of network function instances of a similar network function type that share access to session information;
• obtain, from a repository function, a network function profile for the first network function instance, the network function profile including a hashing algorithm associated with determining a network function instance from the plurality of network function instances with which to re-establish the session in the event that the first network function experiences a failure condition;
• determine, by the peer network function, that the first network function instance has experienced a failure condition;
• assign ranges of values to corresponding network function instances from the plurality of network function instances;
• applying, by the peer network function, the hashing algorithm from the network function profile to determine an output having a value associated with a second network function instance from the network function set, wherein determining the second network function instance from the plurality of network function instances is based on the value of the output falling within a range of values from the ranges of values associated with the second network function instance;
• and
• determine the second network function instance from the plurality of network function instances of the network function set with which to re-establish the session based on the output of applying the hashing algorithm to the session identifier.

In a 5G mobile network including a plurality of peer network functions in communication with one or more network function instances from a network function set, a method for handling failure conditions of the one or more network function instances, the method comprising:

• engaging in a session between a first peer network function from the plurality of peer network functions and a first network function instance of a network function set, the session being associated with a session identifier, wherein the network function set includes a plurality of network function instances of a similar network function type that share access to session information;
• obtaining, from a repository function, a network function profile for the first network function instance, the network function profile including a hashing algorithm associated with determining a network function instance from the plurality of network function instances with which to re-establish the session in the event that the first network function experiences a failure condition, wherein the network function profile is distributed to any of the peer network functions from the plurality of peer network functions engaged in the session with the first network function instance;
• determining, by the peer network function, that the first network function instance has experienced a failure condition;
• assigning ranges of values to corresponding network function instances from the plurality of network function instances;
• applying, by the peer network function, the hashing algorithm from the network function profile to determine an output having a value associated with a second network function instance from the network function set, wherein determining the second network function instance from the plurality of network function instances is based on the value of the output falling within a range of values from the ranges of values associated with the second network function instance;
• and
• determining the second network function instance from the plurality of network function instances of the network function set with which to re-establish the session based on the output of applying the hashing algorithm to the session identifier.