Apparatus, methods, and computer programs
AssigneeNokia Technologies Oy
InventorJens GEBERT
Life of this patent
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Abstract
There is provided a method for, a computer program for, an apparatus for a network repository function, for causing the following operations to be performed: receiving, from a first network function, a first indication of whether the first network function is located in a radio access network; and in response to receiving a request for information about the first network function from a second network function, signalling to the second network function a second indication of whether the first network function is located in the radio access network.
Claims16
1) An apparatus for a network repository function, the apparatus comprising:
- at least one processor;
- and
- at least one memory comprising code that, when executed by the at least one processor, causes the apparatus to:
- receive, from a first network function, a first indication of whether the first network function is located in a radio access network;
- and
- in response to receiving a request for information about the first network function from a second network function, signalling to the second network function a second indication of whether the first network function is located in the radio access network.
3) An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the first indication is signalled with at least one of:
- a property of a radio link in the radio access network through which the first network function is reachable, an indication of a radio access network node in which the first network function is located, an indication of a path of network node hops for signalling the first network function, and/or an indication of an area to which the first network function is able to provide services.
4) An apparatus for a second network function, the apparatus comprising:
- at least one processor;
- and
- at least one memory comprising code that, when executed by the at least one processor, causes the apparatus to:
- signal, to a network repository function, a request for information about a first network function;
- in response to said signalling, receiving, from the network repository function, a second indication of whether the first network function is located in the radio access network;
- and
- signal, to the first network function, a request for service in response to the second indication.
5) An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the second indication is signalled with a fourth indication of whether the first network function is mobile.
6) An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the second indication is signalled with at least one of:
- a property of a radio link in the radio access network through which the first network function is reachable, an indication of a radio access network node in which the first network function is located, an indication of a path of network node hops for signalling the first network function, and/or an indication of an area to which the first network function is able to provide services.
7) An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the request for information comprises a discovery request for a network function that is local to a service consumer.
8) An apparatus for a first network function, the apparatus comprising:
- at least one processor;
- and
- at least one memory comprising code that, when executed by the at least one processor, causes the apparatus to:
- signal, to a network repository function, a first indication of whether the first network function is located in a radio access network.
11) A method for an apparatus for a network repository function, the method comprising:
- receiving, from a first network function, a first indication of whether the first network function is located in a radio access network;
- and
- in response to receiving a request for information about the first network function from a second network function, signalling to the second network function a second indication of whether the first network function is located in the radio access network.
12) A method for an apparatus for a second network function, the method comprising:
- signalling, to a network repository function, a request for information about a first network function;
- in response to said signalling, receiving, from the network repository function, a second indication of whether the first network function is located in the radio access network;
- and
- signal, to the first network function, a request for service in response to the second indication.
13) A method for an apparatus for a first network function, the method comprising:
- signalling, to a network repository function, a first indication of whether the first network function is located in a radio access network.
14) A computer program product that, when run on an apparatus for a network repository function, causes the apparatus to perform:
- receiving, from a first network function, a first indication of whether the first network function is located in a radio access network;
- and
- in response to receiving a request for information about the first network function from a second network function, signalling to the second network function a second indication of whether the first network function is located in the radio access network.
15) A computer program product that, when run on an apparatus for a second network function, causes the apparatus to perform:
- signalling, to a network repository function, a request for information about a first network function;
- in response to said signalling, receiving, from the network repository function, a second indication of whether the first network function is located in the radio access network;
- and
- signal, to the first network function, a request for service in response to the second indication.
16) A computer program product that, when run on an apparatus for a first network function, causes the apparatus to perform:
- signalling, to a network repository function, a first indication of whether the first network function is located in a radio access network.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.