Methods, systems, and computer readable media for adjusting and using priorities of service/notification request messages at network functions with multiple slice support

A system for adjusting and using priorities of messages at a network function (NF) with multiple network slice support, the system comprising:

• a first NF that supports multiple network slices, the first NF including at least one processor and a memory;
• a network slice priority adjustment rules database embodied in the memory for storing rules specifying network-slice-based priority adjustment parameters, wherein the database of rules includes rules indexed by network slice identifiers and specifying ranges of priority values;
• and
• a network-slice-adjusted priority determiner/message throttler implemented by the at least one processor for receiving a message from a second NF, determining that a congestion or overload condition exists, and, in response:
• determining network slice information associated with the message;
• using the network slice information to identify a matching rule in the database;
• determining, using the network slice information and the network slice priority adjustment rules database, a network-slice-adjusted priority value for the message, wherein determining the network-slice-adjusted priority value includes setting the network-slice-adjusted priority value to a value that is within a range of priority values indicated by the matching rule;
• and
• discarding or processing the message based on the network-slice-adjusted priority value for the message.

A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon executable instructions that when executed by a processor of a computer control the computer to perform steps comprising:

• at a first network function (NF) that supports multiple network slices:
• storing a database of rules specifying network-slice-based priority adjustment parameters for network slices, wherein the database of rules includes rules indexed by network slice identifiers and specifying ranges of priority values;
• receiving a message from a second NF;
• and
• determining that a congestion or overload condition exists, and, in response:
• determining network slice information associated with the message;
• using the network slice information to identify a matching rule in the database;
• determining, using the network slice information and the database of network-slice-based priority adjustment parameters, a network-slice-adjusted priority for the message, wherein determining the network-slice-adjusted priority value includes setting the network-slice-adjusted priority value to a value that is within a range of priority values indicated by the matching rule;
• and
• discarding or processing the message based on the network-slice-adjusted priority for the message.