Core network assisted service discovery

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for integrating NF discovery and application layer service capability discovery in a communications network, such as the 3 GPP NR (e.g., 5G) network.

1 . An apparatus comprising a processor and a memory, the memory storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to perform operations comprising:
 transmitting, to an entity of a core network, a message, the message comprising a request to advertise one or more service capabilities of the apparatus to the core network, the message further comprising an identifier (ID) associated with the apparatus, an identifier associated with each of the one or more service capabilities of the apparatus, and information concerning each of the one or more service capabilities of the apparatus; and   receiving, from the core network entity, a message comprising a response to the request, the response comprising an address within the core network from which the information concerning each of the one or more service capabilities of the apparatus may be accessed.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus recited in  claim 1 , wherein the message comprises a non-access stratum (NAS) message. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus recited in  claim 1 , wherein the information concerning each of the one or more service capabilities comprises one or more of:
 an indication of a type of each of the one or more services capabilities of the apparatus;   an indication of a geographical area in which other apparatuses in communication with the core network are permitted to subscribe to the service capability;   an identifier of a public land mobile network (PLMN) in which the service capability is provided;   an indication of a type of application programming interface supported for the service capability;   an indication of one or more types of other apparatuses that may use the service capability;   an indication of one or more types of other apparatuses that are permitted to discover the service capability;   a list of one or more quality of service (QoS) parameters in the core network for data generated by the service capability;   an indication of a communication protocol by which data of the service capability may be transmitted; and   an indication of a duration in which the service capability is available to other apparatuses.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus recited in  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus comprises one of a user equipment (UE), a Service Capability Server (SCS), or an Application Server (AS). 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus recited in  claim 1 , wherein the computer executable instructions further cause the apparatus to perform operations comprising:
 transmitting, to the core network, a message comprising a request to initiate a registration procedure with the core network, wherein the request includes an indication that the apparatus further requests to perform both service discovery and network function discovery within the core network and provides criteria concerning one or more service capabilities and network functions to be discovered; and   receiving, from the core network, a response to the request for service discovery and network function discovery, the response comprising information concerning any service capability or network function meeting the criteria of the request.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus recited in  claim 5 , wherein the request further includes an identifier associated with the apparatus to enable the core network to determine whether the apparatus is authorized to request the service discovery and network function discovery. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus recited in  claim 5 , wherein the request further includes an indication whether a result of the service discovery will affect operations during the registration process. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus recited in  claim 5 , wherein the request further includes an indication of a scope of the request for service discovery. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus recited in  claim 5 , wherein the request further includes an indication that the apparatus requests to subscribe to a certain service capability within the core network. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus recited in  claim 5 , wherein the registration process is performed in accordance with specifications of 3GPP TS 23.502. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus recited in  claim 1 , wherein the computer executable instructions further cause the apparatus to perform operations comprising:
 transmitting, to the core network, a message comprising a request to establish a packet data unit (PDU) session within the core network, wherein the request includes an indication that the apparatus further requests to perform both service discovery and network function discovery within the core network and provides criteria concerning one or more service capabilities and network functions to be discovered; and   receiving, from the core network, a response to the request for service discovery and network function discovery, the response comprising information concerning any service capability or network function meeting the criteria of the request.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the indication that the apparatus further requests to perform service discovery and network function discovery is provided as a signal on top of a non-access stratum (NAS) mobility management (MM) signal. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus recited in  claim 11 , wherein the request further includes an identifier associated with the apparatus to enable the core network to determine whether the apparatus is authorized to request the service discovery and network function discovery. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus recited in  claim 11 , wherein the request further includes an indication whether a result of the service discovery will affect operations during the session establishment process. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus recited in  claim 11 , wherein the PDU session establishment process is performed in accordance with specifications of 3GPP TS 23.502. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus implementing an entity of a core network, the apparatus comprising a processor and a memory, the memory storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the core network entity to perform operations comprising:
 receiving, from a requesting apparatus in communication with the core network, a message comprising a request to advertise one or more service capabilities of the requesting apparatus to the core network, the message further comprising an identifier (ID) associated with the requesting apparatus, an identifier associated with each of the one or more service capabilities of the requesting apparatus, and information concerning each of the one or more service capabilities of the requesting apparatus;   storing, in the memory of the core network entity, the identifier (ID) associated with the requesting apparatus, the identifier associated with each of the one or more service capabilities of the requesting apparatus, and the information concerning each of the one or more service capabilities of the requesting apparatus;   sending, to the requesting apparatus, a message comprising a response to the request to advertise, the response comprising an address associated with the memory of the core network entity from which the identifiers and information concerning each of the one or more service capabilities of the requesting apparatus may be accessed.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus recited in  claim 16 , wherein the core network entity comprises a network repository function (NRF). 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus recited in  claim 16 , wherein the received message comprises a non-access stratum (NAS) message. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus recited in  claim 16 , wherein the information concerning each of the one or more service capabilities comprises one or more of:
 an indication of a type of each of the one or more services capabilities of the requesting apparatus;   an indication of a geographical area in which other apparatuses in communication with the core network are permitted to subscribe to the service capability;   an identifier of a public land mobile network (PLMN) in which the service capability is provided;   an indication of a type of application programming interface supported for the service capability;   an indication of one or more types of other apparatuses that may use the service capability;   an indication of one or more types of other apparatuses that are permitted to discover the service capability;   a list of one or more quality of service (QoS) parameters in the core network for data generated by the service capability;   an indication of a communication protocol by which data of the service capability may be transmitted; and   an indication of a duration in which the service capability is available to other apparatuses in communication with the core network.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus recited in  claim 16 , wherein the requesting apparatus comprises one of a user equipment (UE), a Service Capability Server (SCS), or an Application Server (AS). 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus recited in  claim 16 , wherein the computer executable instructions further cause the core network entity to perform operations comprising:
 receiving, from an other requesting apparatus, a message comprising a request to initiate a registration procedure with the core network, wherein the request includes an indication that the other requesting apparatus further requests to perform both service discovery and network function discovery within the core network and provides criteria concerning one or more service capabilities and network functions to be discovered;   performing discovery of service capabilities and network functions in accordance with the criteria; and   sending, to the other requesting apparatus, a response to the discovery request, the response comprising information concerning any service capability or network function meeting the criteria of the discovery request.   
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the indication that the other requesting apparatus further requests to perform service discovery and network function discovery is provided as a signal on top of a non-access stratum (NAS) mobility management (MM) signal. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus recited in  claim 16 , wherein the computer executable instructions further cause the core network entity to perform operations comprising:
 receiving, from an other requesting apparatus, a message comprising a request to establish a packet data unit (PDU) session within the core network, wherein the request includes an indication that the other requesting apparatus further requests to perform both service discovery and network function discovery within the core network and provides criteria concerning one or more service capabilities and network functions to be discovered;   performing discovery of service capabilities and network functions in accordance with the criteria; and   sending, to the other requesting apparatus, a response to the discovery request, the response comprising information concerning any service capability or network function meeting the criteria of the discovery request.   
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the indication that the other requesting apparatus further requests to perform service discovery and network function discovery is provided as a signal on top of a non-access stratum (NAS) mobility management (MM) signal. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the response to the discovery request affects a network slice selection process. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the response to the discovery request affects a network slice selection process. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the response to the discovery request affects a network slice selection process. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the response to the discovery request affects a network slice selection process. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the request further includes an indication that the apparatus requests to discovery one of a Service Capability Server (SCS) or an Application Server (AS) within the core network.