Abstract: There is provided a method for handling a service request. The method is performed by a selection node. The method comprises initiating transmission of a first message towards at least a first Network Function (NF) node via a first Service Communication Proxy (SCP) node, wherein the first message is a status request. The method further comprises receiving, from the first SCP node, a second message indicating the status of the first NF node. The method also comprises determining whether or not to initiate transmission of a first request, for the provision of a first service, via the first SCP node to the first NF node, the determination of whether or not to initiate transmission of the first request to the first NF node being made based on the status of the first NF node indicated by the second message.

Abstract: There is provided a method handling a service request. The method is performed by a first service communication proxy (SCP) node that is configured to operate as an SCP between a first network function (NF) node of a service consumer and a second NF node of a service producer. If a first request, for the second NF node to use a resource to provide a first service requested by the first NF node, cannot be fulfilled, transmission of a second request is initiated (102) towards a third NF node of the service producer. In response to receiving a response to the second request, transmission of a response to the first request is initiated (104) towards the first NF node. The response comprises information indicative of a location of the resource in the third NF node to be used when a second service is subsequently requested by the first NF node.

Abstract: Methods for handling a service request are provided. A method allows a network function node of a service consumer to connect to a NF node of a service producer via a Service Communication Proxy node. The method comprises initiating transmission (202) to the SCP node of a first request. The first request comprises discovery parameters and access token request parameters that facilitate obtaining and storing of an access token by the SCP node. The discovery parameters facilitate selection of a second NF node of a service producer to provide the first service and forwarding the request to the second NF node. The method comprises receiving (206) a response from the second NF node, and initiating transmission (208) of a second request to the SCP node that is a subsequent request for the second NF node to provide the first service. The second request comprises the access token request parameters.

Abstract: There is provided a method for operating a first network node, which is performed by the first network node. The first network node is a first service communication proxy (SCP) node that is configured to operate as an SCP between a first network function (NF) node of a service consumer and a second NF node of a service producer in the network or the first network node is the second NF node. In response to receiving a first request transmitted towards the second NF node via the first SCP node, information indicative of a functionality supported by the first NF node is acquired. The first request is for the second NF node to provide a first service requested by the first NF node. The first network node operates based on the functionality supported by the first NF node.

Abstract: A method of discovering services provided by a network function, NF, in a Service Based Architecture, SBA, based telecommunication network, wherein said network function is registered, in a Network Repository Function, NRF, comprised by said telecommunication network, using a service name, a service address and a selection rule, wherein said selection rule defines a further service address and a precondition for applying said selection rule, said method comprising the steps of receiving, by said NRF, a discovery request, from a Network Function, NF, consumer, wherein said discovery request comprises said service name, determining, by said NRF, that said selection rule applies by determining that said precondition is met based on said received discovery request and transmitting, by said NRF, to said NF consumer, a discovery response, wherein said discovery response comprises said further service address.

Abstract: There is provided a method for handling a service request. The method is performed by a first service communication proxy (SCP) node. In response to receiving a first request from a first Network Function (NF) node for a further NF node to provide a first service, the first SCP node selects (102) a second NF node to provide the first service and stores (104) an identifier of the second NF node. The first SCP node also initiates transmission (106) towards the second NF node of the first request. In response to receiving, from the second NF node, a first response, the first SCP node stores (108) location information of the second NF node. The location information of the second NF node is stored in association with the identifier of the second NF node. The first SCP node also initiates transmission (110) of the first response towards the first NF node.

Abstract: A method of and a device for operating a service discovery and selection function in a telecommunications system, wherein the service discovery and selection function registers a service profile of a service provided by at least one service producer of the telecommunications system. The service profile among others includes consistency group information and proximity information. The consistency group information identifies instances of the service sharing a same state and the proximity information identifies deployment of the instances in the telecommunications system. The service discovery and selection function, from the service profile, based on service selection criteria, selects a single service instance of the service for a service consumer of the telecommunications system requesting the service, and identifies the selected service instance to the service consumer.

Abstract: The present invention faces the issues of re-selection of another NF Service instance (103, 201) for a subsequent request (S-520, S-535) with a same data consistency (Consistency 1) as a previously selected NF Service instance (101). To solve this issue, the present invention provides for identifying at configuration, based on the deployment and on the Storage solution for the Session/context data, which instances (101, 103, 201) of the same service type have access with strong consistency to the same data, and provide this information to the consumer (40), so it is allowed to prioritize selection of an alternative NF service instance that supports strong consistency, whenever possible.

Abstract: In an example aspect, a method for service registration in a communications network is provided. The method comprises receiving a service registration request, the request identifying a network function to provide a service, a type of the service, and a version of the service, and storing information in a repository, the information identifying the network function, the type of the service and the version of the service.

Abstract: A method for a service consumer entity to check the health status of a service producer entity, including determining the execution or connectivity health status of the service producer entity and transmitting to a service discovery entity the health status of the service producer entity. The health status can be determined using a health-check service exposed by the service producer entity or performing network-level reachability test mechanisms. The method further includes receiving at the service consumer entity from a service discovery entity a request to check the health status of the service producer entity, for example using a service exposed by the service consumer entity to provide the health status of a service producer entity.

Abstract: There is provided a method for handling a service request. The method is performed by a first service communication proxy (SCP) node. If no positive response is received from a second network function (NF) node of a service producer to a first request transmitted towards the second NF node via the first SCP node, where the first request is for the second NF node to execute a service requested by a first NF node of a service consumer, transmission of the first request is initiated towards a third NF node of a service producer via a second SCP node for the third NF node to execute the service. The second SCP node is a different SCP node to the first SCP node.

Abstract: There is provided a method for handling a service request. The method is performed by a first service communication proxy (SCP) node. If no response is received from a second network function (NF) node of a service producer to a first request transmitted towards the second NF node via the first SCP node, where the first request is for the second NF node to execute a service requested by a first NF node of a service consumer, transmission of information is initiated towards the first NF node. The information is indicative that no response is received from the second NF node to the first request.

Abstract: A method for managing storage resources in a network system is described. The method includes registering, by a storage resource controller, with a network repository function; receiving, by the storage resource controller, an operation request from a consumer service; selecting, by the storage resource controller, a resource management instance from a plurality of resource management instances managed by the storage resource controller for assignment to the consumer service; forwarding, by the storage resource controller, the operation request to the selected resource management instance; receiving, by the storage resource controller, an operation response from the selected resource management instance; and forwarding, by the storage resource controller, the operation response to the consumer service.

Abstract: In an example aspect, a method for service registration in a communications network is provided. The method comprises receiving a service registration request, the request identifying a network function to provide a service, a type of the service, and a version of the service, and storing information in a repository, the information identifying the network function, the type of the service and the version of the service.

Abstract: A method performed by a function in a network node in a telecommunications network having at least one service communication proxy, SCP, deployed between a first network node and a second network node. The method includes receiving a request for routing information to signal a message from the first network node to the second network node. The method further includes responsive to the request from the first network node, providing a response to a network node that sent the request wherein the response identifies at least a portion of a routing path for the message based on a routing path configuration.

Abstract: A method of executing a service for a service consumer, said service consumer being registered in a home telecommunication network and currently residing in a visited telecommunication network, said method comprising the steps of retrieving a list of available services within the home telecommunication network that said service consumer is allowed to access, wherein said SDVN function and said home NRF both reside in said home telecommunication network, receiving a service operation message requesting an operation execution within a particular service for said service consumer in said visited telecommunication network, determining that said home network is able to provide for said requested particular service based on said retrieved list of available service, and selecting one or more service instances for executing said operation within said particular service for said service consumer.

Abstract: A network function in a telecommunications network is configured for storing information identifying a User Plane Function associated with a communication session. The communication session may be indicated by information identifying the relevant user. A network analytic function can use this stored information to identify the User Plane Function associated with a communication session, and can then subscribe to an event exposure service of the User Plane Function to receive notification about events associated with that communication session. In addition, the network analytic function can subscribe to the network node, in order to be informed about any change to the User Plane Function that is associated with the communication session.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to methods and apparatus for obtaining and/or providing Home Subscriber Service, HSS, information. A method in a first service based architecture, SBI, capable Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem, IMS, entity includes: transmitting a discovery request to a network repository function, NRF; receiving a response comprising HSS information from the NRF; and transmitting at least a portion of the HSS information to a second SBI capable IMS entity.

Abstract: A redirect server is configured in a service-based architecture, SBA, domain of a wireless communication network. The redirect server may receive configuration signaling indicating that a location of a resource or service in the SBA domain has changed from an old location to a new location. The redirect server receives, from a requestor in the SBA domain, a request that targets the old location of the resource or service in the SBA domain. The redirect, responsive to the request, transmits, from the redirect server to the requestor, a response that redirects the requestor to the new location of the resource or service in the SBA domain.

Abstract: The present invention faces the issues of re-selection of another NF Service instance (103, 201) for a subsequent request (S-520, S-535) with a same data consistency (Consistency 1) as a previously selected NF Service instance (101). To solve this issue, the present invention provides for identifying at configuration, based on the deployment and on the Storage solution for the Session/context data, which instances (101, 103, 201) of the same service type have access with strong consistency to the same data, and provide this information to the consumer (40), so it is allowed to prioritize selection of an alternative NF service instance that supports strong consistency, whenever possible.