Granted Patent B2

US 12,317,077 · App. 17/254,497 · Granted May 27, 2025

Inventors: Devaki Chandramouli (Plano, TX); Nagendra S Bykampadi (Bangalore, IN); Thomas Theimer (Baierbrunn, DE)

Assignee: NOKIA SOLUTIONS AND NETWORKS OY

H04W12/068H04L67/51H04W12/08

Abstract

Claims (65)

1. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code;

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least:

receiving, from a requesting service or from a network function, an indication of security credentials for a selected service agent;

transmitting the security credentials to the selected service agent as part of a service request from the requesting service;

receiving, from the network function, security credentials that authorize access to at least two of the plurality of service agents or to each of the plurality of service instances; and

transmitting the security credentials to the requesting service.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform:

receiving a discovery request from the requesting service;

forwarding the received discovery request to the network function;

receiving, from the network function, identities of a plurality of service agents or a plurality of service instances that may fulfil the service request; and

transmitting the received identities to the requesting service.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform:

receiving, from the network function, additional information for selecting a single service agent from the plurality of service agents or receiving additional information for selecting a single service instance from the plurality of service instances; and

transmitting the additional information to the requesting service.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the security credentials comprises respective security credentials for each of the plurality of service agents or each of the plurality of service instances.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform:

receiving, from the selected service agent, a response indicating a service instance to be used for performing the requested service; and

forwarding the received response to the requesting service.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the security credential identifies the selected service agent.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the security credentials identify a particular service instance associated with the selected service agent.

8. A system, comprising:

a first apparatus and a second apparatus, each comprising the apparatus according to claim 1 ;

a requesting service configured to transmit the service request from the first apparatus to the second apparatus;

a third apparatus configured to act as the selected service agent, said third apparatus comprising

at least one additional processor; and

at least one additional memory including additional computer program code;

the at least one additional memory and the additional computer program code configured to, with the at least one additional processor, cause the third apparatus to perform at least:

receiving, from the requesting service agent associated with the requesting service, the request for a service;

selecting a service instance for providing a service to the requesting service from a plurality of service instances; and

forwarding the request to the selected service instance; said system further comprising the plurality of service instances.

9. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code;

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least

receiving a discovery request from a requesting service;

forwarding the received discovery request to a network function;

receiving, from the network function, identities of a plurality of service agents or a plurality of service instances that may fulfil a service request;

transmitting the received identities to the requesting service;

receiving, from the network function, security credentials that authorize access to at least two of the plurality of service agents or to each of the plurality of service instances; and

transmitting the security credentials to the requesting service.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform:

receiving, from the network function, additional information for selecting a single service agent from the plurality of service agents or receiving additional information for selecting a single service instance from the plurality of service instances; and

transmitting the additional information to the requesting service.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the security credentials comprises respective security credentials for each of the plurality of service agents or each of the plurality of service instances.

12. A computer implemented method, using at least

at least one processor; and

at least one memory;

the method comprising:

receiving, from a requesting service or from a network function, an indication of security credentials for a selected service agent;

transmitting the security credentials to the selected service agent as part of a service request from the requesting service;

receiving, from the network function, security credentials that authorize access to at least two of the plurality of service agents or to each of the plurality of service instances; and

transmitting the security credentials to the requesting service.

13. A computer program embodied on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, said computer program comprising computer code that, when executed by at least one processor of an apparatus, causes the apparatus to perform the steps of claim 12 .

14. A computer implemented method, using at least

at least one processor; and

at least one memory;

the method comprising:

receiving a discovery request from a requesting service;

forwarding the received discovery request to a network function;

receiving, from the network function, identities of a plurality of service agents or a plurality of service instances that may fulfil a service request;

transmitting the received identities to the requesting service;

receiving, from the network function, security credentials that authorize access to at least two of the plurality of service agents or to each of the plurality of service instances; and

transmitting the security credentials to the requesting service.

Assignments (1)

Priority Claims (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (21)