Method and apparatus for discovering and chaining network exposure functions
First and second network nodes and methods thereof are provided. The method for the first network node to manage a second network node in a mobile communication system includes receiving, from a plurality of second network nodes, application programming interface (API) information related to each of the plurality of second network nodes, composing a plurality of second network node chainings based on the API information, selecting, when an API request is received from an external server, one of the plurality of second network node chainings for supporting the API request, and transmitting the API request to a second network node included in the selected second network node chaining.
1. A method by a first network node for managing at least one second network node in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:
receiving, from at least one second network node, application programming interface (API) information related with each of the at least one second network node;
transmitting, to the at least one second network node, a response for the API information;
receiving, from an external server, a request to discover an API;
identifying a second network node from the at least one second network node based on the request and the API information of the at least one second network node; and
transmitting, to the external server, a response including API information of a third network node,
wherein a request of the API is transmitted from the external server to the third network node based on the API information of the third network node included in the response, and is forwarded from the third network node to the second network node, and
wherein the second network node provides the API to the external server.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the API information of the at least one second network node comprises at least one of a service API name, a service API type, or an address of the at least one second network node.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising storing the received API information.
4. The method of claim 1 ,
wherein the response for the API information comprises information for identifying an API of each of the at least one second network node,
wherein the third network node is an entry point to a network node chaining and is identified from the at least one second network node, and
wherein the network node chaining comprises the second network node.
5. A first network node for managing at least one second network node in a wireless communication system, the first network node comprising:
a transceiver configured to transmit and receive a signal; and
a controller configured to control to:
receive, from at least one second network node, application programming interface (API) information related with each of the at least one second network node,
transmit, to the at least one second network node, a response for the API information,
receive, from an external server, a request to discover an API,
identify a second network node from the at least one second network node based on the request and the API information of the at least one second network node, and
transmit, to the external server, a response including API information of a third network node,
wherein a request of the API is transmitted from the external server to the third network node based on the API information of the third network node included in the response, and is forwarded from the third network node to the second network node, and
wherein the second network node provides the API to the external server.
6. The first network node of claim 5 , wherein the API information of the at least one second network node comprises at least one of a service API name, a service API type, or an address of the at least one second network node.
7. The first network node of claim 5 , wherein the controller is further configured to store the received API information.
8. The first network node of claim 5 ,
wherein the response for the API information comprises information for identifying an API of each of the at least one second network node,
wherein the third network node is an entry point to a network node chaining and is identified from the at least one second network node, and
wherein the network node chaining comprises the second network node.
9. A method of a second network node in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:
transmitting, to a first network node managing at least one second network node, application programming interface (API) information related with the second network node;
receiving, from the first network node, a response for the API information;
receiving, from a third network node, a request of an API which is transmitted from an external server to the third network node; and
transmitting, to the external server, a service related with the API,
wherein the second network node provides the API to the external server,
wherein the second network node is identified to provide the service related with the API based on a request to discover the API and the API information, the request to discover the API being transmitted from the external server to the first network node, and
wherein a response is transmitted from the first network node to the external server, the response including API information of the third network node, the request of the API being transmitted from the external server to the third network node based on the API information of the third network node.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the API information of the second network node comprises at least one of a service API name, a service API type, or an address of the second network node.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the API information is stored in the first network node.
12. The method of claim 9 ,
wherein the response for the API information comprises information for identifying an API of the second network node,
wherein the third network node is an entry point to a network node chaining and is identified from the at least one second network node, and
wherein the network node chaining comprises the second network node.
13. A second network node in a wireless communication system, the second network node comprising:
a transceiver configured to transmit and receive a signal; and
a controller configured to control to:
transmit, to a first network node managing at least one second network node, application programming interface (API) information related with the second network node,
receive, from the first network node, a response for the API information,
receive, from a third network node, a request of an API which is transmitted from an external server to the third network node, and
transmit, to the external server, a service related with the API,
wherein the second network node provides the API to the external server,
wherein the second network node is identified to provide the service related with the API based on a request to discover the API and the API information, the request to discover the API being transmitted from the external server to the first network node, and
wherein a response is transmitted from the first network node to the external server, the response including API information of the third network node, the request of the API being transmitted from the external server to the third network node based on the API information of the third network node.
14. The second network node of claim 13 , wherein the API information of the second network node comprises at least one of a service API name, a service API type, or an address of the second network node.
15. The second network node of claim 13 , wherein the API information is stored in the first network node.
16. The second network node of claim 13 ,
wherein the response for the API information comprises information for identifying an API of the second network node,
wherein the third network node is an entry point to a network node chaining and is identified from the at least one second network node, and
wherein the network node chaining comprises the second network node.