Methods, systems, and computer readable media for processing network function (NF) discovery requests at NF repository function (NRF) using prioritized lists of preferred locations

1. A method for processing network function (NF) discovery requests using prioritized lists of preferred locations, the method comprising:

at an NF repository function (NRF) including at least one processor:

maintaining an NF profiles database including NF profiles of producer NFs registered to provide service to other NFs, wherein the NF profiles include configured priority attribute values for the producer NFs;

maintaining a preferred locality attribute mappings database including mappings between preferred locality attributes and prioritized lists of preferred locations;

receiving, from an NF, an NF discovery request including query parameters and a preferred locality attribute;

accessing the preferred locality attribute mappings database using the preferred locality attribute and obtaining a prioritized list of preferred locations corresponding to the preferred locality attribute, wherein the prioritized list includes weight values for the preferred locations, wherein the weight values indicate relative preferences of locations mapped to a preferred locality attribute and target NF type identified in the NF discovery request;

accessing the NF profiles database using the query parameters and identifying NF profiles of producer NFs capable of providing a service indicated by the query parameters;

prioritizing the NF profiles according to the prioritized list of preferred locations, wherein prioritizing the NF profiles includes identifying NF profiles having locality attributes corresponding to preferred locations in the prioritized list and producing updated priority attribute values using the weight values, wherein producing the updated priority attribute values includes:

setting the updated priority attribute values for NF profiles having locality attributes corresponding to values of the weights indicating more preferred locations to be lower than the updated priority attribute values of NF profiles having locality attributes corresponding to values of the weights indicating less preferred locations;

setting the updated priority attribute values for the NF profiles having locality attributes corresponding to the same values of the weights to maintain relative priority relationships specified by the configured priority attribute values in the NF profiles of the producer NFs; and

setting the updated priority attribute values includes applying the same weight value to modify priority attribute values of NF profiles of the producer NFs at the same site with different priority attribute values; and

transmitting an NF discovery response to the NF that transmitted the NF discovery request, wherein the NF discovery response includes the NF profiles with the updated priority attribute values.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein a weight for a preferred location that matches the preferred locality is lower than a weight for a preferred location that does not match the preferred locality.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving the NF discovery request includes receiving an inter-public land mobile network (PLMN) NF discovery request.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving the NF discovery request includes receiving an intra-public land mobile network (PLMN) NF discovery request.

5. A system for processing network function (NF) discovery requests using prioritized lists of preferred locations, the system comprising:

an NF repository function (NRF) including at least one processor and a memory;

an NF profiles database stored in the memory and including NF profiles of producer NFs registered to provide service to other NFs, wherein the NF profiles include configured priority attribute values for the producer NFs;

a preferred locality attribute mappings database stored in the memory and including mappings between preferred locality attributes and prioritized lists of preferred locations; and

an NF discovery request handler executable by the at least one processor for receiving, from an NF, an NF discovery request including query parameters and a preferred locality attribute, accessing the preferred locality attribute mappings database using the preferred locality attribute and obtaining a prioritized list of preferred locations corresponding to the preferred locality attribute, wherein the prioritized list includes weight values for the preferred locations, wherein the weight values indicate relative preferences of locations mapped to a preferred locality attribute and target NF type identified in the NF discovery request, the NF discovery request handler for accessing the NF profiles database using the query parameters and identifying NF profiles of producer NFs capable of providing a service indicated by the query parameters, prioritizing the NF profiles according to the prioritized list of preferred locations, generating an NF discovery response including the NF profiles prioritized according to the prioritized list of preferred locations, and transmitting an NF discovery response to the NF that transmitted the NF discovery request, wherein prioritizing the NF profiles includes identifying NF profiles having locality attributes corresponding to preferred locations in the prioritized list and producing updated priority attribute values using the weight values, wherein producing the updated priority attribute values includes:

setting the updated priority attribute values for NF profiles having locality attributes corresponding to values of the weights indicating more preferred locations to be lower than the updated priority attribute values of NF profiles having locality attributes corresponding to values of the weights indicating less preferred locations;

setting the updated priority attribute values for the NF profiles having locality attributes corresponding to the same values of the weights to maintain relative priority relationships specified by the configured priority attribute values in the NF profiles of the producer NFs; and

setting the updated priority attribute values includes applying the same weight value to modify priority attribute values of NF profiles of the producer NFs at the same site with different priority attribute values.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein a weight for a preferred location that matches the preferred locality is lower than a weight for a preferred location that does not match the preferred locality.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein the NF discovery request comprises an inter-public land mobile network (PLMN) NF discovery request or an intra-PLMN NF discovery request.

8. 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 network function (NF) repository function (NRF):

maintaining an NF profiles database including NF profiles of producer NFs registered to provide service to other NFs, wherein the NF profiles include configured priority attribute values for the producer NFs;

maintaining a preferred locality attribute mappings database including mappings between preferred locality attributes and prioritized lists of preferred locations;

receiving, from an NF, an NF discovery request including query parameters and a preferred locality attribute;

accessing the preferred locality attribute mappings database using the preferred locality attribute and obtaining a prioritized list of preferred locations corresponding to the preferred locality attribute, wherein the prioritized list includes weight values for the preferred locations, wherein the weight values indicate relative preferences of locations mapped to a preferred locality attribute and target NF type identified in the NF discovery request;

accessing the NF profiles database using the query parameters and identifying NF profiles of producer NFs capable of providing a service indicated by the query parameters;

prioritizing the NF profiles according to the prioritized list of preferred locations, wherein prioritizing the NF profiles includes identifying NF profiles having locality attributes corresponding to preferred locations in the prioritized list and producing updated priority attribute values using the weight values, wherein producing the updated priority attribute values includes:

setting the updated priority attribute values for NF profiles having locality attributes corresponding to values of the weights indicating more preferred locations to be lower than the updated priority attribute values of NF profiles having locality attributes corresponding to values of the weights indicating less preferred locations;

setting the updated priority attribute values for the NF profiles having locality attributes corresponding to the same values of the weights to maintain relative priority relationships specified by the configured priority attribute values in the NF profiles of the producer NFs; and

setting the updated priority attribute values includes applying the same weight value to modify priority attribute values of NF profiles of the producer NFs at the same site with different priority attribute values; and

transmitting an NF discovery response to the NF that transmitted the NF discovery request, wherein the NF discovery response includes the NF profiles with the updated priority attribute values.