1. Oracle Communications Networks Data Analytics Function Solution Guide
  2. Introduction

1 Introduction

This document provides information about the role of Oracle Communications Network Data Analytics Function (OCNWDAF) in 5G Service Based Architecture (SBA) and how to configure and use the OCNWDAF functionality and services.

1.1 Overview

Oracle Communications Network Data Analytics Function (OCNWDAF) is a Network Function in the 5G core network of the 5G Network Architecture.

About Oracle Communications Networks Data Analytics Function

Many Communications Service Providers (CSPs) are deploying analytics tools in their networks. However, the deployment of these tools can be complex due to their inconsistent approaches to collecting (and transmitting) data, and gathering insights on Network Functions using non-standardized proprietary interfaces. Consequently, the level of intelligence that can be gleaned from and applied back to the network and other parts of the business is limited; this impacts the pace at which CSPs can achieve their strategic objectives. With the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) based analytics function designed to provide analytics to drive actional insights, CSPs will have the opportunities to address the challenges.

The Oracle Communications Network Data Analytics Function (OCNWDAF) is a 3GPP defined 5G Network Function (NF) that assists in collecting and analyzing data in a 5G network. The OCNWDAF enables the CSPs to collect and analyze the data in the network through an analytics function. The 5G technology requires prescriptive analytics to drive closed-loop automation and self-healing networks. In a 5G network, the consumers and producers of data are 5G NFs, AFs and OAM. The OCNWDAF broadly supports the following functions:

  • OCNWDAF collects data from Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), Session Management Function (SMF), and Network Repository Function (NRF) in the network. The data is collected directly from the NFs or through the Network Exposure Function (OCNEF).
  • The OCNWDAF is designed to provide analytics information to consumer NFs.

A 5G network contains a vast number of devices and sensors generating an enormous amount of data. The OCNWDAF function allows the CSPs to efficiently monitor, manage, automate, and optimize their network operations by the data collected and analytics generated across the network. The OCNWDAF also helps the CSPs in achieving the operational efficiency and provides an enhanced service experience.

The analytics information provided by the OCNWDAF is either statistical information on past (or current) events or predictive information which can be used to balance the resources on the network. The OCNWDAF can predict the User Equipments (UEs) location and also detect if the UE is in an abnormal location. Based on the analytics information collected, the CSPs can roll out new services or modify the existing services without waiting for a network maintenance window. This ensures significantly fewer chances of the network experiencing downtime.

An OCNWDAF consumer can avail analytics information for different analytic events. Alternatively, the consumers can subscribe or unsubscribe for specific analytics information as a one-time event or periodically get notified when a specifically defined event (for example, a threshold is breached) is detected.

The NRF discovers the OCNWDAF instances for the consumers in the network. The OCNWDAF information can also be locally configured on the consumers. The OCNWDAF selection function in the consumers select an OCNWDAF instance among available OCNWDAF instances. Different OCNWDAF instances present in the 5G network can be configured to provide a specific type of analytics information. This information about the OCNWDAF instance is described in the OCNWDAF profile stored in the NRF. The consumers that need specific analytics types query the NRF and include the Analytics ID based on its required data.

OCNWDAF is a highly scalable and agile 5G Core (5GC) network function. It not only supports the 3GPP recommended functionalities but also offers the openness in integrating with any data source (for example, data lake, common message bus, and so on), publishing analytics reports to any consumer through industry leading messaging frameworks such as Kafka. It has the potential to offer any analytics use case, including non-3GPP use cases that CSPs may require in future. OCNWDAF offers advanced deep learning capabilities such as neural networks and balancing resources versus accuracy with its two-prong ML strategy.

1.2 References

For more information about OCNWDAF, refer to the following documents:

  • Oracle Communications Networks Data Analytics Function User Guide
  • Oracle Communications Networks Data Analytics Function Installation Guide
  • Oracle Communications Networks Data Analytics Function Troubleshooting Guide
  • Oracle Communications Networks Data Analytics Function Disaster Recovery Guide
  • 3GPP Technical Specification 23.288, Architecture enhancements for 5G System (5GS) to support network data analytics services
  • 3GPP Technical Specification 29.520, 5G System Network Data Analytics Services
  • 3GPP Technical Specification 29.571, 5G System Common Data Types for Service Based Interfaces
  • 3GPP Technical Specification 29.508, 5G System Session Management Event Exposure Service
  • 3GPP Technical Specification 29.518, 5G System Access and Mobility Management Services
  • 3GPP Technical Specification 33.521, 5G Security Assurance Specification (SCAS) Network Data Analytics Function (NWDAF)
  • 3GPP Technical Specification 33.926, Security Assurance Specification (SCAS) threats and critical assets in 3GPP network product classes
  • 3GPP Technical Specification 33.117, Catalog of general security assurance requirements
  • 3GPP Technical Specification 23.501, System architecture for the 5G System (5GS)
  • 3GPP Technical Specification 23.502, Procedures for the 5G System (5GS)
  • 3GPP Technical Specification 28.532, Management and orchestration Generic management services
  • 3GPP Technical Specification 28.550, Management and orchestration Performance assurance
  • 3GPP Technical Specification 28.552, Management and orchestration 5G performance measurements
  • 3GPP Technical Specification 28.554, Management and orchestration 5G end to end Key Performance Indicators (KPI)
  • 3GPP Technical Specification 28.662, Telecommunication management; Generic Radio Access Network (RAN) Network Resource Model (NRM) Integration Reference Point (IRP) Information Service (IS)
  • 3GPP Technical Specification 28.623, Telecommunication management Generic Network Resource Model (NRM) Integration Reference Point (IRP) Solution Set (SS) definitions
  • 3GPP Technical Specification 32.404, Telecommunication management Performance Management (PM) Performance measurements, Definitions and template