5G Service-Based Architecture (SBA)

2/25/2020 5G Service-Based Architecture (SBA) - 5G NR - Medium
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5G Service-Based Architecture (SBA)

EventHelix
Oct 20, 2018 · 6 min read
The 5G Core Network has been designed around services that are invoked using a
standard API. On the surface, the 5G architecture looks very different from the 4G EPC
but on close inspection, you can see the evolution from the 4G architecture to the 5G
architecture.
We will look at the forcing driving the evolution of the 5G core (5GC) and look at the
different functions that are defined in the 5G architecture.
Towards the 5G core network architecture

Evolution from 4G EPC
The 5G core has evolved from the 4G EPC in two steps:
Control and User Plane Separation (CUPS) of the 4G EPC
Reorganizing the 4G EPC CUPS functions into services
CUPS
The introduction of control and user plane separation in the 4G EPC is the first step
towards the 5G architecture. The SGW and PGW functions were split into a control and
data plane component.
SGW → SGW-C and SGW-U
PGW → PGW-C and PGW-U
https://medium.com/5g-nr/5g-service-based-architecture-sba-47900b0ded0a 1/14
Reorganization to services
4G EPC to 5GS architecture evolution (Credit: ITU)
As shown in the above figure, the 4G EPC components have been reorganized into
service-oriented functions.
Service-based architecture
Service-based interface (request-reply and subscribe-notify) (Credit: ITU)
Service-based architectures have been in use in the software industry to improve the
modularity of products. A software product can be broken down into communicating
services. With this approach, the developers can mix and match services from different
vendors into a single product.
The Wikipedia article on service-oriented architecture summarizes the concept quite

well:
A service-oriented architecture (SOA) is a style of software design where services are

provided to the other components by application components, through a communication
protocol over a network. The basic principles of service-oriented architecture are
independent of vendors, products and technologies. A service is a discrete unit of
functionality that can be accessed remotely and acted upon and updated independently,
such as retrieving a credit card statement online.
Cloud Computing and Virtualization

Virtualization and cloud computing have resulted in lowering the cost of computing by
pooling resources in shared data centers.
5G core networks can be shrunk in size by using virtualization. Varies components

of the core network can be run as communicating virtual machines.
Moving the control plane of the 5G core network to a cloud provider lowers the
deployment cost.
5G core network architecture

The 5G core is a mesh of interconnected services as shown in the figure below.
5G System Architecture (credit: Cisco)
AMF — Access and Mobility Function

The AMF performs most of the functions that the MME performs in a 4G network.
Terminates the RAN CP interface (N2)
NAS signaling
NAS ciphering and integrity protection
Mobility Management (MM) layer NAS termination
Session Management (SM) layer NAS forwarding
Authenticates UE
Manages the security context
Registration management.
Connection management.
Reachability management.
Mobility Management.
Apply mobility related policies from PCF (e.g. mobility restrictions)
AMF role in 5G standalone registration provides a good overview of the AMF functions.
Click on the diagrams below to learn more.
AMF — Access and Mobility Function Context Diagram
AMF — Access and Mobility Function Sequence Diagram
SMF — Session Management Function
The SMF performs the session management functions that are handled by the 4G
MME, SGW-C, and PGW-C.
Allocates IP addresses to UEs
NAS signaling for session management (SM)
Sends QoS and policy information to RAN via the AMF
Downlink data notification
Select and control UPF for traffic routing. The UPF selection function enables
Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) by selecting a UPF close to the edge of the network.
Acts as the interface for all communication related to offered user plane services.
SMF determines how the policy and charging for these services is applied.
Lawful intercept — control plane
SMF interactions in 5G standalone registration are shown below.
SMF — Session Management Function Interactions
UPF — User Plane Function

The UPF is essentially a fusion of the data plane parts of the SGW and PGW. In the
context of the CUPS architecture:
EPC SGW-U + EPC PGW-U → 5G UPF
The UPF performs the following functions:
Packet routing and forwarding
Packet inspection and QoS handling. The UPF may optionally integrate a Deep
Packet Inspection (DPI) for packet inspection and classification. The following
figure shows the classification and QoS handling at the UPF
UPF and UE level classi cation and marking for QoS Flows (credit: 3GPP TS 23.501)
Connecting to the Internet POP (Point of Presence). The UPF may optionally
integrate the Firewall and Network Address Translation (NAT) functions.
Mobility anchor for Intra RAT and Inter-RAT handovers
Lawful intercept — user plane
Maintains and reports traffic statistics
UPF functions in 5G standalone registration are illustrated in the following sequence

diagram.
UPF — User Plane Function Interactions
PCF — Policy Control Function

The 5G PCF performs the same function as the PCRF in 4G networks.
Provides policy rules for control plane functions. This includes network slicing,
roaming and mobility management.
Accesses subscription information for policy decisions taken by the UDR.
Supports the new 5G QoS policy and charging control functions.
PCF interactions in 5G standalone registration provide an overview of the PCF role in

the 5G core.
PCF — Policy Control Function Interactions
AUSF — Authentication Server Function

The AUSF performs the authentication function of 4G HSS.
Implements the EAP authentication server
Stores keys
AUSF role in 5G standalone registration is shown below.
AUSF — Authentication Server Function Interactions
UDM — Unified Data Management

The UDM performs parts of the 4G HSS function.
Generation of Authentication and Key Agreement (AKA) credentials
User identification
Access authorization
Subscription management
UDM actions in the 5G standalone registration procedure are illustrated below.
UDM — Uni ed Data Management Interactions
AF — Application Function
Performs the same function as the EPC AF.
Application influence on traffic routing
Accessing NEF
Interaction with the policy framework for policy control.
NRF — NF Repository Function
Network Repository Function service registration and discovery (Credit: 3GPP)
Service registration and discovery function so that Network Functions can discover
each other.
Maintains NF profile and available NF instances
NEF — Network Exposure Function

NEF provides a mechanism for securely exposing services and features of the 5G core.
Exposes capabilities and events
Secure provision of information from an external application to 3GPP network
Translation of internal/external information
Control plane parameter provisioning
Packet Flow Description (PFD) management. A PFD is a tuple of protocol, server-

side IP and port number.
NSSF — Network Slice Selection Function
Network Slice Selection Function (Credit: A rmed Networks)
NSSF redirects traffic to a network slice. Network slices may be defined for different
classes of subscribers (see the above figure).
The NSSF performs the following functions:
Selecting of the Network Slice instances to serve the UE
Determining the allowed NSSAI
Determining the AMF set to be used to serve the UE
Learn more
The following video by 3G4G describes in the 5GS service-based architecture.
Advanced: 5G Service Based Architecture (SBA)
Understand the motivation behind the 4G EPC control and user plane separation.
Moving 4G EPC to the Cloud

CUPS — Control and User Plane Separation
medium.com
The system architecture spec builds on what we have learnt here.
3GPP TS 23.501 System Architecture for the 5G System
. . .
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2/25/2020 5G Service-Based Architecture (SBA) - 5G NR - Medium

Towards the 5G core network architecture

Control and User Plane Separation (CUPS) of the 4G EPC

Reorganizing the 4G EPC CUPS functions into services

SGW → SGW-C and SGW-U

PGW → PGW-C and PGW-U

4G EPC to 5GS architecture evolution (Credit: ITU)

Service-based interface (request-reply and subscribe-notify) (Credit: ITU)

The Wikipedia article on service-oriented architecture summarizes the concept quite

A service-oriented architecture (SOA) is a style of software design where services are

Cloud Computing and Virtualization

5G core networks can be shrunk in size by using virtualization. Varies components

5G core network architecture

5G System Architecture (credit: Cisco)

AMF — Access and Mobility Function

Terminates the RAN CP interface (N2)

NAS ciphering and integrity protection

Mobility Management (MM) layer NAS termination

Session Management (SM) layer NAS forwarding

Manages the security context

Apply mobility related policies from PCF (e.g. mobility restrictions)

AMF — Access and Mobility Function Context Diagram

AMF — Access and Mobility Function Sequence Diagram

SMF — Session Management Function

Allocates IP addresses to UEs

NAS signaling for session management (SM)

Sends QoS and policy information to RAN via the AMF

Downlink data notification

Lawful intercept — control plane

SMF interactions in 5G standalone registration are shown below.

SMF — Session Management Function Interactions

UPF — User Plane Function

EPC SGW-U + EPC PGW-U → 5G UPF

The UPF performs the following functions:

Packet routing and forwarding

Mobility anchor for Intra RAT and Inter-RAT handovers

Lawful intercept — user plane

Maintains and reports traffic statistics

UPF functions in 5G standalone registration are illustrated in the following sequence

UPF — User Plane Function Interactions

PCF — Policy Control Function

Accesses subscription information for policy decisions taken by the UDR.

Supports the new 5G QoS policy and charging control functions.

PCF interactions in 5G standalone registration provide an overview of the PCF role in

PCF — Policy Control Function Interactions

AUSF — Authentication Server Function

Implements the EAP authentication server

AUSF role in 5G standalone registration is shown below.

AUSF — Authentication Server Function Interactions

UDM — Unified Data Management

Generation of Authentication and Key Agreement (AKA) credentials

UDM actions in the 5G standalone registration procedure are illustrated below.

UDM — Uni ed Data Management Interactions

Application influence on traffic routing

Interaction with the policy framework for policy control.

NRF — NF Repository Function

Network Repository Function service registration and discovery (Credit: 3GPP)

Maintains NF profile and available NF instances

NEF — Network Exposure Function

Exposes capabilities and events

Secure provision of information from an external application to 3GPP network

Translation of internal/external information

Control plane parameter provisioning