Method and device for terminal calling edge capabilities

Abstract

This invention provides a method and apparatus for a terminal to invoke edge capabilities, belonging to the field of mobile edge computing technology. The method, executed by an edge computing (EC) dispatch center, includes receiving a terminal domain name resolution request from a local domain name system (LDNS); selecting the application programming interface (API) gateway address of the optimal capability node based on the user plane function (UPF) address information and capability domain name carried in an extension field of the domain name resolution request; and invoking the API to send a diversion policy, including the target UPF identifier, to a network capability exposure platform. The technical solution of this invention enables mobile terminals to invoke edge capabilities.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of mobile edge computing technology, and in particular to a method and device for a terminal to call edge capabilities. Background Art

[0002] At present, with the development of science and technology, users have increasingly higher demands for communication service processing and transmission speed, especially for the fifth-generation mobile communication technology (5-Generation, 5G) mobile communication network, the processing speed requirements will be even higher. Mobile edge computing can use mobile access networks to provide computing, storage, processing and other capabilities nearby to reduce latency, but how to schedule mobile terminals to the optimal mobile edge computing (MEC) node is an urgent problem that needs to be solved. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a method and device for a terminal to call edge capabilities, which can enable a mobile terminal to call edge capabilities.

[0004] To solve the above technical problems, the embodiments of the present invention provide the following technical solutions:

[0005] On the one hand, a method for a terminal to call edge capabilities is provided, which is executed by an edge computing EC dispatch center, and the method includes:

[0006] Receive the domain name resolution request of the terminal sent by the local domain name system LDNS, and select the application programming interface API gateway address where the optimal capability node is located according to the user plane function UPF address information and capability domain name carried in the extension field of the domain name resolution request;

[0007] Call the API interface to send the diversion strategy to the network capability exposure platform, which carries the target UPF identifier.

[0008] In some embodiments, the domain name resolution request is obtained by LDNS filling the public network address of UPF into the extension field after receiving the domain name resolution request of the terminal forwarded by UPF.

[0009] In some embodiments, the domain name of the EC dispatch center is sent from the source DNS to the LDNS.

[0010] In some embodiments, after calling the API interface to send the diversion policy to the network capability exposure platform, the method further includes:

[0011] Receive a call success response sent by the session management function SMF, where the call success response is sent after the SMF receives the diversion policy sent by the network capability exposure platform and completes the diversion policy configuration of the API gateway on the target UPF;

[0012] The IP address of the capability node API gateway is sent to the terminal through LDNS.

[0013] An embodiment of the present invention further provides a method for a terminal to call an edge capability, which is executed by a session management function SMF. The method includes:

[0014] Receive the diversion policy sent by the network capability exposure platform, which carries the target UPF identifier and API gateway address;

[0015] Complete the API gateway diversion strategy configuration on the target UPF.

[0016] In some embodiments, after completing the API gateway diversion strategy configuration on the target UPF, the method further includes:

[0017] Send a successful call response to the edge computing EC dispatch center.

[0018] The embodiment of the present invention also provides a device for a terminal to call edge capabilities, which is applied to an edge computing EC dispatch center and includes a transceiver and a processor.

[0019] The transceiver is used to receive a domain name resolution request of a terminal sent by a local domain name system LDNS;

[0020] The processor is configured to select an application programming interface API gateway address where the optimal capability node is located according to the user plane function UPF address information and capability domain name carried in the extension field of the domain name resolution request;

[0021] The transceiver is further configured to call an API interface to send a diversion strategy to the network capability exposure platform, which carries a target UPF identifier.

[0022] In some embodiments, the domain name resolution request is obtained by LDNS filling the public network address of UPF into the extension field after receiving the domain name resolution request of the terminal forwarded by UPF.

[0023] In some embodiments, the domain name of the EC dispatch center is sent from the source DNS to the LDNS.

[0024] In some embodiments, the transceiver is also used to receive a call success response sent by the session management function SMF, and the call success response is that the SMF receives the diversion policy sent by the network capability exposure platform, and sends it after completing the diversion policy configuration of the API gateway on the target UPF; and sends the IP address of the capability node API gateway to the terminal through LDNS.

[0025] The embodiment of the present invention also provides a device for a terminal to call edge capabilities, using a session management function SMF, including a transceiver and a processor.

[0026] The transceiver is used to receive the diversion strategy sent by the network capability exposure platform, which carries the target UPF identifier and API gateway address;

[0027] The processor is used to complete the diversion strategy configuration of the API gateway on the target UPF.

[0028] In some embodiments, the transceiver is further used to send a call success response to the edge computing EC dispatch center.

[0029] An embodiment of the present invention also provides a device for a terminal to call edge capabilities, comprising a memory, a processor, and a computer program stored in the memory and executable on the processor; when the processor executes the program, the method for a terminal to call edge capabilities as described above is implemented.

[0030] In some embodiments, the device for the terminal to call edge capabilities is applied to the edge computing EC scheduling center for execution, and the processor is used to receive the domain name resolution request of the terminal sent by the local domain name system LDNS, and select the application programming interface API gateway address where the optimal capability node is located according to the user plane function UPF address information and capability domain name carried in the extension field of the domain name resolution request; call the API interface to send a diversion strategy to the network capability exposure platform, which carries the target UPF identifier.

[0031] In some embodiments, the domain name resolution request is obtained by LDNS filling the public network address of UPF into the extension field after receiving the domain name resolution request of the terminal forwarded by UPF.

[0032] In some embodiments, the domain name of the EC dispatch center is sent from the source DNS to the LDNS.

[0033] In some embodiments, the processor is also used to receive a call success response sent by the session management function SMF, and the call success response is that the SMF receives the diversion policy sent by the network capability exposure platform, and sends it after completing the diversion policy configuration of the API gateway on the target UPF; and sends the IP address of the capability node API gateway to the terminal through LDNS.

[0034] In some embodiments, the device for the terminal to call edge capabilities is applied to the session management function SMF, and the processor is used to receive the diversion policy sent by the network capability exposure platform, which carries the target UPF identifier and API gateway address; and complete the diversion policy configuration of the API gateway on the target UPF.

[0035] In some embodiments, the processor is further configured to send a call success response to the edge computing EC dispatch center.

[0036] An embodiment of the present invention further provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program, which, when executed by a processor, implements the steps in the method for a terminal to call edge capabilities as described above.

[0037] The embodiments of the present invention have the following beneficial effects:

[0038] In the above scheme, the EC dispatch center receives the domain name resolution request of the terminal sent by LDNS, selects the optimal capability node according to the domain name resolution request, and completes the diversion strategy configuration of the API gateway on the target UPF through SMF, establishes the diversion relationship between the UPF accessed by the terminal and the capability node, and realizes the mobile terminal calling edge capabilities. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0039] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall architecture of edge computing in related technologies;

[0040] Figure 2 and Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the architecture for opening up network capabilities;

[0041] Figure 4 Schematic diagram of deploying industry capability APIs for edge computing nodes;

[0042] Figure 5 This is the edge computing node view;

[0043] Figure 6 and Figure 7 A schematic diagram of a flow chart of a method for a terminal to call edge capabilities according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0044] Figure 8 This is a structural diagram of an apparatus for invoking edge capabilities by a terminal on the EC dispatch center side according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0045] Figure 9 A schematic diagram of the structure of an apparatus for invoking edge capabilities on the SMF side of a terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0046] Figure 10 A schematic diagram of the composition of an apparatus for a terminal to call edge capabilities according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0047] In order to make the technical problems, technical solutions and advantages to be solved by the embodiments of the present invention clearer, they will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0048] Edge computing deploys basic computing resources such as computing and storage at the edge of the network, close to data sources or users, to provide cloud services for edge applications, thereby improving user experience. The edge gateway (UPF) offloads traffic to the edge computing platform (ECP), which is the core mechanism for implementing edge computing in the network.

[0049] like Figure 1 The following is a schematic diagram of the overall architecture of edge computing in related technologies, such as Figure 1 As shown in the figure, the entire edge computing system consists of the edge computing operation platform ECM (including the first-level ECM located nationwide and the second-level ECM in the provincial center), the edge computing PaaS platform ECP, the edge application ECA, and the edge virtual layer infrastructure ECI. Among them, BOSS is the business operation support system, OSS is the operation support system, MEO is the mobile edge orchestrator, OMC is, MEPM-v is the mobile edge platform manager, VNFM is the virtual network function management, G-VNFM is the general virtual network function management, NEF is the network exposure function, AMF is the access and mobility management function, PCF is the policy control function, SMF is the session management function, UDM is the unified data management platform, and UDR is the unified data storage.

[0050] The edge computing platform (ECP) supports the flexible deployment of operators' own businesses or third-party applications at the edge of the mobile network. ECP is hosted by the edge computing virtualization infrastructure (ECI), providing an operating environment and services for various edge computing applications (ECA) running on it, and is managed by the edge computing operation platform (ECM). 5G networks can open network capabilities to the edge computing platform through capability exposure interfaces based on application programming interface (API) calls.

[0051] ECP can provide APP operating environment and call edge computing services. Its core function is API gateway.

[0052] Network capability exposure is achieved through a three-layer architecture: capability exposure layer (network capability exposure platform), capability access layer (capability network element access module NEF), and capability network element layer (5GC). After the introduction of edge computing, the distributed deployment of edge computing node capabilities and the collaborative architecture of the large network capability exposure platform are as follows: Figure 2 shown.

[0053] like Figure 3 As shown in the figure, the large network capabilities and edge capabilities are registered with the network capability opening platform through the capability network element access module NEF / SCEF and the edge computing operation platform ECM respectively, and are opened to the entire network application through the network capability opening platform.

[0054] The capabilities that the big network can open to the outside world include pipeline capabilities, message capabilities, network diversion and slicing capabilities, etc. Edge computing capabilities include edge network capabilities (such as UE location, UE identification, bandwidth management) and industry capabilities, all of which are exposed in the form of APIs on the API gateway.

[0055] The industry and network capabilities deployed at edge nodes can not only be opened to large-scale network applications through the capability exposure platform and called by large-scale network applications, but can also be opened to user terminals.

[0056] There is currently no complete solution for how to address and schedule the edge capabilities open to user terminals. Figure 4 As shown, each edge computing node will deploy an industry capability API, and the same capability API has a unified domain name for the entire network and can be deployed on multiple edge nodes. When a user triggers the terminal client APP to call a certain industry capability, how to address the capability is currently not a complete solution. Among them, ULCL is the uplink classifier.

[0057] The embodiments of the present invention provide a method and apparatus for a terminal to call edge capabilities, which can enable a mobile terminal to call edge capabilities.

[0058] An embodiment of the present invention provides a method for a terminal to call edge capabilities, which is executed by an edge computing EC scheduling center. The method includes:

[0059] Receive the domain name resolution request of the terminal sent by the local domain name system LDNS, and select the application programming interface API gateway address where the optimal capability node is located according to the user plane function UPF address information and capability domain name carried in the extension field of the domain name resolution request;

[0060] Call the API interface to send the diversion strategy to the network capability exposure platform, which carries the target UPF identifier.

[0061] In some embodiments, the domain name resolution request is obtained by LDNS filling the public network address of UPF into the extension field after receiving the domain name resolution request of the terminal forwarded by UPF.

[0062] In some embodiments, the domain name of the EC dispatch center is sent from the source DNS to the LDNS.

[0063] In some embodiments, after calling the API interface to send the diversion policy to the network capability exposure platform, the method further includes:

[0064] Receive a call success response sent by the session management function SMF, where the call success response is sent after the SMF receives the diversion policy sent by the network capability exposure platform and completes the diversion policy configuration of the API gateway on the target UPF;

[0065] The IP address of the capability node API gateway is sent to the terminal through LDNS.

[0066] An embodiment of the present invention further provides a method for a terminal to call an edge capability, which is executed by a session management function SMF. The method includes:

[0067] Receive the diversion policy sent by the network capability exposure platform, which carries the target UPF identifier and API gateway address;

[0068] Complete the API gateway diversion strategy configuration on the target UPF.

[0069] In some embodiments, after completing the API gateway diversion strategy configuration on the target UPF, the method further includes:

[0070] Send a successful call response to the edge computing EC dispatch center.

[0071] like Figure 5 As shown, in this embodiment, the first-level ECM serves as the national edge computing service activation and capability call center, with a full network edge computing node view, including the IP address of the ECP, the address and information of the ECA, the location and IP address of the API gateway, and the capability information registered under the API gateway of each node. Because the edge computing scheduling center can be integrated into the ECM to do

[0072] When the edge capability call request initiated by the UE is transferred to the edge computing scheduling center through the provincial center's Local DNS (Domain Name System) through recursive scheduling, the ECM can select the optimal capability node based on the UPF's IP address.

[0073] The following prerequisites are required:

[0074] Local DNS needs to support carrying the source IP address of the initiated DNS resolution request (such as the IP address of the UPF) during the iterative resolution process;

[0075] For the UPF function, UPF needs to support diversion strategies based on destination IP and domain name, and can identify domain name information in DNS resolution request messages and divert traffic;

[0076] In addition, for UPF address planning, NAT (Network Address Translation) public network address segment planning should be carried out according to the physical location of UPF

[0077] like Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown, the method for a terminal to call edge capabilities in this embodiment includes the following steps:

[0078] Step 1: The terminal initiates a domain name resolution request to the ULCL UPF. The ULCL UPF recognizes that this is a domain name resolution request through the port number (port 53).

[0079] Step 2: The ULCL UPF identifies the port number (port 53) and domain name in the domain name resolution request and performs local traffic diversion, sending the domain name resolution request to the FW. Local traffic diversion means sending the DNS domain name request to the FW (firewall) for NAT mapping, rather than to the upper-level core UPF (which would otherwise be the case if traffic diversion is not performed).

[0080] Step 3: The FW NATs the source address of the offloaded request into a public network address and forwards the domain name resolution request to the LDNS based on the destination address of the domain name resolution request. The source address is the source address of the ULCL UPF.

[0081] Step 4: The LDNS enters the UPF's public network address into the extension field of the domain name resolution request, sends the domain name resolution request to the source DNS, and performs iterative resolution. Because the ULCL UPF's source address has been mapped to a public network address by NAT, the LDNS (Local DNS) enters this public network address, representing the location, into the extension field and sends it to the source DNS. Iterative resolution is a step in DNS domain name resolution. If no IP address is matched, multiple iterations will be performed.

[0082] Step 5: The source DNS returns a CNAME response based on the business contract, which is the domain name of the EC dispatch center;

[0083] Step 6: LDNS iterates to the EC dispatch center based on the CNAME domain name;

[0084] Step 7: The EC dispatch center selects the API GW address of the optimal capability node based on the UPF address information and capability domain name carried in the extension field of the domain name resolution request;

[0085] Step 8: The EC dispatch center carries the target UPF identifier and initiates a traffic diversion strategy to the network capability exposure platform, making an API call through the restful interface.

[0086] Step 9: The network capability exposure platform sends a diversion policy to the SMF (session management function) and calls the API. The diversion policy carries the target UPF identifier and API gateway address.

[0087] Step 10: SMF completes the API GW traffic diversion policy configuration on the ULCL UPF.

[0088] Step 11: SMF returns a successful call response to the EC dispatch center;

[0089] Step 12: The EC dispatch center returns the IP address of the edge node API gateway (i.e., the capability node API gateway);

[0090] Step 13: LDNS returns the IP address of the capability node API gateway to the terminal;

[0091] Step 14: The terminal initiates an access request to the edge node API gateway;

[0092] In step 15, the ULCL UPF performs local traffic diversion by matching the valid destination IP address. Because the target API gateway's diversion policy was configured on the ULCL UPF in step 10, in this step, the ULCL UPF diverts traffic to the API gateway according to the diversion policy configured in step 10. Configuring the API gateway's diversion policy means telling the ULCL UPF the API gateway's address and instructing it to divert traffic to the API gateway.

[0093] Step 16: The edge node API gateway returns the edge capability call to the terminal, which carries the terminal request content.

[0094] When a single call ends, the API gateway measures the call situation, and ECM can choose to delete the diversion policy. This embodiment supports large-scale network capability calls initiated by the terminal. ECM can forward the call request to the large-scale network capability exposure platform. Local DNS needs to identify the domain name resolution request.

[0095] In this embodiment, the EC dispatch center receives the terminal's domain name resolution request from the LDNS, selects the optimal capability node based on the domain name resolution request, and completes the API gateway's traffic diversion policy configuration on the target UPF through the SMF. This establishes a diversion relationship between the UPF accessed by the terminal and the capability node, enabling the mobile terminal to call edge capabilities. This embodiment defines the complete process for a mobile terminal to call edge capabilities, in which the API gateway presents a public IP address to the outside world, and the terminal initiates a capability call request to the API gateway.

[0096] The embodiment of the present invention also provides a device for a terminal to call edge capabilities, which is applied to an edge computing EC dispatch center, such as Figure 8 As shown, it includes a transceiver 11 and a processor 12,

[0097] The transceiver 11 is used to receive a domain name resolution request of a terminal sent by a local domain name system LDNS;

[0098] The processor 12 is configured to select an application programming interface (API) gateway address of an optimal capability node according to the user plane function (UPF) address information and capability domain name carried in the extension field of the domain name resolution request;

[0099] The transceiver 11 is further configured to call an API interface to send a diversion strategy to the network capability exposure platform, which carries a target UPF identifier.

[0100] In some embodiments, the domain name resolution request is obtained by LDNS filling the public network address of UPF into the extension field after receiving the domain name resolution request of the terminal forwarded by UPF.

[0101] In some embodiments, the domain name of the EC dispatch center is sent from the source DNS to the LDNS.

[0102] In some embodiments, the transceiver 11 is also used to receive a call success response sent by the session management function SMF, and the call success response is that the SMF receives the diversion strategy sent by the network capability open platform, and sends it after completing the diversion strategy configuration of the API gateway on the target UPF; and sends the IP address of the capability node API gateway to the terminal through LDNS.

[0103] The embodiment of the present invention also provides a device for a terminal to call edge capabilities, using a session management function SMF, such as Figure 9 As shown, it includes a transceiver 21 and a processor 22,

[0104] The transceiver 21 is used to receive the diversion strategy sent by the network capability exposure platform, which carries the target UPF identifier and API gateway address;

[0105] The processor 22 is used to complete the diversion strategy configuration of the API gateway on the target UPF.

[0106] In some embodiments, the transceiver 21 is further configured to send a call success response to the edge computing EC dispatch center.

[0107] The embodiment of the present invention also provides a device for a terminal to call edge capabilities, such as Figure 10 As shown, it includes a memory 31, a processor 32, and a computer program stored in the memory 31 and capable of running on the processor 32; when the processor 32 executes the program, the method for the terminal to call edge capabilities as described above is implemented.

[0108] In some embodiments, the device for the terminal to call edge capabilities is applied to the edge computing EC scheduling center for execution, and the processor 32 is used to receive the domain name resolution request of the terminal sent by the local domain name system LDNS, and select the application programming interface API gateway address where the optimal capability node is located according to the user plane function UPF address information and capability domain name carried in the extension field of the domain name resolution request; call the API interface to send a diversion strategy to the network capability exposure platform, which carries the target UPF identifier.

[0109] In some embodiments, the domain name resolution request is obtained by LDNS filling the public network address of UPF into the extension field after receiving the domain name resolution request of the terminal forwarded by UPF.

[0110] In some embodiments, the domain name of the EC dispatch center is sent from the source DNS to the LDNS.

[0111] In some embodiments, the processor 32 is also used to receive a call success response sent by the session management function SMF, and the call success response is that the SMF receives the diversion policy sent by the network capability exposure platform, and sends it after completing the diversion policy configuration of the API gateway on the target UPF; and sends the IP address of the capability node API gateway to the terminal through LDNS.

[0112] In some embodiments, the device for the terminal to call edge capabilities is applied to the session management function SMF, and the processor 32 is used to receive the diversion policy sent by the network capability exposure platform, which carries the target UPF identifier and API gateway address; and complete the diversion policy configuration of the API gateway on the target UPF.

[0113] In some embodiments, the processor 32 is further configured to send a call success response to the edge computing EC dispatch center.

[0114] An embodiment of the present invention further provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program, which, when executed by a processor, implements the steps in the method for a terminal to call edge capabilities as described above.

[0115] An embodiment of the present invention further provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program, which, when executed by a processor, implements the steps in the method for a terminal to call edge capabilities as described above.

[0116] Computer-readable media include permanent and non-permanent, removable and non-removable media that can be used to store information by any method or technology. Information can be computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Examples of computer storage media include, but are not limited to, phase change memory (PRAM), static random access memory (SRAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), other types of random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), flash memory or other memory technology, compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), digital versatile disc (DVD) or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage terminal devices to be detected, or any other non-transmission media that can be used to store information that can be accessed by the computer terminal devices to be detected. As defined herein, computer-readable media does not include temporary computer-readable media (transitory media), such as modulated data signals and carrier waves.

[0117] The above is a preferred embodiment of the present invention. It should be pointed out that for ordinary technicians in this technical field, several improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the principles of the present invention. These improvements and modifications should also be regarded as within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for a terminal to call edge capabilities, characterized in that: Executed by the edge computing EC dispatch center, the method includes: Receive a domain name resolution request of the terminal sent by the local domain name system LDNS, and select the application programming interface API gateway address where the optimal capability node is located according to the user plane function UPF public network address information and capability domain name carried in the extension field of the domain name resolution request. The domain name resolution request is obtained by LDNS receiving the domain name resolution request of the terminal forwarded by UPF and filling the UPF public network address into the extension field; Call the API interface to send the diversion policy to the network capability exposure platform, which carries the target UPF identifier; After calling the API interface to send the diversion policy to the network capability exposure platform, the method further includes: Receive a call success response sent by the session management function SMF, where the call success response is sent after the SMF receives the diversion policy sent by the network capability exposure platform and completes the diversion policy configuration of the API gateway on the target UPF; The IP address of the API gateway where the optimal node is located is sent to the terminal through LDNS.

2. The method for a terminal to call edge capabilities according to claim 1, characterized in that: The domain name of the EC scheduling center is sent to the LDNS by the source DNS.

3. A device for a terminal to call edge capabilities, characterized in that: Applied to edge computing EC dispatch center, including transceiver and processor, The transceiver is used to receive a domain name resolution request of a terminal sent by a local domain name system LDNS; The processor is configured to select an application programming interface API gateway address where the optimal capability node is located according to the user plane function UPF public network address information and capability domain name carried in the extension field of the domain name resolution request, wherein the domain name resolution request is obtained by LDNS receiving the domain name resolution request of the terminal forwarded by UPF and filling the UPF public network address into the extension field; The transceiver is further configured to call an API interface to send a diversion strategy to the network capability exposure platform, which carries a target UPF identifier; The processor is further configured to receive a call success response sent by a session management function SMF, where the call success response is sent after the SMF receives the diversion strategy sent by the network capability exposure platform and completes the diversion strategy configuration of the API gateway on the target UPF; The IP address of the API gateway where the optimal node is located is sent to the terminal through LDNS.

4. A device for a terminal to call edge capabilities, comprising a memory, a processor, and a computer program stored in the memory and executable on the processor; characterized in that: When the processor executes the program, the method for a terminal to call edge capabilities according to any one of claims 1 to 2 is implemented.

5. A computer-readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, characterized in that: When the program is executed by a processor, the method for a terminal to call edge capabilities as described in any one of claims 1 to 2 is implemented.

Images