Communication method and device for edge computing system

Abstract

According to an embodiment, a method for a user equipment (UE) in a communication system supporting an edge computing service using an edge data network is disclosed, wherein the edge data network includes a first server that provides first configuration information for an application data service to the UE and a second server that exchanges application data services with the UE, the method including: sending a supply provision request to a third server, the third server providing second configuration information for a connection with the first server; and receiving a service supply response from the third server in response to sending the service supply request, the service supply response including network identification information related to a list of the first server or the second server.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to edge computing technology, and more particularly, to a communication method and device in an edge computing system including an edge data network (EDN). Background Art

[0002] To meet the increased demand for wireless data services since the deployment of 4G (fourth generation) communication systems, efforts have been made to develop improved 5G (fifth generation) or pre-5G communication systems. Therefore, 5G or pre-5G communication systems are also called "beyond 4G networks" or "post-LTE systems."

[0003] 5G communication systems are expected to be implemented in higher frequency (mmWave) bands (e.g., the 60 GHz band) to achieve higher data rates. To reduce radio wave propagation losses and increase transmission distances, beamforming, massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO), full-dimensional MIMO (FD-MIMO), array antennas, analog beamforming, and massive antenna technologies are being discussed in 5G communication systems.

[0004] In addition, in 5G communication systems, system network improvements are being developed based on advanced small cells, cloud radio access networks (RAN), ultra-dense networks, device-to-device (D2D) communications, wireless backhaul, mobile networks, collaborative communications, coordinated multi-point (CoMP), and receiver-side interference cancellation.

[0005] In 5G systems, hybrid FSK and QAM modulation (FQAM) and sliding window superposition coding (SWSC) have been developed as advanced coded modulation (ACM), and filter bank multi-carrier (FBMC), non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA), and sparse code multiple access (SCMA) as advanced access technologies.

[0006] The Internet, a human-centered connectivity network in which humans generate and consume information, is now evolving into the Internet of Things (IoT), in which distributed entities such as things exchange and process information without human intervention. The Internet of Everything (IoE), a combination of IoT and big data processing technologies, has emerged through connections with cloud servers. Since technological elements such as "sensing technology," "wired / wireless communication and network infrastructure," "service interface technology," and "security technology" are required for IoT implementation, sensor networks, machine-to-machine (M2M) communication, and machine-type communication (MTC) have recently been studied.

[0007] This IoT environment can provide intelligent Internet technology services that create new value for human life by collecting and analyzing data generated between connected things. Through the integration and combination of existing information technology (IT) and various industrial applications, IoT can be applied in a variety of fields, including smart homes, smart buildings, smart cities, smart cars or connected cars, smart grids, healthcare, smart appliances, and advanced medical services.

[0008] Therefore, various efforts are underway to apply 5G communication systems to IoT networks. For example, solutions such as beamforming, multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO), and array antennas are being used to implement sensor networks, machine-to-machine (M2M), machine-type communications (MTC), and other 5G technologies. The aforementioned application of cloud radio access networks (RAN) as a big data processing technology can be considered an example of the convergence of 5G and IoT technologies. Summary of the Invention

[0009] [Technical Issues]

[0010] According to the present disclosure, an efficient communication method and device in an edge computing system are provided.

[0011] According to the present disclosure, a communication method and apparatus for selecting / determining an EDN in a computing system are provided.

[0012] According to the present disclosure, a communication method and apparatus for selecting / determining an edge enabler server (EES) according to a data transmission distance in a hierarchical edge computing system are provided.

[0013] [Technical solution]

[0014] According to an embodiment, a method for a user equipment (UE) in a communication system supporting an edge computing service using an edge data network is disclosed, wherein the edge data network includes a first server that provides first configuration information for an application data service to the UE and a second server that exchanges application data services with the UE, the method including: sending a supply provision request to a third server, the third server providing second configuration information for a connection with the first server; and receiving a service supply response from the third server in response to sending the service supply request, the service supply response including network identification information related to a list of the first server or the second server.

[0015] According to an embodiment, a UE in a communication system supporting an edge computing service using an edge data network is disclosed, wherein the edge data network includes a first server that provides first configuration information for an application data service to the UE and a second server that exchanges application data services with the UE, and the UE includes: a transceiver; and a processor configured to: send a service provision request to a third server via the transceiver, the third server providing second configuration information for connection with the first server, and receive a service provision response from the third server via the transceiver in response to sending the service provision request, the service provision response including network identification information related to the first server or the second server.

[0016] According to an embodiment, a method for a third server in a communication system supporting an edge computing service using an edge data network is disclosed, wherein the edge data network includes a first server that provides first configuration information for an application data service to a user equipment (UE) and a second server that exchanges application data services with the UE, and the third server provides the UE with second configuration information for connection with the first server. The method includes: receiving a service provision request from the UE; and in response to receiving the service provision request, sending a service provision response to the UE, the service provision response including network identification information related to a list of the first server or the second server.

[0017] According to an embodiment, a third server in a communication system supporting edge computing services using an edge data network is disclosed, wherein the edge data network includes a first server that provides first configuration information for application data services and a second server that exchanges application data services with a UE, and the third server provides the UE with second configuration information for connection with the first server. The third server includes: a communication interface; and a processor configured to: receive a service provision request from the UE via the communication interface, and in response to receiving the service provision request, send a service provision response to the UE via the communication interface, wherein the service provision response includes network identification information related to a list of the first server or the second server.

[0018] Before proceeding with the following detailed description, it may be helpful to set forth the definitions of certain words and phrases used throughout this patent document: the terms "include" and "comprising," and their derivatives, mean including without limitation; the term "or" is inclusive, meaning and / or; the phrases "associated with" and "associated therewith," and their derivatives, may mean including, being included within, interconnected with, containing, contained within, connected or connected to, coupled or connected to, communicating with, cooperating with, intertwined with, juxtaposed with, proximate to, bound with, having, having the property of, and the like. The term "controller" refers to any device, system, or portion thereof that controls at least one operation, and such device may be implemented in hardware, firmware, or software, or some combination of at least two thereof. It should be noted that the functionality associated with any particular controller may be centralized or distributed, whether locally or remotely.

[0019] In addition, the various functions described below can be implemented or supported by one or more computer programs, each of which is formed of a computer-readable program code and included in a computer-readable medium. The terms "application" and "program" refer to one or more computer programs, software components, instruction sets, processes, functions, objects, classes, instances, related data, or parts thereof that are suitable for implementation in a suitable computer-readable program code. The phrase "computer-readable program code" includes any type of computer code, including source code, object code, and executable code. The phrase "computer-readable medium" includes any type of medium that can be accessed by a computer, such as a read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), hard drive, compact disc (CD), digital video disc (DVD), or any other type of memory. "Non-transitory" computer-readable medium does not include wired, wireless, optical, or other communication links that transmit temporary electrical signals or other signals. Non-transitory computer-readable media include media in which data can be permanently stored and media in which data can be stored and subsequently rewritten, such as rewritable optical discs or erasable memory devices.

[0020] Definitions for certain words and phrases are provided throughout this patent document, those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that in many, if not most instances, such definitions apply to prior, as well as future uses of such defined words and phrases. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure and its advantages, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts:

[0022] Figure 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an edge computing system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0023] Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating an example scenario for implementing an edge computing system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0024] Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating a method for classifying EDNs according to transmission distances in a hierarchical edge computing system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0025] Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating a method for classifying EDN using subnet information in a hierarchical edge computing system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0026] Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating a method for selecting an EES for a UE by an ECS in a hierarchical edge computing system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0027] Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating a method for selecting an EES to be accessed from an EES list provided by an ECS by a UE in a hierarchical edge computing system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0028] Figure 7 is a diagram illustrating a method for selecting an EES based on DNAI in a hierarchical edge computing system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0029] Figure 8 is a diagram illustrating another method for selecting, by a UE, an EES to be accessed from an EES list provided by an ECS in a hierarchical edge computing system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0030] Figure 9 is a diagram showing a configuration of a UE according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

[0031] Figure 10 is a diagram showing a configuration of a server according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] Discussed below Figures 1 to 10 The various embodiments used to describe the principles of the present disclosure in this patent document are illustrative only and should not be construed in any way to limit the scope of the disclosure. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the principles of the present invention can be implemented in any suitably arranged system or device.

[0033] Hereinafter, the operating principle of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The terms described below are defined in consideration of their functions in the present disclosure. Since the terms may vary depending on the intention or habits of the user or operator, their definitions should be determined based on the entire disclosure.

[0034] For ease of description, the terms used herein relating to network entities and objects of edge computing systems, terms relating to messages, and terms relating to identification information are provided as examples. Therefore, the present disclosure is not limited to these terms, and these terms can be replaced by other terms representing objects with equivalent technical concepts.

[0035] Although terms and names defined in the 5G system standard are used herein for ease of description, embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto or thereby and may also be applied to systems conforming to other standards.

[0036] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Detailed descriptions of known functions or configurations will be omitted when they make the gist of the present disclosure unnecessarily unclear.

[0037] The electronic device according to various embodiments may be one of various types of electronic devices. The electronic device may include, for example, a portable communication device (such as a smart phone), a portable multimedia device, a portable medical device, a camera, a wearable device, or a household appliance. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the electronic device is not limited to the embodiments listed above. It should be understood that the various embodiments of the present invention and the terms used therein are not intended to limit the technical features set forth herein to specific embodiments, and include various changes, equivalents, or substitutes of the corresponding embodiments. With respect to the description of the drawings, similar figure numerals may be used to refer to similar or related elements. It will be understood that unless the relevant context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular form of the noun corresponding to the item may include one or more things.

[0038] As used herein, each of phrases such as "A or B," "at least one of A and B," "at least one of A or B," "A, B or C," "at least one of A, B and C," and "at least one of A, B or C" may include all possible combinations of the items listed together in the corresponding phrase. As used herein, terms such as "first" and "second" or "first" and "second" may be used to simply distinguish the corresponding component from another component and do not limit the components in other aspects (e.g., importance or order). It will be understood that if an element (e.g., a first element) is referred to as "coupled with another element (e.g., a second element)," "coupled to another element (e.g., a second element)," "connected to another element (e.g., a second element)," or "connected to another element (e.g., a second element)" with or without the term "operably" or "communicatively," it means that the element can be coupled with the other element directly (e.g., by wire), wirelessly, or via a third element.

[0039] As used herein, the term "module" may include a unit implemented in hardware, software, or firmware, and may be used interchangeably with other terms such as "logic," "logic block," "portion," or "circuit." A module may be a single integral component adapted to perform one or more functions, or its smallest unit or portion. According to an embodiment, a module may be implemented in the form of an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

[0040] The various embodiments described herein may be implemented as software (e.g., a program) comprising one or more instructions stored in a storage medium (e.g., an internal memory or an external memory) that can be read by an electronic device. For example, a processor of an electronic device may call at least one of the one or more instructions stored in the storage medium and execute the instruction under the control of the processor with or without one or more other components. This allows the machine to be operated to perform at least one function according to at least one instruction called. The one or more instructions may include code generated by a compiler or code executable by an interpreter. The storage medium that can be read by an electronic device may be provided in the form of a non-temporary storage medium. The term "non-temporary" refers only to the fact that the storage medium is a tangible device and does not include signals (e.g., electromagnetic waves), but the term does not distinguish between data being semi-permanently stored in the storage medium and data being temporarily stored in the storage medium.

[0041] According to an embodiment, the method according to various embodiments of the present disclosure may be included and provided in a computer program product. The computer program product can be traded as a commodity between a seller and a buyer. The computer program product can be distributed in the form of a machine-readable storage medium (e.g., a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) or a digital video disc (DVD-ROM)), or through an application store (e.g., Play Store TM ) online distribution (e.g., download or upload), or directly between two user devices (e.g., smartphones). If distributed online, at least a portion of the computer program product may be temporarily generated or at least temporarily stored in a machine-readable storage medium, such as a memory of a manufacturer's server, a server of an application store, or a relay server.

[0042] According to various embodiments, each component (e.g., a module or a program) of the above-mentioned components may include a single entity or multiple entities. According to various embodiments, one or more of the above-mentioned components may be omitted, or one or more other components may be added. Alternatively or additionally, multiple components (e.g., modules or programs) may be integrated into a single component. In this case, according to various embodiments, the integrated component may still perform one or more functions of each of the multiple components in the same or similar manner as performed by a corresponding one of the multiple components before integration. According to various embodiments, the operations performed by a module, a program or another component may be performed sequentially, in parallel, repeatedly or heuristically, or one or more operations may be performed in a different order or omitted, or one or more other operations may be added.

[0043] The 5G network technology shown in the drawings and described in the description of the present disclosure refers to a standard (e.g., TS 23.558) defined by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) or 3GPP, and includes the 5G network technology described below. Figure 1 Each component in the network environment may represent a physical entity unit or a software or module unit capable of performing a separate function.

[0044] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, an electronic device may refer to various devices used by a user. For example, an electronic device may refer to a terminal, user equipment (UE), a mobile station, a subscriber station, a remote terminal, a wireless terminal, or a user device. In the embodiments described below, for convenience, a user equipment (UE) is used as an example of an electronic device.

[0045] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, an access network (AN) may provide a channel for wireless communication with an electronic device. An access network (RAN) may be a radio access network, a base station, an eNB, an eNodeB, a 5G node, a transmission / reception point (TRP), or a 5th generation NodeB (5GNB). According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a core network (CN) may manage at least one of the subscriber information, mobility, access authorization, data packet service, or charging policy of a UE. The CN may include at least one of a user plane function (UPF) node, an access and mobility management function (AMF) node, a session management function (SMF) node, a unified data management (UDM) node, or a policy control function (PCF) node. For the functions and operations of the nodes (or entities) included in the CN, reference may be made to the standards defined by 3GPP (e.g., TS 23.501).

[0046] Edge computing is a technology that is provided as a service that can host operators and / or third parties close to access points (such as base stations) and reduce the end-to-end latency and load of the network to provide efficient services. This edge computing technology can shorten data processing time by processing data in real time at a short distance from the site where the data is generated, without transmitting the data generated from various terminals to a central cloud network (hereinafter referred to as the "central cloud"). For example, edge computing technology can be applied to technical fields that require fast processing in various situations that may occur while driving, such as autonomous vehicles. Edge computing is a concept of network architecture that implements cloud computing functions and service environments, and a network for edge computing can be deployed near UEs. Edge computing provides advantages such as reduced latency, increased bandwidth, reduced backhaul traffic, and the prospect of new services in a cloud environment. The 5G or 6G or its subsequent generation core network CN proposed by the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) can display network information and functions to edge computing applications (hereinafter referred to as edge applications).

[0047] The present disclosure relates to technologies for mobile edge computing, in which a UE establishes a data connection to an EDN located near the UE to utilize broadband services, and accesses an edge application server (EAS) driven on an edge computing platform or an edge hosting environment operated by the EDN's EES to use the data services.

[0048] Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a communication system supporting an edge computing network (hereinafter referred to as an “edge computing system”) according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0049] refer to Figure 1 , EDN 150 includes EAS 155 and EES 153. Edge configuration server (ECS) 151 provides configuration information related to EDN 150. EAS 155, EES 153 and ECS 151 interact with core network 130 to provide edge computing services to UE 110. Core network 130 may use, for example, 5G or 6G or subsequent next-generation core networks. UE 110 may include application client 113 and edge enabling client (EEC) 111. Although not shown, UE 110 may further include an edge configuration client (ECC).

[0050] describe Figure 1The EES 153 provides support functions required by the EAS 155 and the EEC 111. For example, the EES 153 may provide configuration information to the EEC 111 to enable the exchange (transmission and reception) of application data services between the EAS 155 and the application client 113, and provide the EEC 111 with information related to the EAS 155. The EEC 111 provides support functions required by the application client 113. For example, the EEC 111 retrieves configuration information for enabling the exchange of application data services with the EAS 155 and provides the configuration information to the application client 113, and may search for an EAS 155 available in the EDN.

[0051] exist Figure 1 , ECS 151 provides the support functions required for EEC 111 to connect to EES 153. For example, ECS 151 can provide, for example, service area information and network address information (e.g., Uniform Resource Identifier (URI)) for connecting EEC 111 to EES 153. ECS 151 can be deployed in the mobile network operator (MNO) domain of the communication service provider or the third-party domain of the service provider. The application client 113 is installed in UE A to perform the function as a client and supports the sending and receiving of application data services between UE A and EAS 155. EAS 155 performs the function as a server for sending and receiving data services in EDN. Although for convenience, Figure 1 One EAS 155 , one EES 153 , and one ECS 151 are shown, but there may be multiple EESs / EASs / ECSs, respectively.

[0052] exist Figure 1 In FIG, EDGE-1 to EGGE-8 represent network interfaces (ie, reference points) between entities and are described in the following Table 1. However, EDGE-1 to EGGE-8 are not limited to the description in Table 1.

[0053] [Table 1]

[0054]

[0055]

[0056] Figure 2 An example scenario of implementing an edge computing system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. Figure 2 , MNO service area 200 represents an example MNO domain of a communication service provider supporting edge computing services.

[0057] Described below Figure 21 . The network and edge computing entities shown. UPFs (e.g., UPF1, UPF2, ...) 201, 203, and 205 act as gateways for transmitting packets sent and received by UE 110. To support edge computing services, EES 153-1 and EES 153-2 can be located near UPFs 201, 203, and 205. The UPFs can perform low-latency transmission by directly transmitting data packets to edge data networks (EDNs) N1 and N2 without passing through the Internet as an external network. In addition, the UPFs can be connected to a data network that is connected to the Internet.

[0058] like Figure 1 As shown in the configuration example of , the edge computing system includes edge enabling servers (EES) 153-1, 153-2, and 153, ECS 151, and edge enabling clients (EEC) 151-1, 151-2, and 151. The EESSs (EES) 153-1, 153-2, and 153 build an edge hosting environment (or edge computing platform) and have information about EAS 155-1 and 155-2 running in the edge hosting environment.

[0059] exist Figure 2 In the embodiment, EES 153-1, 153-2 and 153 communicate with UE 110 through access point 211 (e.g., base station), thereby connecting the application client 113 of UE 110 with EAS 155-1, 155-2 and 155 in the edge hosting environment. UE 110 supporting the edge computing system may include EEC 111, and communication with EES 153-1, 153-2 and 153 may be performed through intercommunication between EEC 111 and EES 153-1, 153-2 and 153. The layer that performs intercommunication may be referred to as an edge enabling layer. As described above, the UE 110 mentioned in the present disclosure may be not only a smart phone but also an IoT device or a vehicle.

[0060] exist Figure 2In the embodiment of the present invention, the electronic control system 151 includes configuration information of edge enabling servers (EES) 153-1, 153-2, and 153, and has the function of transmitting configuration information for using edge computing services to UE 110. The configuration information may include at least one of EDN connection information (e.g., data network name or single network slice selection assistance information (S-NSSAI)) (S-NSSAI is an identifier for identifying a network slice in a 5G system), EDN service area information (e.g., cell list, tracking area list (TA), public land mobile network (PLMN) ID), and EES connection information (e.g., URI). If the edge computing network is configured in a hierarchical manner, the configuration information may also include information indicating on which layer the EDN 150 exists, which includes the EES 153 and provides the edge computing service. The layer may be determined based on the data transmission distance between the UE 110 and the EDN 150, and may be selected based on various criteria according to the service type used by the UE, subscriber information, and the policy of the network operator.

[0061] Regarding the hierarchical configuration of the edge computing network, as an example, a network operator can locate an EDN 150 (e.g., an EES and EAS) within the shortest distance accessible to the UPF connected to UE 110 based on core network configuration information, and provide information about the found EDN 150 to UE 110 via ECS 151. Furthermore, differentiated services can be provided based on subscription levels, for example, selecting a relatively close or relatively distant EDN 150 within the shortest data transmission distance based on the service subscription level. The relative distance can be set to various distances based on predetermined criteria. As described below, how to locate an EDN 150 in the hierarchical configuration of the edge computing network can be implemented through various embodiments for locating / selecting an EES belonging to a relevant / preferred layer.

[0062] EDN service areas N1 and N2 may be areas where EESs set by EESs 153-1, 153-2, and 153 are available. Based on this, when there are multiple EESs, UE 110 may receive information about EESs accessible in a specific location from ECS 151. In addition, if ECS 115 can obtain information about edge application servers (EASs) 155-1, 155-2, and 155 running in an edge hosting environment of a specific EES, UE 110 may obtain corresponding EAS information through ECS 111.

[0063] EAS 155 can be a third-party application server running in an edge computing system. When EAS 155 runs on infrastructure provided by an edge hosting environment and is capable of providing edge computing services close to UE 110, it can provide ultra-low latency services. The upper-layer information regarding the services provided by EAS 155 to UE 110 can be referred to as application context. For example, when a user is using a real-time gaming application, all the information required to regenerate the screen and game stage currently being viewed by the user in the game can be included in the application context. In other words, in order for UE 110 to connect to another EAS 155 and seamlessly use existing services, the application context needs to be relocated to the newly connected EAS. To perform application context relocation, an EAS 155 capable of providing services to the application running on the application client 113 of UE 110 needs to be available. The availability of EAS 155 in the EDN can be determined based on whether EAS 155 is running in an edge hosting environment and the state of EAS 155.

[0064] UE 110 may include an application client 113, an EEC 111 for intercommunication of edge computing services for sending / receiving data services between the application client 113 and the EAS 155, and a device configuration (mobile terminal / terminal) including a processor and a transceiver for communicating in a wireless communication system. The application of UE 110 is an application provided by a third party, which refers to a client application driven in UE 110 for a specific application service. Several applications can be driven in UE 110. At least one or more of these applications can use edge computing services. The EEC 111 in UE 110 refers to a client that performs operations required to use edge computing services in UE 110. EEC 111 can determine which applications can use edge computing services and perform operations to connect a network interface to allow data from the application client 113 to be transmitted to the EAS 155 providing the edge computing service. Operations for establishing a data connection using edge computing services in UE 110 can be performed in a 3GPP communication layer. The 3GPP communication layer refers to a layer that performs modem operations for using a mobile communication system. The 3GPP communication layer establishes a wireless connection for data communication, registers UE 110 in a mobile communication system, establishes a connection for transmitting data to the mobile communication system, and sends and receives data.

[0065] Figure 3 This is a diagram for describing a method for classifying EDNs based on transmission distance in a hierarchical edge computing system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. EDNs can be configured hierarchically based on transmission distance.

[0066] refer to Figure 3UE 110 can communicate with at least one of the EDNs 150a, 150b, and 150 of the edge computing system via access point 301 (e.g., base station) and UPF 303. In this embodiment, the EDNs can be divided into a first EDN 150a and a second EDN 150b. The first EDN 150a has a relatively short transmission distance from UE 110, while the second EDN 150b has a relatively long transmission distance from UE 110. In this case, with respect to UE 110, first EDN 150a can be referred to as the "front edge," while second EDN 150b can be referred to as the "back edge." Furthermore, in this embodiment, with respect to transmission distance from the central cloud 305, the EDNs can be divided into a first EDN relatively far from the central cloud 305 and a second EDN 150b relatively close to the central cloud 305. In this case, with respect to the central cloud 305, first EDN 150a can be referred to as the "far edge," while second EDN 150b can be referred to as the "near edge." For convenience, the EDN is divided into two networks according to distance, but can be divided into three or more networks according to more distances. In addition, depending on, for example, regional characteristics, there may be one or more first EDNs 150a and one or more second EDNs 150b.

[0067] Figure 4 This is a diagram for describing a method for classifying an edge data network (EDN) using subnet information in a hierarchical edge computing system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 4 In the above, combined Figure 3 The same method of classifying EDN based on transmission distance can be applied to Figure 4 The first EDN 150a and the second EDN 150b.

[0068] exist Figure 4 In the embodiment, the first EDN 150a may include an EES 153a and an EAS 155a, and the second EDN 150b may include an EES 153b and an EAS 155b. The functions and operations of the EAS, EES, EEC, ECS and EDN are combined with the above Figures 1 to 3 The above are the same as those described above and will not be described further below. Figures 1 to 3 The description given is applicable to Figure 4 Components shown.

[0069] Included in Figure 4The EEC 111 in the UE 110 provides support functions required by the application client 113. For example, the EEC 111 retrieves configuration information to enable the exchange of application data services with the EAS 155a, 155b, or 155, provides the configuration information to the application client 113, and may search for an EAS 155a, 155b, or 155 available in the EDN. The EEC 111 may access at least one of the first EDN 150a and the second EDN 150b, or may access both EDNs simultaneously. The first EDN 150a and the second EDN 150b may be connected to the 3GPP core network via different UPFs. The UE 110 has a current session established, and the subnet ID of the UE 110 session is determined based on the UPF to which the established session is connected. The network operator and provider of EES 153a, 153b, and 153 may pre-configure at least one of the subnet ID and subnet mask of EES 153 (hereinafter referred to as subnet information) in EES 153 and register the subnet information in EES. Figure 4 In the embodiment of FIG. 1 , the EES subnet ID of EES 153a located in first EDN 150a can be, for example, 193.1.2.128 / 25, and the edge subnet mask can be, for example, 255.255.255.128. The IP address of EES 153a can have a value between 193.1.2.128 and 193.1.2.255. The edge subnet mask can be used to determine which edge subnet a specific EES IP address belongs to by performing a mask operation (bitwise AND operation) on the IP address of the EES. In second EDN 150b, the EES subnet ID and edge subnet mask can also be described in the same manner.

[0070] As above combined Figure 3 The embodiments described in Figure 4 In the embodiment of the present invention, two or more EDNs can also be configured hierarchically. As a method for hierarchically configuring the edge computing system, a separate EDN identifier can be used in addition to the subnet information.

[0071] As in an embodiment according to the present disclosure, EDNs may be divided and selected based on an identifier of the EDN or subnet information of the EES, and the EDNs are configured hierarchically in the edge computing system. Various embodiments of selecting EES (i.e., EDNs) in a hierarchical edge computing system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure are described below. A different subnet ID may be used for each EDN. The subnet ID may be a value set by a service provider who configures the network. Figure 4In the example, the subnet ID corresponding to the first EDN is 193.1.2.128 / 25, which can be used to identify whether the corresponding EDN is at the far edge or the near edge. In addition, the IP address of the EAS or EES in the corresponding EDN is determined within the IP address range that can be set based on the subnet ID. For example, Figure 4 The value between 193.1.2.128 and 193.1.2.255 is set to the IP address of the EAS or EES belonging to the first EDN. Such subnet related information can be changed by the policy or setting of the network operator.

[0072] Figure 5 3 is a diagram illustrating a method in which an ECS selects an EES for a UE in a hierarchical edge computing system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 5 The embodiment provides a solution for selecting EES based on UE subnet ID.

[0073] exist Figure 5 In operation 501, the EES 153 sends an EES registration request including subnet information (edge ​​subnet information) to which the EES 153 belongs to the ECS 151. The edge subnet information includes at least one of an edge subnet ID and an edge subnet mask to which the EES 153 belongs. The EES registration request may also include EES connection information (e.g., a fully qualified domain name (FQDN) and an IP address) or EES service area information. The edge subnet information / EES connection information / EES service area may be set in the EES 153 by an edge computing service provider or a network operator.

[0074] Table 2 below shows the Figure 5 Example configuration of an EES registration request message of an embodiment.

[0075] [Table 2]

[0076]

[0077] exist Figure 5 In operation 503 , ECS 151 sends an EES registration response including an EES registration result to EES 153 .

[0078] Afterwards, in Figure 5In operation 505, the EEC 111 in the UE sends a provisioning request including the UE's subnet information to the ECS 151. The UE subnet ID can be configured as the network prefix part of the UE IP address. The UE subnet ID can take the form of an IP address. The UE IP address can be set by the SMF. The value of the UE's subnet ID depends on the subnet of the data network in which the session is set. The UE can receive subnet information through the 3GPP core network. For example, the subnet ID of the data network and the UPF currently connected to the UE can be carried from the SMF to the UE on the protocol configuration option (PCO). The subnet ID can be a value set by the network operator, and the information can be a value set by the network operator in the SMF that manages the UE's IP (the subnet ID corresponding to the UPF and the data network can be determined in the SMF, and the corresponding information can be pre-configured). The UE's subnet ID can be included and sent in the provisioning request as follows.

[0079] Table 3 below shows the Figure 5 An example configuration of a provisioning request message of an embodiment.

[0080] [Table 3]

[0081]

[0082] exist Figure 5 In operation 507 , the ECS 151 compares the UE subnet ID received from the UE with the edge subnet IDs of the registered EESs 153 , thereby selecting an EES having the same subnet ID.

[0083] For comparison, the operation for identifying the edge subnet ID of the EES may be performed by applying the UE subnet mask or the edge subnet mask to the EES endpoint IP address.

[0084] exist Figure 5 In operation 509 , the ECS 151 transmits a provisioning response including EES information identified as identifying an EES located within the subnet to which the UE is connected to, to the EEC 111 of the UE, through an operation such as the subnet mask in operation 507 .

[0085] The EES information may include at least one of the EES IP address, EES service area information, data network name (DNN), and network slice information required to establish a session with the EES. From the perspective of the EEC, the EES IP address is the endpoint address of the EES. The EES service area is an area that can be set by edge computing service providers and network operators, and the EES service area can be set to provide edge computing services only within a specific area. The DNN and network slice information are the information necessary for the UE to perform a session establishment request with the EES through the 3GPP network.

[0086] Figure 6 1 is a diagram illustrating a method for selecting an EES to be accessed from an EES list provided by an ECS in a hierarchical edge computing system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. To this end, the EES list and edge subnet information are provided to the UE.

[0087] exist Figure 6 In operation 601, EES 153 sends an EES registration request including the subnet information (edge ​​subnet information) to which EES 153 belongs to the ECS. The edge subnet information includes at least one of the edge subnet ID and edge subnet mask to which the EES belongs. The EES registration request may also include EES connection information (e.g., FQDN and IP address) or EES service area information. The edge subnet information / EES connection information (e.g., EES endpoint address, DNN, or network slice information) / EES service area can be set in EES 153 by the edge computing service provider or network operator.

[0088] exist Figure 6 In operation 603 , ECS 151 sends an EES registration response including an EES registration result to EES 153 .

[0089] Afterwards, in Figure 6 In operation 605, the EEC 111 in the user equipment sends a provisioning request including the UE's subnet information (UE subnet ID) to the ECS 151. The UE subnet ID can be configured as the network prefix part of the UE IP address. The UE subnet ID can take the form of an IP address. The UE IP address can be set by the SMF. The value of the UE's subnet ID depends on the subnet of the data network in which the session is set. The UE can receive the subnet information through the 3GPP core network. For example, the subnet ID of the data network and the UPF currently connected to the UE can be carried from the SMF to the UE on the protocol configuration option (PCO). In operation 605, the UE can store the subnet information and may not include the subnet information in the provisioning request. The subnet ID can be a value set by the network operator, and the information can be a value set by the network operator in the SMF that manages the UE's IP (the subnet ID corresponding to the UPF and the data network can be determined in the SMF, and the corresponding information can be pre-configured).

[0090] exist Figure 6In operation 607, ECS 151 determines an EES list to be provided to the UE. For example, ECS 151 may provide an EES list that includes all or some of the EESs registered with the ECS, or may configure the EES list by selecting EESs based on specific conditions. As another example, ECS 151 may use the UE's location information to select an EES accessible to the UE. If the UE subnet information is provided in operation 605, the EES list may be configured by selecting an EES with subnet information that matches the UE subnet information.

[0091] In operation 609, the ECS 151 sends a provisioning response including the EES list determined in operation 607 and EES information (hereinafter referred to as EES list information) for identifying the EES in the list located in the subnet connected to the UE to the EEC 111 of the UE. The EES list information may include at least one of the edge subnet ID, edge subnet mask, EES connection information (EES endpoint address, DNN, network slice information, etc.) and EES service area required to establish a session with the EES. The EES endpoint address, DNN, network slice information and EES service area are combined with the above Figure 5 The same as those described in the embodiment.

[0092] Table 4 below shows the Figure 6 An example configuration of a provisioning response message of an embodiment.

[0093] [Table 4]

[0094]

[0095] exist Figure 6 In operation 611, the UE's EEC 111 receiving the provisioning response applies the edge subnet mask provided by the ECS 151 to the UE IP address to identify the UE subnet ID. The UE selects an EES 153 having an edge subnet ID matching the UE subnet ID from the list provided by the ECS 151 and attempts to connect to the EES 153.

[0096] exist Figure 5 and Figure 6 In an embodiment, the method for a UE to obtain UE subnet information is as follows. The SMF managing the UE's session may send, via the protocol configuration option, the subnet mask and subnet ID information to which the UE is currently connected or which can be connected to the UE. This is a method for providing non-access stratum signaling over a 3GPP network.

[0097] exist Figure 5 and Figure 6In the above embodiment, instead of using the UE's subnet and the EES's subnet information, the following operations can be performed using the Data Network Access Identifier (DNAI) information of each EES. For example, the SMF can provide DNAI information mapped to the EES accessible via the UPF to which the UE is currently connected, and when the provisioning request is sent from the UE to the ECS, the DNAI information mapped to the EES can be included instead of the subnet ID. Specific embodiments are described below.

[0098] Figure 7 1 is a diagram illustrating a DNAI-based EES selection method in a hierarchical edge computing system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. To this end, an EES list and edge subnet information are sent to the UE.

[0099] exist Figure 7 In operation 701, EES 153 sends an EES registration request including connection information (e.g., EES DNAI information) with the UPF to ECS 151. The EES registration request may also include EES connection information (e.g., FQDN and IP address) or EES service area information. At least one of the EES DNAI information / EES connection information (e.g., EES endpoint address, DNN, or network slice information) / EES service area may be set in the EES by the edge computing service provider or network operator. The EES endpoint address, DNN, network slice information, and EES service area may be combined with the above information. Figure 5 The same as those described in the embodiment.

[0100] In operation 703 , the ECS 151 stores the received EES DNAI information and sends an EES registration response including an EES registration result to the EES 153 .

[0101] Afterwards, in Figure 7 In operation 705, the UE sends a provisioning request including UE DNAI information to the ECS 151. To this end, the UE may perform the following operations before sending the provisioning request. The EEC 111 in the UE receives DNAI information of the data network for which the session is established from the 3GPP core network through the UPF to which the UE is connected. To this end, the SMF may perform an operation to carry the DNAI of the data network to which the UE is currently connected through a protocol configuration option to the UE. The UE may store the DNAI information thus obtained in the UE and may not include the DNAI information in the UPF. Figure 7 In the provisioning request of operation 705 .

[0102] exist Figure 7In operation 707, ECS 151 determines an EES list to be provided to the UE. For example, ECS 151 may provide an EES list including all or some of the EESs registered in the ECS, or may configure the EES list by selecting the EESs by applying specific conditions. When UE DNAI information is received in operation 705, an EES having the same DNAI information as the UE DNAI may be selected, or an EES list consisting of EESs having DNAI values ​​associated with UPFs close to the UPFs corresponding to the UE DNAI may be configured. In the network configuration, EES access priorities may be marked in the EES list in the order of being closer to the UPFs corresponding to the UE DNAI. As another example, when UE DNAI information is not received in operation 705, ECS 151 may use the UE's location information, application information within the UE, UE ID, or UE connectivity information to select an EES accessible to the UE.

[0103] exist Figure 7 In operation 709, the ECS 151 sends a provisioning response including EES information (the EES list determined in operation 707) for identifying an EES located in the UE connection subnet in the EES list (EES list information) to the UE. The EES list information may include at least one of EES DNAI information, EES connection information (EES endpoint address, DNN, network slice information, etc.), and EES service area.

[0104] In operation 711 , the UE receiving the provisioning response compares the DNAI received from the 3GPP core network (SMF) via a non-access stratum (NAS) message with the EES DNAI information and EES connection information provided by the ECS 151 , selects a matching EES, and attempts to connect to the EES 153 .

[0105] As another embodiment, a method for performing an operation without sending UE DNAI information from EEC 111 to ECS 151 is as follows. ECS 151 may use the network exposure service of the 3GPP core network to obtain a DNAI value mapped to the UPF / data network connected to the UE (the DNAI value is the same as the value of the UPF / data network connected to the UE). Figure 7 In an embodiment, the DNAI value is the same as the DNAI value received by the UE through 3GPP core network NAS signaling. The ECS 151 can identify / compare the DNAI value obtained via the 3GPP core network with the DNAI obtained from the EES 153, select (determine) the EES 153 to which the UE will connect, and provide the selected (determined) EES connection information to the UE via a provisioning response.

[0106] Figure 8is a view illustrating another method for a UE to select an EES to be accessed from an EES list provided by an ECS in a hierarchical edge computing system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0107] exist Figure 8 In operation 801, the EES 153 transmits an EES registration request including information about the layer in which the EES 153 is installed / configured (hereinafter referred to as layer information) to the ECS 151 via the EES registration process. For example, the layer information about the layer in which the EES 153 is installed may be included in the EES connection information, or a separate indication may be used to include a far / near edge indicator (or an indicator indicating the EDN of a corresponding layer among the first to n-th EDNs divided into n layers) in the registration request as a leading / trailing edge distinguisher or in combination with the above. Figure 3 and Figure 4 The embodiment describes the far edge / near edge, and transmits the registration request to the ECS.

[0108] exist Figure 8 In operation 803, the ECS 151 stores the layer information received from the EES 153 and sends an EES registration response including a registration result to the EES 153.

[0109] Afterwards, in Figure 8 In operation 805, the UE provides a provisioning request to the ECS 151, which includes the UE's preference for the far / near edge (which may also be expressed by various other terms, such as preferred EDN information, preferred layer information, or preferred EES information) or the security certificate obtained through the authentication process. The UE preference information can be set in various ways according to the UE type (e.g., smartphone, vehicle, or drone) or subscriber information. For example, in the case of a high-mobility type UE, the UE preference information can be combined with the above Figure 3 Alternatively, the UE preference information may be set according to the subscriber information of the UE user (eg, for a premium subscriber, the far edge / front edge may be selected).

[0110] Table 5 below shows the Figure 8 An example configuration of a provisioning request message of an embodiment.

[0111] [Table 5]

[0112]

[0113] exist Figure 8In operation 807, the ECS 151 that receives the provisioning request may identify, for example, UE preference information or security certificates, compare the provisioning request with, for example, the service level that can be provided to the UE, and determine through which layer of EES 153 the service is provided to the UE. For example, for service differentiation, if the UE subscriber is a premium service user, the ECS 151 may select an EES in the far edge (front edge). Alternatively, the ECS 151 may use the UPF and data network information to which the UE is currently connected to select an EES that can be connected to the corresponding UPF in the shortest transmission distance. Alternatively, the EES may be selected based on information in an application client file provided from the UE (e.g., mobility that needs to be guaranteed, application type, key performance indicator (KPI) requirements, etc.).

[0114] exist Figure 8 In operation 809 , the ECS 151 sends a provisioning response including the selected / determined EES connection information to the UE.

[0115] In another embodiment, as in Figure 8 As shown in the embodiment of , the UE may receive EES information (including far edge indication) to which the UE can currently connect and an EES list from the ECS 151 without sending the UE preference information through the provisioning request of operation 805, and then may perform an EES selection operation.

[0116] Although the above describes a technique for configuring a hierarchical edge computing network based on data transmission distance according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, various other criteria such as network load, service provider's policy, and type of edge computing service, as well as data transmission distance, may be used to configure a hierarchical edge computing network.

[0117] Although the above describes the technology for selecting an EES based on the embodiment, if an ECS layer exists, the method for selecting an ECS can also be performed in the same or similar manner. In addition, the EAS connected to the EES can also be installed / configured in a hierarchical manner, and the method using, for example, subnet ID, subnet mask, DNAI, and UE preference according to the present disclosure can also be applied to EAS selection. The subnet ID and DNAI information according to the present disclosure can correspond to UE geographic location information and can be used in processes related to edge computing systems instead of UE location information.

[0118] Figure 9 901 and a transceiver 903, which can perform wireless communication according to a predetermined communication scheme in a communication system supporting the above-mentioned edge computing service. The processor 901 can control the operation of the transceiver 903 and can use a program (application client (EEC)) installed / stored in the UE, according to the above combination. Figure 1-8 The embodiments described herein provide a method for comprehensively controlling devices receiving edge computing services.

[0119] For example, in a communication system supporting an edge computing service using an EDN including a first server (EES) and a second server (EAS), the first server (EES) provides first configuration information for sending / receiving application data services to / from a UE, the second server (EAS) sends / receives application data services to / from the UE, the UE may include a transceiver 903 and a processor 901, the transceiver 903 and the processor 901 are configured to send a service provisioning request to a third server (ECS) via the transceiver, the third server provides second configuration information for connecting to the first server (EES), and receives a service provisioning response from the third server (ECS) via the transceiver 903 in response to the service provisioning request, the service provisioning response including network identification information related to the first server (EES) or the second server (EAS) (for example, DNAI list information of the first server (EES) or the second server (EAS) that can provide services to the UE).

[0120] Figure 10 is a diagram showing a configuration of a server according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 10 The server may include a processor 1001 and a communication interface 1003, which may perform wired / wireless communication according to a predetermined communication scheme in a communication system supporting the above-mentioned edge computing service. The processor 1001 may control the operation of the communication interface 1003 and may use a program (EAS, EES or ECS) installed / stored in the server, according to the above combination Figure 1-8 The embodiments described herein comprehensively control devices receiving edge computing services. Figure 10 The server may be at least one of EAS, EES, and ECS.

[0121] For example, in a communication system supporting an edge computing service using an EDN including a first server (EES) and a second server (EAS), the first server (EES) provides first configuration information for sending / receiving application data services to / from the UE, the second server (EAS) sends / receives application data services to / from the UE, and the third server (ECS) provides the UE with second configuration information for connecting with the first server (EES). The third server (ECS) may include a communication interface 1003 and a processor 1001, which is configured to receive service provisioning request information from the UE via the communication interface 1003, and send a service provisioning response including network identification information related to the second server or the third server to the UE via the communication interface 1003 in response to the service provisioning request information.

[0122] Although the present disclosure has been described in conjunction with various embodiments, various changes and modifications may occur to those skilled in the art. The present disclosure is intended to cover such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method for enabling user equipment (UE) including an edge enabling client (EEC) in a communication system supporting edge computing services using an edge data network, wherein the edge data network includes an edge enabling server (EES) and an edge application server (EAS) for exchanging application data traffic with the UE, the method comprising: The EEC sends a service provisioning request to the edge configuration server ECS, and the edge configuration server ECS provides configuration information for connecting with the EES; as well as In response to sending the service provisioning request, receiving, by the EEC, a service provisioning response from the ECS, the service provisioning response including information of one or more data network access identifiers DNAI associated with the EES; Wherein, information of the one or more DNAIs is mapped to the EES accessible via a user plane function UPF.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein information of the one or more DNAIs is included in EES list information.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein The edge data network includes one or more EESs and one or more EASs.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein The service provisioning response also includes one or more DNAIs associated with the EAS.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein Receiving the service provisioning response further includes: receiving information of the one or more DNAIs of the EES determined by the ECS, and selecting the EES based on the one or more DNAIs; and Based on the one or more DNAIs connected to the EES.

6. A user equipment (UE) comprising an edge enabling client (EEC) in a communication system supporting edge computing services using an edge data network, the edge data network comprising an edge enabling server (EES) and an edge application server (EAS) for exchanging application data traffic with the UE, the UE comprising: transceiver; as well as A processor configured to: The EEC sends a service provisioning request to an edge configuration server (ECS) via the transceiver, and the ECS provides configuration information for connecting with the EES; as well as In response to sending the service provisioning request, receiving, by the EEC via the transceiver, a service provisioning response from the ECS, the service provisioning response including information of one or more data network access identifiers DNAI associated with the EES; Wherein, information of the one or more DNAIs is mapped to the EES accessible via a user plane function UPF.

7. The UE according to claim 6, wherein: The information of the one or more DNAIs is included in the EES list information.

8. The UE according to claim 6, wherein: The edge data network includes one or more EESs and one or more EASs.

9. The UE according to claim 6, wherein: The service provisioning response also includes one or more DNAIs associated with the EAS.

10. The UE according to claim 6, wherein The processor is further configured to: receiving information of the one or more DNAIs of the EES determined by the ECS, and selecting the EES based on the one or more DNAIs; as well as Based on the one or more DNAIs connected to the EES.

11. A method for an edge configuration server (ECS) to provide configuration information for connecting to an edge enabling server (EES) in a communication system supporting edge computing services using an edge data network, wherein the edge data network includes the EES and an edge application server (EAS) that exchanges application data traffic with a user equipment (UE) including an edge enabling client (EEC), the method comprising: receiving a registration request from the EES via the edge data network, the registration request including one or more data network access identifiers (DNAIs) associated with the EES; as well as Sending a registration response including a registration result to the EES; receiving a service provisioning request from the EEC of the UE; as well as In response to receiving the service provisioning request, sending a service provisioning response to the EEC of the UE, the service provisioning response including information of the one or more DNAIs associated with the EES; Wherein, information of the one or more DNAIs is mapped to the EES accessible via a user plane function UPF.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein The information of the one or more DNAIs is included in the EES list information.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein: The edge data network includes one or more EESs and one or more EASs.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein: The service provisioning response also includes one or more DNAIs associated with the EAS.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein: The one or more DNAIs are determined based on the location information of the UE or DNAI information corresponding to a server accessible via the UPF currently connected to the UE.

16. An edge configuration server (ECS) for providing configuration information for connecting to an edge enabling server (EES) in a communication system supporting edge computing services using an edge data network, the edge data network comprising the EES and an edge application server (EAS) for exchanging application data traffic with a user equipment (UE) comprising an edge enabling client (EEC), the ECS comprising: Communication interface; as well as a processor configured to: receiving a registration request from the EES via the edge data network, the registration request including one or more data network access identifiers DNAI associated with the EES, Sending a registration response including a registration result to the EES, Receive a service provisioning request from the EEC of the UE via the communication interface In response to receiving the service provisioning request, sending a service provisioning response including information of the one or more DNAIs associated with the EES to the EEC of the UE via the communication interface, Wherein, information of the one or more DNAIs is mapped to the EES accessible via a user plane function UPF.

17. The ECS of claim 16, wherein: The information of the one or more DNAIs is included in the EES list information.

18. The ECS of claim 16, wherein: The edge data network includes one or more EESs and one or more EASs.

19. The ECS of claim 16, wherein: The service provisioning response also includes one or more DNAIs associated with the EAS.

20. The ECS of claim 16, wherein: The one or more DNAIs are determined based on the location information of the UE or DNAI information corresponding to a server accessible via the UPF currently connected to the UE.

Images