Ad-Hoc UE Group EAS Assignment for Mobility and Load Balancing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing 5G systems face challenges in dynamically assigning and managing edge application servers (EAS) for ad-hoc groups of user equipment (UE), particularly in scenarios requiring dynamic and ad-hoc creation and management of UE collections, such as time-sensitive networks and multi-user gaming, due to issues with UE mobility and server load balancing.
Innovation Solution
The method involves storing binding information in a database (UDM/UDR) correlating group identifiers of ad-hoc UE groups with EAS identifiers, allowing SMFs to manage and update these assignments, and ensuring that all UEs within a group receive consistent DNS responses by instructing the EASDF to provide the same EAS ID, thereby facilitating efficient EAS assignment and management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If edge application servers are dynamically assigned to ad-hoc groups of user equipment, then service delivery efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases due to mobility management and group dynamics
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a session management function (SMF) as an intermediary entity that mediates between the edge application servers and ad-hoc groups of user equipment. The SMF maintains binding information correlating group identifiers with EAS identifiers, and manages DNS responses to ensure consistent server assignment. This intermediary layer handles the complexity of dynamic group formation and mobility management, thereby improving service delivery efficiency without exposing the full system complexity to the end entities.
2Loss of time
If consistent EAS assignments are maintained for ad-hoc groups, then latency is reduced, but adaptability decreases when dealing with dynamic group changes and mobility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic binding information that can be updated in real-time to reflect changes in ad-hoc group composition and mobility status. The session management function monitors group dynamics and adjusts EAS assignments accordingly, maintaining consistency within each group while adapting to overall system changes. This dynamic approach allows the system to reduce latency through consistent assignments while simultaneously adapting to dynamic group changes and user mobility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs feedback mechanisms where the session management function receives updates about group identifier changes and mobility events, processes this information, and generates appropriate DNS responses to maintain consistent EAS assignments. The feedback loop ensures that latency is minimized by keeping UEs connected to their assigned EAS while the system adapts to dynamic changes through continuous monitoring and updating of binding information.
3Stability of the object's composition
If binding information is stored and managed centrally, then assignment consistency is improved, but information management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The session management function serves multiple functions simultaneously: it manages binding information between group identifiers and EAS identifiers, handles DNS responses for ad-hoc groups, monitors mobility events, and maintains assignment consistency. By consolidating these diverse functions into a single multi-functional entity, the system achieves assignment consistency while avoiding the complexity that would arise from distributing these management tasks across multiple separate components.
Data Source
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AI summary
Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for the assignment of a common edge application server (EAS) for ad-hoc groups of user equipment (UE). A method may include generating or updating binding information comprising a correlation between a group identifier of an ad-hoc group of user equipment (UE) and an edge application server (EAS) identifier assigned to the ad-hoc group, and storing, updating, and/or deleting the binding information, or causing the binding information to be stored, in a database.