ALTO Server Path Cost Decomposition for Mobile Endpoint Selection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current mobile network systems face challenges in optimizing application layer traffic over multi-access technology networks, particularly in providing Quality of Experience (QoE) for users while minimizing network costs, as they lack detailed insights into access technology costs and end-to-end routing costs, which impact the selection of optimal connection endpoints.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution extends the ALTO protocol to provide cost values based on access technology used at the first hop, allowing User Equipment (UE) to request and receive path cost information from ALTO Servers, which decompose the ALTO coverage zone into local and ISP network views, enabling scalable awareness of access technology costs and end-to-end routing costs for informed endpoint selection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If detailed path cost information including access technology costs is provided to UE, then endpoint selection optimization and QoE are improved, but network information service complexity and signaling overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The ALTO coverage zone is decomposed into local and ISP network views, with separate path cost calculations for each segment. The local view handles access technology costs while the ISP view handles core network costs, allowing detailed information to be provided without overwhelming the entire system with complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Path costs are extended from traditional single-dimension routing metrics to multi-dimensional costs including access technology type (3GPP, non-3GPP), cost values, and network view segmentation. This dimensional expansion enables precise endpoint selection while organizing information in a structured manner that manages complexity.
2Productivity
If multi-access technology support with detailed cost information is implemented, then endpoint selection and load balancing are optimized, but signaling overhead and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The network information service pre-calculates and stores path costs for multiple access technologies and endpoints before UE requests are made. This preliminary computation allows UEs to quickly retrieve and compare cost information without triggering extensive real-time calculations, reducing signaling overhead and processing time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts path cost parameters based on access technology type, network conditions, and load balancing requirements. By changing cost parameters rather than recalculating entire paths, the system optimizes endpoint selection efficiently while minimizing signaling overhead.
Data Source
AI summary
In an embodiment, there is provided a method for optimization of application layer traffic carried by an IP connection over a multi-access technology mobile network between a User Equipment UE and an IP connection endpoint in an IP network, the optimization being based on network information provided using a network information service, the network information including path costs capable of indicating preferences in terms of network paths for the IP connection, the preferences in terms of network paths including preferences in terms of access technologies.