Application-Aware DNS Routing with Cached Edge Locations
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Solution Overview
Problem
In edge computing networks, frequent signaling interactions between terminal devices and session management functions to determine the location of available edge application servers result in excessive communication resource waste and increased latency due to the need for multiple address lookups, especially in scenarios with multiple edge application servers providing the same service but with different IP addresses.
Innovation Solution
A communication method and apparatus that reduces signaling overhead by pre-storing and managing information about the location of edge application servers, using a first entity to determine the necessary address information with reduced interactions between the terminal device and the session management function, thereby optimizing the transmission of DNS request information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the terminal device obtains location information from the SMF network element for each service requirement, then the terminal device can access the nearest available EAS, but massive communication between the SMF network element and terminal devices causes waste of communication resources
Solution Approach 1:
The SMF network element pre-obtains and stores location information of terminal devices before service requirements arise. When a terminal device needs to access a service, the first entity can directly use this pre-stored location information to determine the nearest EAS without real-time communication with the SMF, thereby reducing communication overhead while maintaining accurate service routing
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a first entity (such as a DNS server or edge computing gateway) as an intermediary between the terminal device and the SMF network element. This intermediary caches location information and handles service routing queries, reducing the frequency of direct communications between terminal devices and the SMF network element, thus decreasing communication resource consumption while preserving service access capability
2Measurement precision
If multiple address lookups are performed to determine EAS location, then the terminal device can find the nearest EAS, but the latency increases due to multiple lookups
Solution Approach 1:
Location information of terminal devices is obtained and cached in advance by the first entity before actual service access occurs. This pre-caching eliminates the need for multiple real-time address lookups when determining the nearest EAS, significantly reducing latency while maintaining accurate location-based service routing
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple address lookup operations into a single cached location record. Instead of performing separate lookups for each service requirement, the system merges these queries by using the pre-stored location information for multiple service access decisions, thereby reducing the number of lookups from multiple to one or zero while preserving location accuracy
3Adaptability or versatility
If the SMF network element serves a large quantity of terminal devices with different service requirements, then comprehensive service support is provided, but massive communication is performed resulting in communication resource waste
Solution Approach 1:
The first entity acts as an intermediary that caches location information for multiple terminal devices with different service requirements. This intermediary handles service routing queries for diverse services without requiring each query to communicate with the SMF network element, thereby supporting comprehensive service requirements while reducing communication overhead through centralized caching
Solution Approach 2:
The first entity performs multiple functions: it caches location information, determines nearest EAS for different services, and handles various service routing queries. This multi-functional approach allows the system to support diverse service requirements from multiple terminal devices through a single entity, reducing the need for repeated communications with the SMF network element
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments of this application disclose a communication method and apparatus, and a computer-readable storage medium. The method includes: receiving first request information from a terminal device, where the first request information includes first application identification information; determining second information based on the first application identification information and first information obtained from a session management function network element, where the second information is an extended mechanisms for DNS client subnet option or address information of a local DNS resolver; and sending DNS request information to a central DNS server or the local DNS resolver based on the second information, where the DNS request information includes the first application identification information, and the DNS request information is used to obtain address information of an application server. In embodiments of this application, the second information does not need to be obtained from the session management function network element each time request information that is from the terminal device and that includes application identification information is received, so that exchanging information can be reduced, thereby saving transmission resources.