Application Mobility Mechanism for Content Distribution Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
In mobile communication networks, moving content and delivery coordination from the core network to the access network can free up core network resources, improving bandwidth and reliability, but requires devices to be aware of user mobility to coordinate content and services effectively.
Innovation Solution
A mechanism that supports application mobility by decentralizing services from the core network into the access network, allowing access networks to intercept data requests and serve data locally using local file servers or application servers, reducing core network involvement and conserving resources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If content and delivery coordination are moved from the core network to the access network, then core network resources are freed for other purposes improving bandwidth and reliability, but devices in the network must be made aware of user mobility to coordinate content and services
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a mobility management entity that acts as an intermediary between user devices and content delivery networks. This entity tracks user device locations and manages mobility information centrally, allowing access networks to coordinate content delivery without each device needing complex mobility awareness. The intermediary handles the complexity of mobility tracking while enabling simplified local content delivery coordination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts mobility management functionality from individual user devices and concentrates it in a dedicated mobility management entity. By removing the requirement for each device to independently track and manage mobility information, the system reduces device complexity while maintaining the ability to coordinate content delivery across access networks. The extracted mobility management function operates as a separate, specialized component.
2Reliability
If content is moved to a local content server in the access network, then core network resources are freed, but devices need to be made aware of user mobility to coordinate provision of content and services
Solution Approach 1:
The mobility management entity serves as an intermediary that provides centralized mobility tracking and coordination for local content servers. Instead of requiring user devices to independently manage mobility awareness, the intermediary entity monitors device locations and coordinates with local content servers to ensure seamless content delivery. This maintains reliable content provision while reducing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the mobility management entity continuously monitors user device locations and provides real-time mobility information to local content servers. This feedback loop enables automatic coordination of content delivery based on current device locations, ensuring reliable service provision without requiring complex mobility awareness at the device level. The feedback mechanism allows the system to adapt to mobility changes dynamically.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method in an electronic device (470) provides a mechanism for maintaining application mobility in a communication network, such as a content distribution network. In one exemplary embodiment, a user device (460) transitions from a source content server in a first access network (450) of the communication network to a destination content server in a second access network (452) of the communication network. The source content server (470) hands off responsibility for serving the content to the destination content server (572). In some embodiments, a tunnel (864) is created between the source content server (470) and the destination content server (572).