Application Server Selection by Geographic Area and Service
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Solution Overview
Problem
In edge computing networks, determining a common application server for user equipment located in a specific geographic area that requires access to the same service is challenging, particularly in scenarios like augmented reality gaming and vehicle-to-everything communication.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for determining an application server by utilizing service description information and area location information to identify a common edge application server for terminal devices within a specific area range accessing the same service, involving network elements that receive and process request information to determine the appropriate server.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional application server determination methods are used, then network coverage is wide, but terminal devices in the same geographic area accessing the same service cannot be guaranteed to connect to the same edge application server
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the server determination process into multiple stages: first determining the edge data network based on geographic area and service type, then selecting the specific application server within that network. This segmentation allows for more precise control over server selection while maintaining manageable complexity through structured decision logic.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism involving the network side node that receives terminal device information (location and service type), processes it according to preset rules, and returns appropriate server determination results. This intermediary approach simplifies the complexity by centralizing the decision-making logic in a dedicated processing node.
2Speed
If edge computing services are deployed to optimize resource access, then network transmission delay is reduced, but determining a common application server for devices in a specific area becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring the network side node with preset rules that map geographic areas and service types to specific edge data networks and application servers. When a terminal device provides its location and service type, the node can immediately retrieve the pre-determined server information without complex real-time analysis, thus reducing selection difficulty while maintaining fast resource access.
3Reliability
If application server determination is optimized for specific geographic areas, then service access consistency is improved, but network element processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameters used for server determination from generic network conditions to specific combinations of geographic area and service type. By organizing determination rules according to these specific parameters, the network element can efficiently match terminal devices to appropriate servers using straightforward lookup operations rather than complex analysis, thus improving consistency while limiting processing complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
This application provides a method and an apparatus for determining an application server. The method is performed by a first network element and includes: receiving first request information, where the first request information includes first service description information, the first service description information identifies a service accessed by a terminal device, and the first request information is for requesting to determine first information for the terminal device; and in a case that the terminal device belongs to a first terminal group, determining the first information, where the first information is for determining a first application server for a terminal device in the first terminal group. Based on the foregoing technical solution, a same edge application server can be determined for terminal devices that access a same (specific) service and that are located in a specific area location.