Application Service Platform Context Handover for Access Nodes

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Solution Overview

Problem

In telecommunications networks, the mobility of user equipment (UE) can cause disruptions in application services as the access node changes, leading to a lack of essential information and complex routing of user plane traffic, which affects the usability and latency of services.

Innovation Solution

Implementing an application service platform at both the source and target access nodes, where the context of the UE is moved from the source AS platform to the target AS platform during handover, using handover-related control signaling to ensure seamless service provision and reduce delays.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the application service remains at the source access node while the UE handovers to the target access node, then the application service can maintain its current state, but the UE loses access to the application service and essential information from the access node

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapplication service availabilityVSAvoidservice routing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the application service platform with both the source and target access nodes. By implementing the application service platform at both locations and moving the UE context between them during handover, the system ensures continuous service availability while simplifying routing, as the service remains locally accessible at the current serving access node.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a copy of the application service platform at both the source and target access nodes. When handover occurs, the UE context is moved from the source to the target platform, enabling the service to be replicated and relocated without loss of functionality, thus maintaining reliability while managing complexity through standardized context transfer mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Reliability

If the UE context is moved during handover, then service continuity is maintained, but additional signaling and processing time are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice continuityVSAvoidhandover delay

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent prepares the target access node's application service platform in advance by pre-configuring it to receive the UE context. The context transfer is initiated as part of the handover preparation phase, allowing the target platform to be ready before the actual handover occurs, thus minimizing service interruption and reducing handover delay.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent ensures continuous service provision by maintaining the application service platform at both source and target access nodes simultaneously. The context move is performed seamlessly during handover, allowing the service to continue without interruption. The target platform immediately assumes service provision once context transfer is complete, eliminating gaps in service delivery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Adaptability or versatility

If the application service is provided at a remote access node, then centralized service management is achieved, but traffic routing becomes complex and latency increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice management flexibilityVSAvoidtraffic routing speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic service provisioning model where the application service platform is instantiated at multiple access nodes and can dynamically relocate with the UE context during handover. This allows the service to be distributed closer to the user when needed, reducing traffic routing distance and latency while maintaining centralized management capabilities through standardized context transfer protocols.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2883374B1Method, apparatuses and computer program product for moving a UE context at application service handover between access nodes

Publication Date: 2021.01.06 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)

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AI summary

A telecommunications network is accessible to a user equipment (10) via at least a first access node (110A) or a second access node (110B). For supporting one or more application services which are accessible to the user equipment via the first access node (110A) or via the second access node (110B), a first application service platform (150A) is provided at the first access node (110A), and a second application service platform (150B) is provided at the second access node (110B). Via the first application service platform (150A) at the first access node (100A) an application service is provided to the user equipment (10) which is connected to the first access node (110A). At handover of the user equipment (10) from the first access node (110A) to the second access node (110B), a context of the user equipment (10) is moved from the application service platform (150A) at the first access node (110A) to the second application service platform (150B) at the second access node (110B).