Base Station Content Caching with Remote Charging Services
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current content services in radio access networks (RAN) are limited by the need for hardening of computing devices at base stations, which restricts the provision of advanced services like content caching and charging, as they can only handle basic operations due to the physical environment, making it difficult to perform more complex services such as charging efficiently.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method and system for content caching with remote charging services in RAN, where data requests are routed through a core network, responses are cached locally at base stations, and data characteristics are transmitted to a remote charging service for billing management, allowing for batching and real-time or batch processing of data for efficient charging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If content services are placed at the base station to be closer to end users, then service efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases due to the need for hardening computing devices in the physical base station environment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a remote charging service as an intermediary component that communicates with the base station over a network. This mediator handles complex charging operations remotely, allowing the base station to provide content caching services without needing to harden sophisticated computing devices locally. The intermediary absorbs the complexity while enabling the simplified base station to deliver efficient services.
2Ease of operation
If basic computing devices are used at the base station due to physical environment constraints, then ease of operation is improved, but functionality is limited to basic content services only
Solution Approach 1:
The base station is designed with multi-functionality by integrating both content caching services and remote charging service interfaces. The universal design allows the same basic device to handle multiple functions: serving content to users, managing local cache, and communicating with the remote charging service for billing. This enables a single device type to perform diverse operations without requiring specialized hardware for each function.
3Adaptability or versatility
If charging services are provided at the base station with content services, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases due to the need for hardened computing devices
Solution Approach 1:
The remote charging service acts as an intermediary that handles charging computations and billing operations remotely. The base station only needs basic computing capabilities to communicate charging requests and receive responses over the network. This intermediary approach enables the base station to adapt to various charging scenarios without needing complex locally hardened computing resources.
4Productivity
If content caching is implemented at the base station, then service efficiency is improved by reducing content retrieval time, but loss of time increases for data transmission to remote charging service
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements preliminary action by caching content locally at the base station before it is needed by users. When a user requests content, the base station can immediately serve it from the local cache without waiting for remote retrieval. The time loss for charging service communications is minimized by batching charging requests or using efficient protocols, while the bulk of content delivery occurs instantly from local storage.
Data Source
AI summary
A RAN based data processing system is configured for content caching with remote charging services. The system can include a base station that includes an antenna, a receiver, a transmitter, a processor, a local cache, and a network interface to a data communications network. The system also can include an RNC coupled to the base station over the data communications network. The system yet further can include a charging service executing in memory of a host computer recording charges for data services provided in the RAN. Finally, the system can include a caching with remote charging module executing by the processor of the base station. The module can include program code enabled to receive a data request from an end user device, to route the request to a content server in a computer communications network through a coupled CN, to receive a response to the request, to cache the response in the local cache, to forward the response to the end user device, and to transmit data characteristic of the response to the charging service external.