CDN Node Selection Using Mobility Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current service node selection mechanisms in mobile networks are inadequate for mobile CDN systems, as they fail to effectively utilize mobile network-specific characteristics such as UE movement and location, leading to inefficiencies in bandwidth usage and latency, and do not adequately address security and charging requirements.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves providing mobile network and UE-specific information to a CDN control node using an enhanced Application Layer Traffic Optimization (ALTO) protocol, which collects and distributes information to enable improved CDN node selection, prioritizing edge nodes based on UE speed, session lifetime, and operator policies, and integrating with other network elements like UDC and OAM systems to optimize CDN service node selection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If a CDN DN below Gi/SGi interface is selected to serve a moving UE, then transport bandwidth saving and latency reduction are improved, but service continuity and reliability deteriorate due to UE mobility and CDN DN relocation risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by obtaining mobility information about the UE before making CDN DN selection decisions. The system proactively assesses UE mobility patterns, current location, and movement trends to pre-determine the most appropriate CDN DN that will maintain service continuity even as the UE moves, rather than reactively switching CDNs after mobility issues arise
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring UE mobility information and using this feedback to dynamically adjust CDN DN selections. The system receives ongoing mobility data from the mobile network, processes this information to assess changing conditions, and adapts CDN DN assignments to maintain both low latency and service continuity as UEs move through the network
2Ease of operation
If IP address is used as location information for CDN server selection in mobile networks, then the selection process is simplified, but selection precision deteriorates because the same IP address is allocated to multiple UEs under the same P-GW/GGSN
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the location information identification into multiple hierarchical levels. Instead of relying solely on the broad IP address level, the system divides location identification into network-level information (from mobility data) and user-level information (specific UE identifiers), allowing precise location determination while maintaining simplified processing through structured data organization
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism by using mobility information as a bridge between the IP address and the actual UE location. The mobility information acts as an intermediate data structure that translates the coarse-grained IP address into fine-grained location details, enabling precise CDN DN selection without requiring direct complex mapping from IP addresses to individual UEs
3Productivity
If CDN DNs are deployed below Gi/SGi interface within mobile networks, then performance is improved, but security and charging control become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback loops that provide mobility and location information back to network control elements responsible for security and charging. By feeding UE mobility information and CDN DN selection data back to the mobile network infrastructure, the system enables these control functions to monitor and manage deployed CDN DNs effectively, maintaining security and charging control despite the distributed deployment architecture
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention refers to providing a service associated to a service request (S1) received from a mobile user equipment -UE- (10), the communications network comprising a plurality of service nodes (21a-21h), a service control node (23) and an application server (24), wherein the service control node (23), in response to the service request, sends a request (S4) to the application server (24) to get selection assistance information with respect to the UE, receives a response (S1 1 ) from the application server (24) comprising selection assistance information, and selects or initiates selecting a service node (21 ) from the plurality of service nodes (21a-21h) in dependency of the selection assistance information. The invention further refers to a control node, an application server and to corresponding programs.