Dynamic Transcoder Placement in Mobile Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mobile communication networks lack the ability for the Base Station Controller (BSC) to intelligently decide on the placement of transcoding functionality within the Radio Access Network (RAN) or the Core Network, leading to potential unavailability of transcoding resources in the Core Network due to a lack of knowledge about Media Gateway capabilities.
Innovation Solution
The BSC and Mobile Switching Center Server (MSC-S) collaborate to determine the availability of transcoding resources, with the MSC-S providing Transcoding Request Information (TRI) to the BSC, allowing it to select the placement of transcoding functionality on a call-by-call basis between the Transcoder and Rate Adapter Unit (TRAU) and the Media Gateway (MGW), enabling informed decisions based on codec type and resource availability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If transcoder functionality is moved from GERAN to core network, then resource utilization is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to potential unavailability of transcoding resources in core network
Solution Approach 1:
The MSC-S performs preliminary actions by determining and storing the availability of transcoding resources in the core network before actual call setup. The Transcoding Request Information (TRI) is prepared in advance and sent to the BSC, enabling the BSC to make informed decisions about transcoder placement without risking resource unavailability during call establishment.
2Loss of time
If BSC makes autonomous decision on transcoder placement, then decision speed is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to lack of knowledge about Media Gateway capabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The MSC-S provides feedback to the BSC through the Transcoding Request Information (TRI) message, which contains specific information about Media Gateway capabilities and transcoding resource availability. This feedback mechanism enables the BSC to make accurate autonomous decisions on transcoder placement by relying on up-to-date information from the core network about which codecs can be transcoded and where the transcoding functionality is available.
3Reliability
If transcoder functionality is placed in GERAN, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases due to duplication of transcoder resources in both RAN and core network
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamic transcoder placement where the location of transcoding functionality (in RAN or core network) is not fixed but can be determined on a per-call basis. The BSC dynamically decides whether to use local transcoder resources in the RAN or to utilize transcoding resources in the core network, based on real-time information about resource availability and network conditions. This dynamic approach eliminates the need for permanent duplication of transcoder resources in both locations.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides for a dynamic transcoder placement in case that transcoding functionality for codecs is offered in a TRAU associated to a Base Station Controller and/or a MGW selected for a call.