Edge ANDSF Network Discovery and Selection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional access network discovery and selection function (ANDSF) technologies experience data throughput bottlenecks, delays, errors, and higher operational costs due to reliance on core network servers, leading to potential broad disruptions in service.

Innovation Solution

Implementing an edge-based ANDSF system that locates ANDSF functionality at the edge of the radio access network, allowing for localized data access and storage, reducing memory requirements, and enabling the use of lower-cost, more readily available hardware, while also providing redundant data for failover capabilities and supplementary information like user preferences and behavior models.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If ANDSF functionality is implemented using core network servers, then centralized control and management is achieved, but data throughput bottlenecks, delays, and higher operational costs occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecentralized controlVSAvoiddata throughput

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the centralized ANDSF functionality into distributed edge ANDSF components deployed at multiple network edge locations. Each edge ANDSF component serves a specific geographic region or network slice, eliminating the single-point bottleneck in core network servers while maintaining coordinated control through standardized interfaces and policies.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a spatial dimension to ANDSF deployment by distributing functionality across multiple geographic locations (edge networks) rather than concentrating it in a single core network location. This dimensional transformation enables parallel processing of ANDSF requests and reduces latency by serving users from the nearest edge location.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Stability of the object's composition

If ANDSF functionality is implemented using core network servers, then system-wide consistency is maintained, but service disruptions affect large numbers of customers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem consistencyVSAvoidservice availability

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the monolithic core network ANDSF system into multiple independent edge ANDSF instances. Each instance can fail or be maintained without affecting others, providing fault isolation. The segmentation enables localized failures to remain contained while other edge instances continue serving their respective regions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements redundancy by deploying multiple edge ANDSF components that can serve as backup to each other. When one edge ANDSF component fails, others can take over its service area, providing beforehand cushioning against failures and ensuring continuous service availability without broad customer impact.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Productivity

If edge-based ANDSF is implemented, then data throughput requirements are reduced and operational costs decrease, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata throughput efficiencyVSAvoidsystem architecture

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs edge ANDSF components with universal functionality that can be deployed across different network technologies and vendor equipment. Standardized interfaces and protocols enable the same edge ANDSF architecture to serve multiple purposes (4G, 5G, Wi-Fi offloading) and integrate with existing network elements, reducing overall system complexity despite distribution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses template-based replication of edge ANDSF components where a standardized configuration can be copied and deployed across multiple edge locations. This copying approach maintains consistency across the distributed system while simplifying deployment and management, reducing the operational complexity that would otherwise arise from customizing each edge instance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

4Speed

If edge-based ANDSF is implemented, then localized data access improves performance, but memory requirements at each edge node increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata access speedVSAvoidmemory resources

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the data storage and processing functions at edge ANDSF nodes, combining local caching of access network information with the ANDSF decision-making logic. This integration allows edge nodes to serve localized requests quickly while sharing data structures and algorithms across nodes, optimizing memory utilization through coordinated data management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS9629076B2Network edge based access network discovery and selection

Publication Date: 2017.04.18 AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I L P

AI summary

An edge device comprising access network discovery and selection function (ANDSF) features is disclosed. An edge device can be a device located at a logical edge of a wireless network. An edge ANDSF component can rank access network resources. The rank can be based on characteristics of an access network resource, a user profile, device resource demands, or a user behavior model. The user profile can comprise information facilitating pre-authentication of a device to an access network resource. Further, the user profile can be considered portable with regard to localized aspects of edge ANDSF components. The user profile provides improved ANDSF feature performance.