Edge Computing Proxy for Mobile CDN Latency Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Content delivery networks (CDNs) face challenges in reducing latency for end-users, especially in mobile networks, as they typically do not have access to detailed network location information of mobile devices, leading to higher latency and scalability issues.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system with multi-access edge computing that includes a zone-specific proxy and surrogate CDN server hosted by an edge computing device, which modifies content requests to identify its network location and forwards them to the CDN server, allowing for reduced latency and improved scalability without requiring architectural modifications to the CDN system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If CDNs deliver content from external servers outside the mobile network, then content delivery coverage is achieved, but end-to-end latency increases and network location awareness is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the CDN architecture by deploying surrogate servers within individual mobile network edge locations (e.g., at base station aggregators) rather than using a single external CDN infrastructure. This segmentation allows content to be cached and delivered from multiple distributed edge locations, reducing latency for mobile users while maintaining the overall CDN functionality through modular deployment units.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new spatial dimension to CDN deployment by moving content delivery from the traditional external network backbone to the internal mobile network edge infrastructure. This dimensional shift enables content to be delivered from locations physically closer to mobile users, fundamentally changing the delivery path and reducing latency without requiring complete architectural replacement.
2Loss of information
If CDNs use external servers outside mobile network, then content delivery is enabled, but access to detailed network location information is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary component within the mobile network edge that acts as a local CDN surrogate server. This intermediary maintains proximity to mobile network location information while still providing content delivery services, effectively bridging the gap between external CDN capabilities and internal network awareness without requiring direct integration of external systems.
3Measurement precision
If CDNs track all service sessions for every mobile terminal, then content delivery accuracy is improved, but system scalability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the session tracking and content delivery management functions from a centralized external CDN system and places them at distributed mobile network edge locations. Each edge surrogate server independently manages local content delivery without requiring centralized tracking of all mobile terminal sessions, thereby maintaining delivery accuracy through local optimization while eliminating the scalability bottleneck of centralized session management.
Data Source
AI summary
Technologies for mobile content delivery include an edge computing device, a mobile terminal, and a content delivery network server. The edge computing device has a network location between the mobile terminal and a core network, and the content delivery network server is accessed through the core network. The edge computing device receives a content request from the mobile terminal and modifies the content request to identify the network location of a zone-specific proxy of the edge computing device. The edge computing device forwards the content response to the content delivery network server. The content delivery network server may send a content response to the zone-specific proxy or the mobile terminal. The content response identifies an address of a network content resource. The network content resource is located at a surrogate content delivery network server of the edge computing device. Other embodiments are described and claimed.