Edge Application Context Relocation via Target EES Coordination
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Solution Overview
Problem
In edge computing scenarios, efficiently relocating an application context from a source edge application server (EAS) to a target EAS to ensure service continuity when a terminal device changes location or network path updates is challenging.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a terminal device determining a target edge enabler server (EES) that supports application context relocation (ACR), requesting the EES to execute ACR, and coordinating with the EES and target EAS to perform ACR through phases like detection, decision, execution, and cleanup, leveraging edge configuration server (ECS) information for capability assessment and selection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If application context relocation is performed between EASs to ensure service continuity, then service stability is improved, but system complexity increases due to coordination between multiple components
Solution Approach 1:
The target EES acts as an intermediary that coordinates the ACR process between the terminal device and target EAS. The terminal device requests the target EES to execute ACR, and the target EES manages the relocation process, including discovering the target EAS and triggering context transfer, thereby simplifying the overall system coordination
Solution Approach 2:
The ACR process is divided into distinct phases: ACR detection (performed by terminal device), ACR decision (performed by terminal device), ACR execution (performed by target EES), and post-ACR clean up (performed by target EES and target EAS). This segmentation allows each component to perform specific functions, reducing overall system complexity
2Speed
If the terminal device performs ACR detection and decision, then response speed is improved, but device load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal device performs only the necessary ACR detection and decision functions, while delegating the more resource-intensive ACR execution to the target EES. This partial action approach allows the terminal device to maintain fast response capability without bearing the full computational load of the entire ACR process
3Productivity
If the target EES executes ACR including modifying user plane path and discovering target EAS, then ACR execution efficiency is improved, but network complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The target EES is designed to perform multiple functions: managing target EAS registration, discovering target EAS, modifying user plane path, and triggering application context transfer. This multi-functionality consolidates several operations into a single network entity, improving ACR execution efficiency while managing network complexity through centralized control
Data Source
AI summary
This application provides an application context relocation ACR method, a communication method, and a related apparatus and system, to relocate an application context between application instances EASs. The ACR method includes: determining a target edge enabler server EES, where the target EES is an EES that supports a first ACR scenario, and the first ACR scenario is a scenario in which the target EES executes ACR; and requesting the target EES to execute ACR. In the ACR method, the target EES that supports the first ACR scenario is determined and the target EES is requested to execute ACR, so that ACR can be completed via the target EES.