Mobile Edge Node Cache Allocation for Wireless Networks

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Solution Overview

Problem

Centralized cloud solutions face bandwidth bottlenecks due to increasing content sizes, such as high-resolution videos and lossless audio, which can be exacerbated by infrastructure limitations beyond the datacenter's control, leading to network congestion and high costs for upgrading backbone connections.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a method in a wireless communications network to allocate content portions to mobile edge node caches based on the expected path and coverage areas of mobile devices, adjusting allocations in response to changes in device speed and path deviations, and using a combination of default and dynamic allocation strategies to optimize cache storage and reduce latency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If content is stored in centralized datacenters, then content delivery is simplified, but network bandwidth bottlenecks worsen due to increasing content sizes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontent delivery architectureVSAvoidnetwork bandwidth
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the centralized content delivery system into distributed edge nodes positioned throughout the network. Each edge node stores local copies of popular content, dividing the delivery burden across multiple locations rather than relying on a single centralized datacenter. This segmentation reduces the bandwidth burden on any single network path while maintaining content availability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a spatial dimension to content delivery by deploying edge nodes at multiple geographic locations along user travel paths. Instead of content flowing through a single centralized point, the system creates a multi-dimensional delivery network where content can be retrieved from the nearest edge node, effectively adding a spatial optimization layer to the delivery architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Quantity of substance

If additional networking infrastructure is installed to widen datacenter backbone throughput, then network capacity increases, but costs increase and downstream bottlenecks remain

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork throughputVSAvoidinfrastructure cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the content storage function from the centralized datacenter and places it at distributed edge nodes closer to end users. This extraction eliminates the need to upgrade expensive backbone infrastructure by moving content delivery to the network edge, where local caches can serve users without traversing the high-cost core network.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces edge nodes as intermediary components between the centralized datacenter and end users. These intermediaries cache and serve popular content locally, reducing the volume of traffic that must traverse the expensive backbone infrastructure. The edge nodes act as buffer layers that protect the core network from bandwidth bottlenecks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Quantity of substance

If content is cached at mobile edge nodes, then network congestion is reduced, but cache allocation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork congestionVSAvoidcache allocation system
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-allocating content to edge nodes based on predicted user behavior and historical data. Before users actually request content, the system proactively caches popular items at appropriate edge nodes along anticipated user paths. This advance preparation reduces real-time allocation complexity and ensures content is readily available when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms that monitor user movement patterns, content access behavior, and cache performance. This feedback information is used to dynamically adjust content allocation decisions, optimizing which content resides at which edge nodes. The feedback loop continuously refines the allocation strategy, managing complexity through data-driven automation rather than static rules.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

4Loss of time

If content is pre-allocated to edge nodes based on expected user paths, then content delivery latency is reduced, but allocation accuracy may decrease when users deviate from expected paths

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontent delivery latencyVSAvoidallocation adaptability to path deviations
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the content allocation system adaptive rather than static. When user movement patterns deviate from predictions, the system dynamically adjusts cache allocations in real-time. Edge nodes can request additional content from the datacenter or neighboring nodes based on actual user behavior, allowing the system to maintain low latency even when users take unexpected paths.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes key parameters of the allocation system based on observed conditions. When users deviate from expected paths, the system modifies allocation parameters such as cache size, content selection criteria, and data refresh rates. These parameter adjustments allow the system to balance between the benefits of pre-allocation and the need to adapt to actual user behavior patterns.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS10015695B2Allocation of content to mobile edge node caches
Publication Date: 2018.07.03 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
  • US10015695B2 patent drawing
  • US10015695B2 patent drawing
  • US10015695B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A computing device in a wireless communications network identifies content to be transmitted to a mobile device in the wireless communications network. The computing device also determines mobile edge nodes that serve radio coverage areas at different positions along a path that the mobile device is expected to take while receiving the content. Further, the computing device allocates, for storage in respective caches of the mobile edge nodes, different portions of the content that are expected to be served by different mobile edge nodes as the mobile device moves along the path.