Edge Node Resource Caching via Popularity Sharing

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing wireless communication systems face increased bandwidth consumption and transmission delays due to the need for base stations to continuously forward resource requests through the S1 interface to the gateway device and source sites, even when edge nodes are deployed to cache resources.

Innovation Solution

Deploying edge nodes on each base station and a central node on the gateway device, with a hash table established by the central node to map node identifiers to hash values, allowing edge nodes to share resources and reduce reliance on the S1 interface for resource retrieval by determining the most appropriate node for resource sharing based on popularity information.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If edge nodes are deployed on each base station to cache resources locally, then resource retrieval speed is improved and S1 interface bandwidth consumption is reduced, but when popularity information is collected only locally at each edge node, resources cannot be shared across edge nodes, causing continued bandwidth consumption and delayed caching

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource retrieval speedVSAvoidS1 interface bandwidth consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the popularity information collection functions of multiple edge nodes into a unified system. Edge nodes share popularity information with each other, allowing any edge node to make caching decisions based on aggregated network-wide popularity data rather than isolated local data. This enables resources to be cached at the most appropriate edge node, reducing S1 interface bandwidth consumption and improving resource retrieval speed across the entire network.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a base station as an intermediary that collects popularity information from multiple edge nodes and distributes it back to them. This intermediary mechanism enables edge nodes to access aggregated popularity information without directly communicating with each other, facilitating resource sharing and coordinated caching decisions across the network while reducing redundant S1 interface traffic.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If each edge node independently collects popularity information and caches resources based on local statistics, then local resource access is optimized, but resources cannot be shared across edge nodes, leading to redundant S1 interface communications

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocal resource access efficiencyVSAvoidresource popularity information
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes popularity information universal across the network by enabling all edge nodes to access the same aggregated popularity data. Instead of each edge node maintaining separate local statistics, the system creates a shared view of resource popularity that can be used by any edge node for caching decisions. This multi-functional approach allows any edge node to serve as a cache for popular resources, improving both local access efficiency and resource sharing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If edge nodes continuously request resources from central nodes or source sites, then resource availability is ensured, but transmission delays increase and network efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource availabilityVSAvoidmessage transmission time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by caching resources at edge nodes before they are requested by terminals. By using aggregated popularity information to predict which resources will be needed, the system proactively caches these resources at appropriate edge nodes. This eliminates the need for continuous real-time requests to central nodes or source sites, significantly reducing transmission delays while ensuring resource availability when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3595355B1Resource obtaining method, apparatus and system
Publication Date: 2022.08.24 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3595355B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3595355B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP3595355B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

This application discloses a resource obtaining method, apparatus, and system, and belongs to the wireless communications field. The method includes: When a first edge node receives a first resource obtaining request sent by a second edge node, and a first target resource is not locally cached, the first edge node may determine, by using shared popularity information of the first target resource, whether the first target resource needs to be cached. The shared popularity information of the first target resource is determined by a quantity of obtaining requests for the first target resource that are received by the first edge node from the first edge node and another edge node. Therefore, it is determined, by using the shared popularity information, whether the first target resource needs to be cached, to accelerate a speed of caching the first target resource by the first edge node. In addition, the second edge node directly obtains the first target resource from the first edge node, and does not need to interact with a gateway device, to reduce bandwidth consumption of an interface between a base station and the gateway device.