Edge Resource Selection via Trusted Location Indicators
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile devices face challenges in determining the optimal and secure edge resources for connectivity, especially in scenarios without pre-existing cellular roaming agreements, due to the lack of reliable location information and trust in access networks.
Innovation Solution
The solution leverages the OpenRoaming technology to establish a trusted identity and location for mobile devices, allowing service providers to authenticate and authorize access to visited networks, thereby determining the optimal interconnect point for edge services by using a federation of wireless network providers, which includes obtaining an access identifier to derive the access location and selecting appropriate edge resources based on resource policies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If mobile devices use multiple access technologies for connectivity, then connectivity flexibility is improved, but determining optimal edge resources becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a service provider edge as an intermediary that mediates between mobile devices and edge resources. This intermediary maintains trusted location indicators and uses them to determine optimal edge resources, thereby simplifying the selection process for devices with multiple access technologies while maintaining connectivity flexibility
2Reliability
If trusted location indicators are used for edge resource selection, then security and reliability are improved, but the system requires pre-existing trusted relationships between networks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal trusted location indicator framework that can be used across different network types and access technologies. The service provider edge maintains these indicators in a location database that serves multiple functions: authentication, location tracking, and edge resource selection, enabling reliable operation across diverse networks without requiring separate trusted relationships for each network type
3Reliability
If devices are tethered to specific network ports for security, then authentication reliability is improved, but mobility and access flexibility are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from static port-based authentication to dynamic trusted location indicator-based authentication. Instead of tethering devices to specific physical ports, the system uses dynamically updated location indicators that track device movement across networks. This allows devices to maintain authenticated sessions while moving between access points and networks, preserving both security and mobility
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are provided to use a trusted identity and location to select the most appropriate point of interconnect to edge application execution environments as well as a specific edge application execution environment. The techniques may involve obtaining, on behalf of a wireless mobile device, an access identifier that indicates an access location of the wireless mobile device that is wirelessly connected to wireless network infrastructure equipment operated by an access network provider that is associated with, and a member of, a federation of access network providers. The access location for the wireless mobile device is derived based on the access identifier, and the access location is used to select an edge resource to be used by the wireless mobile device.