Edge Server Packet Redirection in GPRS Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile data networks, such as GPRS, often rely on centralized gateway elements that can limit the efficient delivery of rich media content to mobile users, as they typically require all IP traffic to pass through a limited number of gateway nodes, which can lead to bandwidth inefficiencies and reduced quality of service.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a point-to-point GTP tunnel between local support nodes and gateway support nodes, with a control element that intercepts and redirects packets to edge servers located closer to mobile terminals, allowing for efficient content delivery while maintaining centralized gateway functions for other purposes like channel establishment and mobility management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If all IP traffic passes through centralized gateway nodes (GGSN), then centralized control and management functions are maintained, but network bandwidth efficiency and quality of service for content delivery deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network traffic flow by introducing edge servers that handle content delivery traffic locally, separating it from the centralized gateway nodes. This segmentation allows content delivery to bypass the bottleneck at centralized gateways, improving bandwidth efficiency while maintaining centralized control for other functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces edge servers as intermediary elements between users and centralized gateway nodes. These edge servers act as mediators that handle content delivery requests locally, reducing the load on centralized gateways and improving overall network efficiency without eliminating centralized control.
2Reliability
If edge servers are introduced for efficient content delivery, then bandwidth efficiency and quality of service improve, but impact on existing centralized infrastructure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by deploying edge servers at specific locations closer to users, providing localized content delivery services. This allows high-quality service delivery locally while maintaining the existing centralized infrastructure for control and management functions, minimizing overall infrastructure impact.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the system so that centralized gateway nodes maintain their existing control and management functions while edge servers handle content delivery. This multi-functionality approach allows the infrastructure to serve multiple purposes without requiring complete redesign, reducing the impact on existing systems.
3Speed
If centralized gateway nodes are used for all IP traffic, then centralized control functions are maintained, but network bandwidth utilization and delivery speed worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds a new dimension to the network architecture by introducing edge servers at the network edge, creating a multi-layered delivery system. This dimensional change allows content delivery to occur through multiple paths (direct local delivery via edge servers or through centralized gateways), improving speed without complicating the core control operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A communications infrastructure, such as a public land mobile network (PLMN) complying with the GPRS standards, is described comprising at least a local support node for packet stream communication with a plurality of terminals and a gateway support node for packet stream communication with an external network, which may be an IP network such as the public internet. The local support node and the gateway support node are arranged for interconnection by a point to point tunnel, a GTP tunnel in the case of GPRS via for instance an IP network, for carrying packets between each terminal and addressed servers on the external network. A control element and one or more edge servers are associated with the local support node. The edge servers are each associated with respective addresses on the external network and the control element is interposed between the local support node and the gateway support node. The control element is arranged in operation to extract from the tunnel packets destined for a predeterminable set of external network addresses and redirect the extracted packets to corresponding ones of the edge servers. Finally, the control element is arranged route packets received from the edge servers to a corresponding terminal via the local support node.