Edge Service Continuity in Wireless Networks

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Solution Overview

Problem

In mobile-edge computing, users may connect to cells that do not support edge services, leading to service unavailability and adverse consequences, especially in critical communications like V2X, due to the lack of real-time layer 1 and layer 2 parameter knowledge during cell selection and handover processes.

Innovation Solution

Implementing edge services in access elements and registering them with a service registry to ensure availability, allowing edge service agents to determine service eligibility and configure parameters for real-time service activation and reporting, and advertising edge services to user equipment for informed cell selection and handover decisions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If cell selection and handover decisions are made based on traditional criteria without edge service awareness, then the process is simple and fast, but users may connect to cells that do not support required edge services, leading to service unavailability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveedge service availabilityVSAvoidcell selection complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having radio access nodes advertise their edge service support capability in advance through system information broadcasts. This allows user equipment to make informed cell selection decisions before connecting, ensuring the selected cell can provide required edge services without needing complex real-time verification during the connection process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where radio access nodes publish their edge service capabilities through standardized interfaces (SIBs). This intermediary information layer enables user equipment to autonomously evaluate and select appropriate cells based on both radio conditions and edge service availability, resolving the contradiction between simple selection processes and reliable service delivery.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If edge service information is collected and processed in real-time during cell selection, then service eligibility can be accurately determined, but control plane signaling latency increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice eligibility accuracyVSAvoidcontrol plane signaling latency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent resolves the latency issue by performing edge service capability collection in advance through periodic system information broadcasts from radio access nodes. This preliminary action eliminates the need for real-time control plane signaling during cell selection, as user equipment can directly read pre-published capability information from broadcast channels, thereby maintaining high accuracy in service eligibility determination without increasing signaling latency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If all radio access nodes implement edge services, then service coverage is maximized, but network complexity and deployment difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice coverageVSAvoidnetwork deployment complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making edge service capability information dynamic and selectively published. Radio access nodes only broadcast edge service capability information when they actually support such services, allowing the network to adaptively expand coverage where needed without requiring uniform implementation across all nodes. This dynamic approach enables gradual deployment and flexible service coverage expansion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables self-service by allowing user equipment to autonomously read and interpret edge service capability advertisements from radio access nodes. The UE independently determines service eligibility and makes informed cell selection decisions without requiring centralized network control or complex deployment management, thereby reducing network deployment complexity while maximizing service coverage adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3756380B1Edge service continuity
Publication Date: 2023.08.09 NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
  • EP3756380B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3756380B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3756380B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A user equipment (215) obtains authorized service information on edge services for which the user equipment is authorized, obtains edge service information on edge services provided by access elements (210) to provide access to a wireless communication system (200), and selects a first access element of the access elements based on the authorized service information, the edge service information and radio measurements performed by the user equipment. Handover of the user equipment from the first access element to a second access element is decided based on edge service information on edge services which are provided by the second access element, authorized service information on authorized edge services for the user equipment, and radio measurements provided by the user equipment.