Mobile Edge Service Relocation via Shadow Copy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobile edge computing systems face significant latency issues during service relocation between different mobile edge servers due to user mobility, which can lead to service disruptions and increased latency.
Innovation Solution
The system synchronizes the relocation of services from a source mobile edge server to a target server with a handover of the user equipment, using a shadow copy mechanism to prepare the target server before the handover, allowing for a hot swap without additional data transfer, thereby minimizing service disruption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If service relocation is performed between mobile edge servers due to user mobility, then service optimization (latency, load balancing) is improved, but additional latency and service disruption occur during the relocation process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing service relocation in advance of the actual handover event. The source ME server proactively transfers service data to the target ME server before the UE handover is triggered, so that when handover occurs, the target server is already prepared and can immediately take over service provision without additional latency or disruption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies the skipping principle by eliminating the traditional sequential process where service relocation waits for handover completion. Instead, the service data transfer is rushed through and completed beforehand, skipping the waiting period and enabling seamless service continuation during handover.
2Adaptability or versatility
If service relocation is performed after handover detection, then service follows user mobility, but significant latency is introduced due to the relocation process
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary service relocation based on predicted handover events or proactive triggers before the actual handover occurs. This allows the service data to be transferred in advance to the target ME server, so when handover is detected, the relocation is already complete or near-complete, minimizing the time loss while maintaining adaptability to user mobility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics by making the service relocation timing flexible and adaptive rather than fixed. The system can trigger relocation proactively based on various conditions (load balancing, predicted handover, latency thresholds) rather than waiting for a static handover detection event, optimizing the balance between service mobility tracking and relocation time.
Data Source
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AI summary
A service provided by a mobile edge server is relocated. A base station associated with the mobile edge server sends a control message to a mobile edge system, the control message being indicative of a predicted handover of the terminal from the base station to one or more candidate base stations.