Edge Service Discovery for Shared 5G Application Server Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for discovering edge services in 5G communication systems are limited to single terminal devices and cannot meet the low-latency requirements of multiple terminal devices accessing the same service, such as in interactive augmented reality games.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for discovering an edge service that allows multiple terminal devices to connect to the same edge application server or server in the same edge network, reducing interaction delays by determining a shared application server address for terminal devices within a group or edge network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If a DNS-based service discovery mechanism is used for edge services, then a terminal device can obtain an edge application server address, but the method cannot meet low-latency requirements of multiple terminal devices accessing the same service
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the service discovery process for multiple terminal devices by having the network side determine a shared application server address for devices accessing the same service. The network element obtains service information including a service identifier and determines whether terminal devices should access the same application server based on this shared information, thereby reducing interaction delays while maintaining service discovery functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a network element as an intermediary that performs the service discovery determination. This network element obtains service information from the terminal device, determines whether multiple terminals should access the same application server, and provides the determined application server address to the terminal devices, thereby resolving the latency issue without requiring direct peer-to-peer coordination.
2Productivity
If a DNS-based service discovery mechanism is used, then edge service discovery is enabled for single terminal device, but it cannot support multiple terminal devices accessing the same service with low latency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the network element determine the shared application server address before the terminal devices need to access the service. The network element obtains service information, determines whether terminals should access the same server, and prepares the application server address in advance, eliminating the need for real-time discovery queries and reducing interaction delays.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback through the network element that receives service information from terminal devices, determines the appropriate application server address, and provides this feedback to the terminal devices. This feedback mechanism enables efficient service discovery for multiple devices while maintaining low latency by using the service information already available from the terminal devices.
Data Source
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AI summary
This application provides a method and an apparatus for discovering an edge service. The method includes: A first network element receives first information, where the first information includes first service information. The first network element receives second information, where the second information includes first domain name information. When the first domain name information corresponds to the first service information, the first network element determines, for a first terminal device, an application server that is the same as that of a second terminal device or an application server in an edge network that is the same as that of a second terminal device. The first network element sends a first rule to indicate a second network element to send first application server address information to the first terminal device, or the first network element sends a third rule, where the third rule includes second option information, and the second option information is used by a DNS server to determine application server address information. The method provided in this application can be used to determine a same application server or an application server in a same edge network for terminal devices belonging to a same terminal group, and reduce an interaction delay between the terminal devices in the terminal group.