Cloud Edge Substrate Extensions for Low Latency Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cloud computing platforms face challenges in providing low latency computing resources to end users due to physical constraints such as network distance and number of network hops between end user devices and centralized data centers, limiting the achievement of very low latencies required for applications like game streaming, virtual reality, and autonomous vehicles.
Innovation Solution
Deploying provider substrate extensions within communications service provider networks, such as 5G-enabled provider substrate extensions connected to carrier networks, to bring computing resources closer to end users, thereby reducing latency and enhancing responsiveness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If computing resources are provisioned from centralized data centers, then resource pooling and management efficiency are improved, but network distance and number of network hops increase, resulting in higher latency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the centralized cloud provider network into multiple geographically distributed edge locations. Each edge location acts as an independent segment that can locally provision computing resources, thereby reducing network distance and latency while maintaining the resource pooling benefits of the overall segmented network architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a spatial dimension to cloud resource deployment by establishing edge locations across multiple geographic regions. This dimensional expansion allows users to access computing resources from the nearest edge location, dramatically reducing network hops and access latency while preserving centralized management capabilities.
2Loss of time
If edge locations are deployed within communications service provider networks, then access latency is reduced, but device complexity and network integration requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal edge location architecture that can be deployed within various communications service provider networks regardless of their specific network technologies (e.g., 5G, 4G, fiber). The standardized edge location design provides multi-functionality, serving as a universal interface between cloud computing resources and diverse network infrastructures, thereby reducing deployment complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The edge location acts as an intermediary between the cloud provider network and communications service provider networks. This intermediary layer abstracts the complexity of network integration, providing a standardized interface that simplifies connectivity while enabling direct local access to computing resources for reduced latency.
3Speed
If provider substrate extensions are deployed closer to end users, then responsiveness is improved, but infrastructure complexity and deployment difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs preliminary action by pre-configuring edge locations with necessary computing infrastructure and networking capabilities before deployment. Provider substrate extensions are prepared in advance with standardized configurations, including pre-established connections to communications service provider networks, which simplifies the actual deployment process and reduces on-site complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The edge location architecture enables self-service deployment through automated provisioning and configuration capabilities. The system can automatically establish connections, allocate resources, and configure networking parameters, reducing the need for manual intervention and simplifying deployment despite the distributed infrastructure complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are described for enabling users of a cloud provider network to discover “availability groups” provided by a cloud provider network and to request the launch of computing resources into selected availability groups. Some cloud provider networks are expanding the definition of traditional “availability zones” to include new types of availability zones representing various types of provider substrate extension edge locations—including, for example, cloud-provider managed substrate extensions associated with separate control planes, 5G-enabled provider substrate extensions connected to communications service provider networks, and the like. Availability groups can be used to represent various defined collections these new types of provider substrate extensions, where each availability group may be defined such that includes a set of provider substrate extensions with a similar set of characteristics and capabilities.