eNodeB CDN Rerouting for Local Content Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current LTE network architecture restricts the placement of content delivery network (CDN) appliances closer to mobile users due to centralized design, leading to inefficiencies in traffic management and increased complexity for mobile network operators (MNOs), as it does not allow determination of a 'wireless-near' delivery appliance using UE IP addresses and requires handling multiple LTE interfaces for CDN signaling.
Innovation Solution
Modifying the eNodeB to embed a CDN rerouting function, allowing it to retrieve CDN bearer parameters and reroute traffic transparently through a local interface connected to the CDN, without assuming the CDN topology or modifying the evolved packet core architecture, thus enabling CDN appliances to be placed closer to users and optimizing content traffic load.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If CDN appliances are placed closer to mobile users (wireless-near), then content delivery efficiency is improved, but the centralized LTE network architecture prevents determination of wireless-near delivery appliances using UE IP addresses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a new network entity called the CDN Gateway (CDN-GW) that acts as an intermediary between the centralized EPC and the distributed CDN appliances. The CDN-GW receives bearer parameters from the MME via the S1-AP interface, determines the appropriate wireless-near CDN delivery appliance, and establishes a local interface to it. This intermediary resolves the contradiction by enabling wireless-near content delivery without requiring changes to the centralized LTE core network architecture.
2Ease of operation
If dedicated local PGW is deployed IP-near the LTE Cell, then CDN service accessibility is improved, but the UE must handle multiple LTE interfaces and manage complex CDN signaling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the CDN-specific routing and signaling functions from the UE and the traditional PGW, and consolidates them into a dedicated CDN-GW entity. The CDN-GW handles all CDN-related bearer parameter retrieval, delivery appliance selection, and local interface management, freeing the UE from the complexity of managing multiple LTE interfaces and CDN signaling. This extraction resolves the contradiction by improving CDN service accessibility while reducing UE complexity.
3Device complexity
If CDN traffic is routed through centralized PGW, then network control is simplified, but traffic efficiency is reduced due to the single-hop architecture
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the content delivery path from the centralized EPC backbone by introducing a separate CDN-GW entity with a local interface to CDN appliances. CDN traffic is segmented into two paths: control signaling through the centralized MME and actual content traffic through the local CDN-GW interface. This segmentation allows simplified centralized control for signaling while achieving efficient local content delivery, resolving the contradiction between network control simplicity and traffic efficiency.
Data Source
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AI summary
eNodeB (1) of a communication network, the eNodeB comprising a first interface (2) and a second interface (3), in which the first interface is connected to a mobile management entity (MME) of the network, in which the second interface is local to the eNodeB and in which the second interface is connected to a content delivery network (CDN) for the communication network.