Home Edge Configuration Server Roaming Service Provisioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for an effective method to provide network function exposure services in wireless communication systems, particularly for roaming user equipment (UE) in 5G networks, to support edge computing services and ensure seamless service provisioning across different public land mobile networks (PLMNs).
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that involves a home edge configuration server (hECS) receiving a service provisioning request from a UE, identifying available visited edge configuration servers (vECS) based on the UE's roaming status, and transmitting provisioning information to the UE, allowing the UE to connect to the appropriate vECS for edge computing services.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a roaming UE connects to a visited PLMN, then the UE can access local network resources, but the service provisioning complexity increases due to multiple ECS instances
Solution Approach 1:
The home ECS (hECS) acts as an intermediary between the roaming UE and the visited ECS (vECS). The hECS receives service provisioning requests from the UE, identifies the appropriate vECS based on the visited PLMN, and forwards the request. This intermediary approach simplifies the UE's task by providing a single point of contact (hECS) while still enabling access to multiple vECS instances across different visited networks.
Solution Approach 2:
The service provisioning function is segmented into two distinct components: the home ECS (hECS) that manages UE-specific provisioning and the visited ECS (vECS) that provides local network services. This segmentation allows the UE to interact with its home network for authentication and service selection while leveraging local resources in the visited network, thereby reducing overall provisioning complexity.
2Reliability
If the UE stores multiple ECS instance information for different PLMNs, then service continuity is improved during roaming, but the information storage and management overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hECS performs preliminary actions by pre-identifying and storing information about vECS instances in different visited PLMNs. When a UE roams to a visited network, the hECS already has the necessary vECS information ready, eliminating the need for the UE to store and manage multiple ECS instances. The hECS retrieves and provides the appropriate vECS information dynamically based on the UE's current location.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the system supports dynamic service provisioning for roaming UEs, then service adaptability to local networks is improved, but the signaling overhead between networks increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and separates the service provisioning signaling into two distinct phases: (1) initial service provisioning between the UE and hECS, and (2) local service access between the UE and vECS. By extracting the dynamic adaptation logic from the signaling process and embedding it in the hECS's intelligence, the system reduces redundant signaling exchanges while maintaining service adaptability to local networks.
Data Source
AI summary
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, an operation method of a home edge configuration server (hECS) includes receiving, from a user equipment (UE), a first service provisioning request including an identifier of a visited public land mobile network (vPLMN) in which the UE is served, identifying at least one visited edge configuration server (vECS) available in the vPLMN in case that roaming status of the UE is identified based on the identifier of the vPLMN, and transmitting, to the UE, a provisioning response message including information about the identified at least one vECS, wherein a second service provisioning request message is transmitted to one of the at least one vECS, from the UE, based on the information about the at least one vECS.