Federated EAS Discovery Through Home Operator ECS Mediation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge in next-generation 3GPP networks is the efficient discovery of Edge Application Servers (EAS) across different Edge Computing Service Providers (ECSPs) and in edge node sharing scenarios, where existing methods fail to effectively utilize federated service agreements to facilitate seamless EAS discovery.
Innovation Solution
Implement methods and systems that enable federated EAS discovery by utilizing Service Layer Agreements (SLA) between network functions, allowing ECSs to discover target EESs with SLA before EDGE-9 interaction, and enabling EAS discovery in edge node sharing cases through transparent endpoint handling and access token mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If UE directly contacts partner operator's ECS for EAS discovery, then EAS discovery capability is improved, but UE complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces the home operator's ECS as an intermediary that handles EAS discovery requests from UE. Instead of UE directly contacting partner operator's ECS, the home operator's ECS receives the request, determines the target EES based on service provisioning, and forwards the discovery request to the partner operator's EES. This mediator approach reduces UE complexity while maintaining EAS discovery capability across operator boundaries.
2Measurement precision
If comprehensive EAS information is transferred between ECSs, then EAS discovery accuracy is improved, but data transfer volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary EAS information needed for service provisioning and discovery operations. The home operator's ECS stores essential EES information (such as endpoint addresses and service capabilities) locally, and only transfers this filtered information to the UE when needed. This extraction approach maintains discovery accuracy while minimizing data transfer volume between network elements.
3Speed
If EES information is stored locally at ECS, then EAS discovery speed is improved, but storage requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by storing EES information at the home operator's ECS only when and where it is actually needed for service provisioning. The system dynamically determines which EES information to cache based on the specific service request and subscriber profile, rather than storing all possible EAS information universally. This approach maintains fast local lookup for relevant EAS information while minimizing overall storage requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A method performed by a functional component implementing an enabler function in a User Equipment (UE). In an embodiment, the method may include transmitting, to a first network function implementing an Edge Configuration Server (ECS), a first request message for service provisioning. Receiving, from the first network function, a first response message. The first response message may include a first parameter indicating information related to a second network function implementing an Edge Enabler Server (EES) managed by the first network function, and a second parameter indicating information related to a third network function implementing an EES managed by a fourth network function implementing an ECS. The embodiments may allow the ECS to discover a target EES having a Service Layer Agreement (SLA) with a source EES based on the federation agreements between Edge Computing Service Providers (ECSPs), before EDGE-9 interaction.