Home PLMN Routing for Co-located MEC Edge Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile network operators lack uniform multi-access edge computing (MEC) infrastructures and resources, hindering efficient data traffic routing and access to edge application servers, especially in geographical areas where not all operators have deployed necessary resources.
Innovation Solution
A network node is configured to obtain configuration data for user equipment at a geographical area, mapping data traffic to identifiers of co-located public land mobile networks with MEC capabilities, enabling routing of data traffic to these networks through the home public land mobile network, thereby allowing access to edge application servers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mobile network operators deploy MEC infrastructures independently, then each operator can provide local edge computing services, but not all operators have similar MEC infrastructures and resources leading to uneven service availability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges MEC infrastructures across multiple PLMNs by enabling a home PLMN to route data traffic to edge application servers of co-located PLMNs. This combination allows operators to share MEC resources and achieve more uniform service availability without requiring each operator to independently deploy complete infrastructures.
Solution Approach 2:
The routing mechanism provides universal access to MEC services across different PLMNs. The home PLMN's routing functionality enables it to serve both its own edge applications and those of co-located PLMNs, creating a multi-functional system that improves overall service availability regardless of individual operator infrastructure variations.
2Speed
If data traffic is routed directly to local edge application servers, then access speed is improved, but access to edge servers in areas without local MEC resources is hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The home PLMN acts as an intermediary between the UE and co-located PLMN's edge application servers. It receives data traffic locally and routes it to the appropriate co-located PLMN for delivery to the edge server, enabling fast local access while maintaining reliable connectivity to remote edge resources through the intermediary routing function.
3Area of stationary object
If all operators deploy complete MEC infrastructures, then service coverage is improved, but infrastructure cost and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the MEC service delivery function into two parts: the home PLMN handles local data traffic reception and routing control, while the co-located PLMN handles edge application server hosting. This segmentation allows operators to specialize in specific functions rather than duplicating complete infrastructures, expanding effective service coverage while reducing individual infrastructure complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Configuration data associated with data traffic of at least one user equipment at a geographical area may be obtained at a home public land mobile network. The configuration data may comprise a mapping of the data traffic to an identifier of at least one co-located public land mobile network configured to provide access to an edge application server at the geographical area. The home public land mobile network may cause routing of the data traffic to the co-located public land mobile network based on the configuration data.