Unified MEC Authentication and Host Selection for Edge Services

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Solution Overview

Problem

In MEC-based services, individual applications in electronic devices perform authentication, authorization, and discovery procedures independently, leading to inefficiencies and suboptimal communication with edge servers, which can be improved by optimizing the MEC host selection and management through a unified MEC service module.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that enable an electronic device to perform MEC discovery and host selection through a unified MEC service module, rather than individual applications, optimizing the MEC host for efficient and rapid communication with edge servers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If individual applications perform authentication and discovery procedures independently, then each application can access edge services, but the communication efficiency and service stability deteriorate due to redundant procedures and suboptimal host selection

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication efficiencyVSAvoidprocedure redundancy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple individual application procedures into a unified application-level discovery and authentication mechanism. The network device performs discovery for multiple applications simultaneously, consolidating authentication and host selection processes to eliminate redundancy while maintaining individual application access to edge services.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The network device implements a universal discovery mechanism that serves multiple applications through a single unified process. This multi-functional approach allows the same discovery infrastructure to handle authentication, authorization, and host selection for various applications, improving efficiency while reducing procedural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Speed

If channel bonding technology is used to increase data transmission rate, then transmission speed improves, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission rateVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically selects MEC hosts based on current service requirements and device states. By adaptively choosing optimal hosts rather than using fixed high-speed connections, the system achieves necessary transmission rates while consuming only the energy required for actual service needs, avoiding unnecessary power consumption from always-maximum bandwidth modes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes operational parameters by selecting different MEC hosts based on service requirements. Instead of maintaining constant high transmission parameters, the system adjusts host selection parameters to match actual data transmission needs, achieving optimal speed-energy efficiency balance for each specific service scenario.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3934208B1Method for edge computing service and electronic device therefor
Publication Date: 2025.12.10 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3934208B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3934208B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3934208B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a 5G or pre-5G communication system to be provided for supporting a data transmission rate higher than that of a 4G communication system such as LTE. A method, according to one embodiment of the present invention, is a method for authenticating an electronic device which receives an edge computing service from an authentication server of a mobile communication system, wherein the method may comprise the steps of: performing first authentication (403) of the electronic device by means of authentication and key agreement (AKA) with the electronic device, and, when the first authentication is successful, providing first authentication information to the electronic device; and performing second authentication (411) for the edge computing service of the electronic device, and, when the second authentication is successful, providing the electronic device with second authentication information which includes an access token for authentication of the edge computing service.