Gateway Apparatus for MEC Service Routing in EPC Networks
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
There is no standard method for implementing Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) services, particularly in establishing deep packet inspection (DPI) and routing IP packets, due to unknown user equipment location, which results in service disruptions and the need for reconfiguration of IP addresses and additional facilities like Internetwork Packet Exchange (IPX) for maintaining connections.
Innovation Solution
A gateway apparatus that performs communication with both a packet data network gateway and an MEC server, managing addresses to determine data transfer destinations, allowing seamless data transfer between the terminal apparatus and the appropriate network entities within an Evolved Packet Core (EPC) network, using IPv4, IPv6 addresses, port numbers, or service-specific information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If deep packet inspection (DPI) is established in an S1 section to route IP packets for MEC services, then MEC service routing is enabled, but user equipment location becomes unknown and downlink packets cannot be delivered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a gateway apparatus as an intermediary between the S1 section and the MEC server. This gateway maintains location information of user equipment and performs downlink packet delivery based on this information, while the DPI in the S1 section handles service routing. The gateway acts as a mediator that resolves the conflict between service routing and location tracking by separating these functions: DPI handles routing while the gateway handles location-based delivery.
2Reliability
If a PGW is installed in a service area for MEC service with mobility control, then downlink packet reception is enabled, but PDN session reconfiguration is required and IP addresses are reassigned
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the PGW function into two parts: a control PGW that maintains PDN sessions and allocates IP addresses, and a local gateway in the service area that handles downlink packet delivery. This segmentation allows the control PGW to maintain mobility control and session management without reconfiguration, while the local gateway provides downlink delivery capability in the MEC service area, thus maintaining service continuity.
3Reliability
If a PGW is installed in a service area for MEC service, then downlink packet delivery is possible, but additional facilities such as IPX are required to maintain Internet connection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the gateway apparatus multi-functional by enabling it to perform both MEC service packet delivery and Internet connection maintenance. The gateway can identify whether incoming packets are for MEC services or Internet access and route them appropriately. This universality eliminates the need for separate IPX facilities, as the same gateway handles both MEC and Internet traffic, reducing network complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An example object is to appropriately provide, to a terminal apparatus, both a service via a packet data network gateway and a service for Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) in an Evolved Packet Core (EPC) network. A first communication processing unit 131 transfers data between a terminal apparatus 500 and a packet data network gateway 200 when a destination address of the data for the terminal apparatus 500 is an address other than an address of an MEC server 300, and a second communication processing unit 133 transfers data between the terminal apparatus 500 and the MEC server 300 when a destination address of data for the terminal apparatus 500 is an address of the MEC server 300.