MEC Host IMS Processing for Edge Network Delay Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current IMS systems face challenges in providing high-quality multimedia services due to the distance between user equipment and the core network, leading to increased call delay and network processing costs.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a mobile edge computing (MEC) host located adjacent to user equipment to perform IMS processing, reducing the physical distance for media processing and offloading tasks from the core network, thereby improving service quality and reducing network costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If IMS processing is performed at the core network, then network control and management are centralized, but call delay increases and service quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a new spatial dimension by deploying MEC hosts at the network edge (base station side) rather than keeping all IMS processing at the core network. This dimensional shift from centralized core network processing to distributed edge processing reduces the physical distance data must travel, thereby reducing call delay while maintaining service quality through localized processing capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The MEC host acts as an intermediary between the core network and user equipment. It receives IMS data from the core network, performs local media processing (encoding, decoding, mixing, etc.), and delivers processed data to user equipment. This intermediary function eliminates the need for all data to travel to and from the core network, reducing call delay while maintaining centralized control through the core network's ability to manage and configure MEC hosts.
2Ease of manufacture
If IMS processing is performed at the core network, then network management is simplified, but network processing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the IMS processing function into two parts: control plane functions remain at the core network for simplified management, while user plane media processing functions are deployed at MEC hosts at the network edge. This segmentation allows centralized control and management at the core network while distributing the computationally intensive media processing tasks to multiple edge locations, reducing the processing burden and energy consumption at the core network.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local media processing at MEC hosts positioned at the network edge, allowing processing to occur where data is generated and consumed. This local quality approach ensures that media processing (encoding, decoding, mixing, etc.) happens close to user equipment, reducing network traffic and processing costs at the core network while maintaining service quality through localized processing.
Data Source
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AI summary
An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a processor and a memory operatively connected to the processor. The memory stores instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to determine that IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) data to be transmitted and received between a first user equipment and a second user equipment can be processed by the same mobile edge computing (MEC) host based on location information received from the first user equipment and the second user equipment, instruct the MEC host to activate an IMS processing function, and transmit an address of the activated IMS processing function of the MEC host to the first user equipment and the second user equipment. Other embodiments are possible.