MEC Middleware Platform Onboarding via Edge Service Identifiers
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing multi-access edge computing (MEC) environments face complexity and resource inefficiency in onboarding new applications, requiring multiple interactions between computing devices and platforms, leading to redundant communications and excessive resource consumption.
Innovation Solution
A MEC middleware platform is introduced to provide a uniform process for onboarding applications by assigning edge service identifiers (ESIDs) and host identifiers, enabling automatic configuration and authentication, thus reducing the need for redundant communications and optimizing resource usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a uniform onboarding process is implemented, then device complexity and communication overhead are reduced, but the system must introduce a new middleware platform component
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a middleware platform as an intermediary component between user devices and the MEC environment. This middleware handles the complex onboarding processes, automatic configuration, and authentication tasks centrally, thereby reducing the complexity burden on individual devices while maintaining high automation levels. The middleware acts as a mediator that simplifies the interaction between devices and the MEC system.
2Reliability
If multiple interactions and communications are required for onboarding, then authentication and configuration can be thorough, but resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate onboarding interactions, authentication steps, and configuration processes into a single unified onboarding flow managed by the middleware platform. By combining these previously separate operations into one coordinated process, the system maintains thorough authentication and configuration reliability while reducing the total resource consumption associated with multiple sequential interactions.
3Reliability
If redundant communications are performed during onboarding, then system security and verification are enhanced, but network resource usage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the redundant communication and verification tasks from the distributed device-level processes and consolidates them into centralized authentication and verification operations performed by the middleware platform. This extraction eliminates unnecessary redundant communications at the device level while preserving the essential security and verification functions, thereby reducing network resource consumption without compromising system security.
Data Source
AI summary
Examples herein involve a multi-access edge computing (MEC) environment. An example process may include receiving a tenant application that is to be hosted in a MEC environment. The MEC environment may be situated between a user device and an external platform. The process may include assigning an edge service identifier (ESID) to the tenant application. The ESID may be used to indicate that a message, associated with the user device, involves the tenant application. The process may include assigning a host identifier to the tenant application. The host identifier may be used to indicate that report data, associated with execution of the tenant application within the MEC environment, is to be provided to the external platform. The process may include routing communications associated with the tenant application using the ESID and the host identifier.