MEC Service Switching for Seamless UE Handover

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing mobile edge computing (MEC) platform experiences service interruptions and reduced reliability during handovers when user equipment (UE) is transferred between base stations, either to a station without a deployed MEC platform or one with no target application, leading to increased transmission latency and maintenance complexities.

Innovation Solution

A service switching processing method that involves creating and managing channels between the UE, the source MEC platform, and the cloud server, allowing for seamless data synchronization and resource management to ensure continuous service processing, even during handovers, by using indication messages and resource allocation strategies.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If the UE is handed over to a base station without a deployed MEC platform or to a base station whose MEC platform lacks the target application, then the handover can be completed, but the service between the UE and the source MEC platform is interrupted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandover completion speedVSAvoidservice continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The source MEC platform proactively establishes a first channel between the UE and the cloud server before handover occurs. This preliminary action ensures that when handover happens and the target MEC platform lacks the necessary application, the UE can immediately switch to using the cloud server through the pre-established channel, preventing service interruption

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The cloud server acts as an intermediary between the UE and the MEC platforms. When the target MEC platform cannot provide the required service, the cloud server receives service data from the UE and forwards it to the appropriate target application, ensuring continuous service delivery during and after handover

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of energy

If one MEC platform is shared by one or more base stations to reduce costs, then cost efficiency is improved, but service interruption occurs when UE handovers to base stations without proper MEC platform configuration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecost efficiencyVSAvoidservice reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cloud server provides universal service processing capability that can handle services for multiple base stations sharing a MEC platform. When any base station in the shared group cannot provide service (due to missing applications or MEC platform absence), the cloud server universally handles the service requests from UE, ensuring service reliability while maintaining cost-efficient MEC platform sharing

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

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically changes the service processing parameter from local MEC platform processing to cloud server processing based on the handover status and target base station configuration. This parameter change allows the system to adapt to different scenarios (MEC platform available vs. not available) while maintaining service continuity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3761603B1Service switching processing method, related product, and computer readable storage medium
Publication Date: 2024.07.10 HUAWEI CLOUD COMPUTING TECHNOLOGIES CO LTD
  • EP3761603B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3761603B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3761603B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Embodiments of the present invention disclose a service switching processing method, a related product, a system, and a computer storage medium. The system includes: a source MEC platform, configured to send first indication information to the AS when determining that a target application is to stop processing service data of user equipment UE, where the first indication information is used to indicate that the service data of the UE is to be processed in the AS, the target application is deployed on the source MEC platform, and the target application is an application used to process the service data of the UE; and the cloud server AS, configured to respond to the first indication information and send a first response message to the source MEC platform, where the first response message is used to indicate that the AS is ready to process the service data of the UE. The embodiments of the present invention can resolve a prior-art problem such as interruption of a service between the UE and the source MEC platform after the UE is handed over from the source MEC platform, and improve reliability and efficiency of service processing.