Mobile Edge Computing Session Continuity During Gateway Handovers
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Solution Overview
Problem
In mobile edge computing scenarios, ensuring service continuity during handovers between gateways is challenging, particularly when a user equipment (UE) moves from one MEC server to another, as existing mobility management and routing methods may not support seamless session continuity, especially when IP addresses change, which not all applications can tolerate.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that detect handovers of communication endpoints, determine if ongoing mobile edge computing sessions are routed by the first gateway, check if the session meets predetermined conditions, and initiate a swap of the session to a second gateway and mobile edge computing entity, controlling downlink and uplink traffic routing to ensure transparent service continuity without IP address changes whenever possible.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If distributed mobility management and routing based mobility are used, then mobility is supported, but session continuity cannot be ensured when IP address changes occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a gateway as an intermediary entity between the UE and MEC servers. The gateway detects handovers, determines routing requirements, and coordinates session swaps between MEC servers. This intermediary mechanism ensures that even when IP addresses change during mobility, the session continuity is maintained through coordinated routing adjustments and application layer protocols.
2Ease of operation
If IP address changes during handover, then mobility is enabled, but applications that do not tolerate IP address changes experience service disruption
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by detecting handovers before they complete and determining whether ongoing sessions require continuity. The gateway proactively initiates session swap procedures, establishes routing paths, and coordinates with MEC servers in advance, ensuring that applications tolerant of IP changes can maintain continuous sessions without disruption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of IP address assignment by introducing the possibility of maintaining the same IP address across MEC server handovers for applications that require it. The system dynamically determines whether to change or maintain IP addresses based on application requirements, enabling seamless mobility for IP-sensitive applications while still supporting IP-changing mobility for other applications.
3Productivity
If MEC server changes during handover, then optimal routing is achieved, but session continuity becomes complex and difficult to manage
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway is designed as a universal entity that performs multiple functions: detecting handovers, determining routing requirements, coordinating session swaps, and managing IP address assignments. This multi-functional approach consolidates complex session management tasks into a single entity, reducing overall system complexity while enabling optimal routing through MEC server changes.
Data Source
AI summary
There are provided measures for improved service continuity with mobile edge computing. Such measures exemplarily comprise detecting a handover of a communication endpoint from a first gateway to a second gateway, determining, whether an ongoing mobile edge computing related application session of said communication endpoint is routed by said first gateway, checking, upon positive result of said determining, whether said ongoing mobile edge computing related application session fulfills a predetermined condition, and initiating, upon positive result of said checking, a swap of said ongoing mobile edge computing related application session from said first gateway and a first mobile edge computing entity connected to said first gateway to said second gateway and a second mobile edge computing entity connected to said second gateway.