Mobile Edge Control Element Subscriber Data Enrichment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) systems lack the ability to obtain essential subscriber-related identification information, such as IMSI or MSISDN, during communication scenarios, which hinders lawful interception and charging processes, as these services rely on information not available at the MEC level.
Innovation Solution
A mechanism where the MEC control element sends a special data packet to the core network, which enriches the packet with subscriber-related identification data, allowing the collection and use of this information for communication-related processing, including charging and lawful interception.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If MEC systems operate independently at the edge without core network integration, then communication speed and local processing efficiency are improved, but the ability to obtain subscriber-related identification information for lawful interception and charging services deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a data enrichment function as an intermediary component that bridges the MEC system and the core network. This function receives data packets from the MEC, enriches them with subscriber-related identification information by querying the core network, and returns the enriched packets to the MEC. This mediator resolves the contradiction by enabling the MEC to obtain necessary information without permanently integrating with the core network, thus maintaining communication speed while preventing information loss.
2Productivity
If MEC systems process all communication data locally, then service responsiveness is improved, but the complexity of managing lawful interception and charging services increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex functions of lawful interception and charging service management from the MEC system and relocates them to the core network. The MEC system retains only the simple function of local data processing and forwarding, while the core network handles the complex tasks of subscriber identification, lawful interception, and charging. This extraction reduces the MEC complexity while maintaining service responsiveness through local processing.
3Adaptability or versatility
If MEC systems integrate fully with the core network to access subscriber information, then charging and lawful interception capabilities are improved, but the device complexity and network integration requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network functions into distinct components: the MEC system handles local communication processing, while a separate data enrichment function handles the integration with the core network. This segmentation allows the MEC to gain access to subscriber information and charging/lawful interception capabilities without requiring full integration, thus reducing network integration complexity while maintaining adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for use by a mobile edge control element or function, the apparatus comprising at least one processing circuitry, and at least one memory for storing instructions to be executed by the processing circuitry, wherein the at least one memory and the instructions are configured to, with the at least one processing circuitry, cause the apparatus at least: to participate in a mobile edge computing based communication of at least one communication element in a communication network, to prepare and send a special data packet to a core network control element or function, wherein the special data packet includes, as a packet source indication, an address information of the at least one communication element and, as a packet destination indication, an address information of the mobile edge control element or function, to receive and process an enriched data packet being based on the special data packet, the enriched data packet including subscriber related identification data for the at least one communication element, to collect the subscriber related identification data from the enriched data packet, and to conduct a communication related processing related to the at least one communication element using the collected subscriber related identification data.