Media Controller Pre-Caching for Mobile Network QoS
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current 3GPP networks face inefficiencies in content delivery due to scalability issues, particularly with point-to-point services, where resources increase proportionally with the number of subscribers and content size, leading to suboptimal delivery times, radio range limitations, and poor Quality of Service (QoS) for multimedia content, especially in on-line streaming and push services.
Innovation Solution
A media controller in the mobile communication network tracks popularity statistics and environmental parameters to pre-cache content in local caches, optimizing delivery by informing local caches of subscriber presence and serving content efficiently, thereby reducing backhaul traffic and improving QoS.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If point-to-point delivery service is used for each subscriber, then content can be delivered individually, but resources increase proportionally with the number of subscribers and content size
Solution Approach 1:
The network is segmented into multiple local caches distributed across different locations. Instead of one centralized delivery system, content is segmented and stored in multiple local caches, allowing parallel service to multiple subscribers without proportional resource increase.
Solution Approach 2:
Content is pre-cached in local caches before actual delivery requests occur. The media controller proactively pushes content to local caches based on predicted demand, so when subscribers request content, it is already available locally, eliminating the need for real-time resource allocation for each subscriber.
2Productivity
If MBMS broadcast service is used to deliver content to multiple users, then scalability is improved, but delivery timing is suboptimal and QoS cannot be guaranteed for subscribers with bad radio coverage
Solution Approach 1:
Different delivery mechanisms are used for different locations and subscriber conditions. Local caches in areas with good radio coverage use MBMS broadcast for efficient multi-user delivery, while subscribers with bad radio coverage receive content through alternative means or are served from nearby local caches, ensuring each subscriber receives appropriate QoS.
Solution Approach 2:
Local caches act as intermediaries between the core network and subscribers. They buffer and manage content delivery, allowing the media controller to push content to local caches via MBMS when conditions are good, and then serve subscribers locally even when radio conditions deteriorate, guaranteeing QoS independent of real-time radio conditions.
3Productivity
If content is delivered during night hours when most subscribers are reachable, then delivery efficiency is maximized, but time gap between content creation and delivery may be too long for time-sensitive content
Solution Approach 1:
The content delivery system dynamically adapts its timing and method based on content type and subscriber behavior. For time-sensitive content, the media controller uses real-time analytics to identify when subscribers are active and pushes content to local caches during those windows. For non-time-sensitive content, night-time batch processing is used, optimizing efficiency without sacrificing timeliness where needed.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a centralized ASP controls delivery based on environmental information, then location-aware delivery is achieved, but device complexity and signaling overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The centralized ASP functionality is segmented and distributed to local cache controllers. Each local cache has an embedded controller that makes autonomous decisions about content storage and delivery based on local conditions, eliminating the need for complex centralized control and extensive signaling while maintaining location-aware delivery capabilities.
Data Source
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AI summary
A mobile communication network includes a media controller, MC, (310) for tracking popularity statistics of cells of the network, a location database, LDB, (330) connected to the MC (310) for storing the statistics, a position monitor, PM, (340) connected to the MC (310) for detecting a position of subscribers within the network and at least one local cache, LC, (350) connected to the MC (310) and for pre-storing content to be delivered to the subscribers, wherein the MC (310) further includes a communication means for receiving content and subscriber information and for communicating portions of the received information to the PM (340), to the LDB (330) and to the LC (350).