Neutral Host MEC Platform for Supply Chain Latency Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mobile network operators rely on centralized switching centers for wireless data services, leading to significant latency and costs due to the need for data packets to travel from base stations to centralized switches, and the logistical and financial burdens of setting up edge nodes for edge computing are prohibitive, limiting the adoption of true edge computing services.
Innovation Solution
A distributed edge computing platform that reduces latency and costs by locating edge server nodes close to mobile devices, enabling local internet breakout and allowing multiple mobile operators to connect to a neutral host infrastructure, providing multi-access edge computing and cellular network access through a network of edge platform nodes that can create private and public cellular networks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If centralized switching centers are used for wireless data services, then network infrastructure complexity is reduced, but latency increases and costs increase due to data packets traveling from base stations to centralized switches
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the centralized switching center into distributed edge computing nodes deployed at multiple locations including base stations and cloudlets. This segmentation allows data processing to occur locally near the user rather than requiring all data to travel to a centralized switch, thereby reducing latency while distributing infrastructure complexity across multiple nodes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a spatial dimension to network architecture by deploying edge computing nodes at multiple physical locations (base stations, cloudlets, and centralized data centers). This multi-dimensional distribution of computing resources enables data to be processed closer to the user in terms of physical distance, reducing the transmission path length and associated latency.
2Loss of time
If edge computing nodes are deployed to reduce latency, then latency decreases, but the logistical and financial burdens of setting up edge nodes become prohibitive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of multiple network infrastructure elements into a unified edge computing platform. Base stations, cloudlets, and centralized data centers all run the same virtualized network functions, allowing them to share common software stacks, management systems, and hardware resources. This consolidation reduces the logistical and financial burden of deploying multiple separate systems while maintaining low latency through distributed processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal edge computing platform that can be deployed across different network locations (base stations, cloudlets, data centers) and serves multiple functions simultaneously. The same virtualized network functions can operate on different hardware platforms, enabling multi-functional edge nodes that reduce the need for location-specific specialized infrastructure and lower overall deployment complexity.
3Reliability
If multiple mobile operators maintain separate infrastructure, then each operator maintains full control over services, but costs and resource utilization inefficiency increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a neutral host infrastructure as an intermediary layer between mobile operators and the network. This neutral host platform provides common network functions and edge computing resources that multiple operators can access, allowing operators to maintain control over their specific services while sharing underlying infrastructure resources. This intermediary approach enables resource utilization efficiency without compromising operator autonomy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables operators to dynamically adjust network parameters and resource allocation on the neutral host platform according to their specific service requirements. By changing parameters such as bandwidth allocation, latency thresholds, and resource priorities, operators can maintain full control over their services while efficiently sharing physical infrastructure resources with other operators.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems for providing multi-access edge computing (MEC) and content delivery. At least one cloud platform and at least one server node are provided. Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) requests are operable to be send between the at least one cloud platform and at least one edge device. The at least one server node is registered in a cloud platform global registry using an HTTP POST request to a global service address, and the cloud platform global registry is associated with the at least one cloud platform. The at least one server node is operable to create at least one cellular network and provide cellular network services to the at least one edge device. The present invention is also operable to collect and analyze data from an IoT sensor network and take actions based on sensor data using the same node infrastructure and edge computing platform.